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2.4.2.4 Black- footed Ferret <br />The historical range for the black - footed ferret (Mustela nigriges), an endangered species, includes the <br />proposed Trapper Mine mine plan area (Colorado Division of Wildlife, 1978). This report considered the <br />northwest part of the state near the Utah border as a possible site for breeding populations of black- footed <br />ferrets. (Ferrets have subsequently been introduced into northwest Moffat County.) It further defines <br />potential ferret habitat as ...at least 8 prairie dog towns per township, all of at least 12 hectares in size and <br />2 of 40 hectares or more'" Through 2012, no prairie dogs have been located within the mine plan area or <br />adjacent areas. Prairie dog towns are located several miles west of the proposed mine plan area. Also, <br />very little habitat suitable for prairie dogs occurs within or near the proposed mine plan area. Based on <br />the lack of adequate prairie dog populations within the area, which are the main food source of the <br />blackfooted ferret, it is highly unlikely that this small mustelid occurs on or near the mine plan area. <br />Therefore, no impacts will accrue to this species due to Trapper Mine activities. <br />2.4.2.5 Aquatic Species <br />Four species of fish that may inhabit the Yampa and Williams Fork rivers near Craig occur on State and <br />Federal threatened and endangered species list. These species are the Colorado pikeminnow <br />(Ptychocheilus lucius), the humpback chub (Gilia cvpha), the Bonytail (Gila eleaans) and the Razorback <br />sucker (Xvrauchen texanus), which are listed as endangered species. <br />Sediment control structures have been placed within the mine plan area to control suspended sediment <br />loads to the Yampa and Williams Fork rivers. As a result, mining is not expected to have a negative <br />impact on these species. Refer to Section 4.8.1 for further details on mitigation to impacts from mining on <br />surface water quality. <br />2.4.2.6 Greater Sage- Grouse <br />Greater sage- grouse baseline information is found in Section 2.4.3.3. The USFWS has recently deemed <br />this species to be a candidate for threatened and endangered status. While the Trapper Mine permit area <br />does not encompass core habitat for this species, greater sage - grouse are occasionally observed within <br />the reclaimed areas of the permit area. Birds are most often observed following dispersal of brooding birds <br />from other areas during fall. <br />Trapper does not provide suitable strutting, nesting, brooding or wintering habitat for this species. As such, <br />mining at Trapper Mine is unlikely to have an impact upon greater sage - grouse. <br />2 -143 <br />