Wildlife Specialist report

More documents

Recommendations

Info

literature review of traffic/road type affects on several ungulates, including pronghorn and came up with an average zone of influence distance of 200 m for ungulates. Taylor and Knight (2003) examined pronghorn responses to mountain bikers and hikers. Biking activities caused pronghorn to be altered at an average distance of 328 m and to flee at an average distance of 234 m. To analyze disturbance affects of motorized activities to pronghorn this analysis will use disturbance zone of 200 m. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has mapped core bighorn sheep habitat on the Forest; for this analysis the analysis indicators (mile/density and disturbance zone) will analyze the change in these areas by alternative from the existing condition. Deer (Management Indicator Species Representative of Desert Shrub, and Pinon Juniper/Shrub Oak Woodland Vegetation Cover Types) - Wisdom et al. (2004) documents that mule deer do not exhibit the same flight response as elk in relation to offroad activities. Unlike elk mule deer showed very little flight response to off road use. Yarmoloy et al. (1988) suggest that deer tend to seek cover when harassed by ATVs. Wisdom et al. (2004) also suggested that deer are responding by seeking cover. If deer are spending more time hiding in cover during periods of motorized use and less time foraging this could affect fitness levels. Rost and Bailey (1979) <strong>report</strong>ed a road avoidance zone of 200 m for deer. Wisdom et al. (2004) <strong>report</strong>ed a 0.06% chance of flight for deer within 100 m of ATV use. To analyze disturbance affects of motorized activities to deer this analysis will use disturbance zone of 200 m. Mule deer have been identified as a management indicator species on the Gila National Forest for species associated with Desert Shrub, Pinon-Juniper, and Shrub Oak Woodland vegetation. For the analysis of this focal/management indicator species (mile/density and disturbance zone) the analysis indicators will analyze the change in these habitat/vegetation associations by alternative from the existing condition. Ungulate Summary: Table 11 list road associated and motorized trail/ORV factors related to Ungulates and the focal species that represent this group (Gaines et al. 2003); analysis factors based on the analysis factor discussed above; and the indicator that will be used to compare the different levels of affect between the different alternatives. Table 11: Focal Group Road Associated Factors Ungulates Hunting, Poaching, Collisions³ Habitat Loss Disturbance, Displacement, Avoidance, Harassment Motorized Trail/ORV Associated Factors¹ Combined Analysis Factors Analysis Indicator Hunting, Poaching Harvest/direct effects Route Miles Habitat Loss Disturbance, Displacement, Avoidance, Harassment Disturbance/indirect effects Disturbance Zone Summarized In Acres 22
Table 12 summarizes the harvest indicator, disturbance zone, and analysis area that will be used to analyze the effects of the different alternatives to ungulates. Table 12: Focal Species Motorized Activity Harvest Disturbance Analysis Indicator Zone Area Elk Motorized Trail/ORV Use Route Miles 300 m Core Elk Habitat Mapped by NMG&F Elk Motorized Roads 650m Core Elk Habitat ” Mapped by NMG&F Bighorn Sheep Motorized Trail/ORV and 200m Core Bighorn Sheep Roads ” Habitat Mapped by NMG&F Pronghorn Motorized Trail/ORV and 200m Core Pronghorn Habitat Roads ” Mapped by NMG&F Deer Motorized Trail/ORV and 200m Desert Shrub, & Pinon- Roads ” Juniper/ Shrub Oak Woodland 23
Page 1 and 2: Gila National Forest Travel Managem
Page 3 and 4: that are on the Regional Forester S
Page 5 and 6: ALTERNATIVES and MITIGATION MEASURE
Page 7 and 8: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT The Gila Natio
Page 9 and 10: In 1977, a study was published by a
Page 11 and 12: Regional Forester Sensitive Species
Page 13 and 14: MacGillivray’s Warbler HP Painted
Page 15 and 16: Barriers to Animal Travel or Moveme
Page 17 and 18: occupied sites, etc.). For habitat
Page 19 and 20: Issues identified during scoping re
Page 21: Elk (Game Species identified as spe
Page 25 and 26: Table 14: Pronghorn Analysis Area -
Page 27 and 28: Bighorn Sheep (Forest Service Sensi
Page 29 and 30: Mule Deer (Gila Management Indicato
Page 31 and 32: Wide Ranging Carnivores Table19: Wi
Page 33 and 34: from a road, except when feeding. K
Page 35 and 36: HUC 1303020202 Hot/Cold Springs 195
Page 37 and 38: Percent Change -0.17% -20.66% -45.4
Page 39 and 40: Mountain Lion and Black Bear (game
Page 41 and 42: So under this alternative through t
Page 43 and 44: microhabitat in the desert landscap
Page 45 and 46: Southern red-backed vole (Forest Se
Page 47 and 48: largely unknown, but it is thought
Page 49 and 50: Small Mammals-Effects by Alternativ
Page 51 and 52: Beaver (Gila Management Indicator S
Page 53 and 54: White-nosed Coati, Western Red Bat,
Page 55 and 56: 2% in the Hooded Skunk and Botta’
Page 57 and 58: The literature documents that a lar
Page 59 and 60: iparian (cottonwood/sycamore), and
Page 61 and 62: Reptiles and Amphibians-Effects by
Page 63 and 64: effects to the species and its habi
Page 65 and 66: Arizona Toad and Narrow Headed Gart
Page 67 and 68: Under this alternative you continue
Page 69 and 70: from grassland areas, and game bird
Page 71 and 72: Spotted Owl and determined that roa
Page 73 and 74:
and Miller, 1997, Hamann et al, 199
Page 75 and 76:
Shrub/Grassland vegetation types, a
Page 77 and 78:
Table 49: Mexican Spotted Owl Criti
Page 79 and 80:
The potential disturbance area in P
Page 81 and 82:
Table 51: Mexican spotted owl feder
Page 83 and 84:
Northern Goshawk (Gila MIS Species,
Page 85 and 86:
Peregrine Falcon (Forest Service Se
Page 87 and 88:
dates the species’ successful nes
Page 89 and 90:
NMPIF High-Priority Species Alt. B
Page 91 and 92:
Cavity Nesting Birds-Effects by Alt
Page 93 and 94:
Findings: Table66: Hairy woodpecker
Page 95 and 96:
2008). The GBMA is primarily manage
Page 97 and 98:
trees, and succulents dominated by
Page 99 and 100:
New Mexico, where it is resident in
Page 101 and 102:
Table 71: Analysis Area - Existing
Page 103 and 104:
In these analysis areas the area of
Page 105 and 106:
Neotropic Cormorant (Forest Service
Page 107 and 108:
the Wilson’s phalarope analysis a
Page 109 and 110:
NMPIF High Priority Species Common
Page 111 and 112:
Gray Vireo (Forest Service Sensitiv
Page 113 and 114:
Song Bird Summary: Table 82 list ro
Page 115 and 116:
Costa’s Hummingbird (Forest Servi
Page 117 and 118:
Plains Titmouse (Forest Service Sen
Page 119 and 120:
For the focal species and their ass
Page 121 and 122:
the forest edge (New Mexico Partner
Page 123 and 124:
conifers with dense foliage. Limiti
Page 125 and 126:
Merriam’s Wild Turkey (Ponderosa
Page 127 and 128:
Findings: Table 96: Mearn’s quail
Page 129 and 130:
showed an increase in numbers from
Page 131 and 132:
Insect - Effects by Alternative A M
Page 133 and 134:
Dashed Ringtail (Forest Service Sen
Page 135 and 136:
area. These routes continue to caus
Page 137 and 138:
ecreational activities, game manage
Page 139 and 140:
6 th codes remains between 1.5 to 2
Page 141 and 142:
Table 107: 5th Code 6th Code Waters
Page 143 and 144:
MSO PACs Analysis Area 187,083 Acre
Page 145 and 146:
HUC 1302020804 Alamocito Canyon Tot
Page 147 and 148:
6th Code Watershed Alt B Alt C Alt
Page 149 and 150:
Forest Plan and Other Laws and Regu
Page 151 and 152:
Topic Threatened & Endangered Speci
Page 153 and 154:
Appendix A Gila National Forest Neo
Page 155 and 156:
Oak-Juniper Acorn Woodpecker Dark-e
Page 157 and 158:
Ponderosa Pine Acorn Woodpecker Chi
Page 159:
Marsh/Open American Avocet Clark’
show all

Wildlife Specialist report

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?