2013-04-15_PERMIT FILE - C1994082 (6)

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• livestock and big game nearing the end of the gestation cycle (spring), and during lactation (spring through summer). The succulent herbaceous forage in the reclaimed plant communities will provide nutrient levels that meet these increased needs for both livestock and big game better than woody dominated native vegetation. Again, the large numbers of deer and elk present on reclaimed areas demonstrate the utility of a herbaceous forage resource to big game and their affinity for such areas at various times. Early greening spring grasses contribute significantly to mule deer diets in the Rocky Mountain and Intermountain regions (Wilhns and McLean, 1978). Yoakum and Dasmann (1971) also reported pregnant does benefit directly from the availability of green forages during the critical early spring period. If the winter has been severe, the need for succulent and nutritious spring forage is even more critical. Big game select out those forages highest in nutritive quality when available and also those that are greening and succulent (Mereszczak et al., 1981 and Armstrong, 1975). To a lesser extent, these benefits will benefit other wildlife species. Various studies show mule deer and elk prefer succulent forages more than woody species during various times of the year. Miller et al. (1981) found big game selected up to 52 percent grasses in their • diets during the period of March through June. Forbs accounted for 38 percent. The big game in this study also tended to congregate in areas where palatable forage occurred. The study site was in forested areas with brush understory and clear cut areas seeded with palatable herbaceous forage. While these opened areas covered only 31 percent of the area, 66 percent of the big game diet came from them. The value of forage plants available to deer and elk may be as important as structural characteristics of a habitat. Carpenter et al. (1979), in a study near Kremmling, Colorado, found mule deer selected a large amount of grasses and forbs during the winter months of January and February when snow cover was minimal. Over 50 percent of their diets consisted of grasses and forbs in a 30- day grazing trial. In a study by Willms et al. (1979) on big sagebrush range in British Columbia, it was found deer selected 68 percent of their early spring diet as grasses and forbs. While big game and livestock will benefit from the increase in herbaceous cover, various bird species and small mammals will also benefit from the addition of this habitat component. Food and nesting cover will be increased for small mammals and some birds. Large statured herbaceous species such as basin wildrye have been included in the seed mix to enhance this cover component. Basin wildrye will also provide winter grazing and cover when snowpack increases (Majerus 1992). Raptors and other • predators will have increased potential for hunting success because of the more open areas and increase in the population of small mammals. PR -02 4 Revised 01106