Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement
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Vestal <strong>Final</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Statement</strong> Chapter 3<br />
(WYNDD 2002, Whitaker 1972). The Bear Lodge meadow jumping mouse (Zapus<br />
hudsonius campestris) is a separate subspecies that occurs in the Black Hills region<br />
(Beauvais 2001) and is listed as rare in Wyoming (Luce et al. 1999). There are seven<br />
recorded occurrences of this species on the Bearlodge Mountains of the Black Hills,<br />
including the type specimen collected in 1864 (WYNDD 2002). Turner (1974) collected<br />
a total of 207 specimens from across the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains in South<br />
Dakota and Wyoming. He collected the species as far south as Wind Cave National Park<br />
and characterized it as common throughout the study area (Black Hills and Bear Lodge<br />
Mountains). Cryan and Ellison (2005) found the species still occurs throughout the Black<br />
Hills area. An observation of this species occurred within the Vestal project area along<br />
Upper French Creek.<br />
Mountain Goat (SOLC)<br />
This species inhabits rugged terrain including cliffs, rock faces, ledges, and talus slopes,<br />
typically above timberline. The mountain goat is found most abundantly on rock<br />
outcrops and high elevation meadows. The range of the mountain goat extends from the<br />
northern United States Rocky Mountains to southeast Alaska (Clark & Stromberg 1987).<br />
Mountain goats are characteristically found in sub-alpine and alpine tundra areas in the<br />
Northern Rockies and coastal mountain ranges of western North America (Higgins et al.<br />
2000). Foraging habitat is alpine meadow, grassland, and montane shrubland (Benzon &<br />
Rice 1987). Recommendations for improving habitat for the species consist of thinning<br />
dense stands of ponderosa pine, maintaining meadows and placing clear-cuts next to or<br />
interspersed between granite outcroppings (Ted Benzon, Big Game Biologist, SDGFP,<br />
Division of Wildlife, personal communication).<br />
Mountain goats feed throughout the morning, rest at midday, and resume feeding in the<br />
late afternoon, continuing into the evening. A wide range of forage is utilized including<br />
chokecherry, Russian buffaloberry, grasses and sedges, quaking aspen, serviceberry, wild<br />
rose, willow, and hazel (Richardson 1971). Usually the most available forage rather than<br />
the most palatable forage is consumed (Richardson 1971).<br />
Primary range and habitat of the mountain goat in the Black Hills covers about 2,000<br />
acres and is centered around Harney Peak and the Needles (Richardson 1971). Mountain<br />
goat populations appear to be trending downward from an estimated population of 168<br />
animals in 2002 (USDA Forest Service 2004) to 80 animals in 2009 (Huxoll 2010).<br />
However, in 2010, population increased little to 90 animals (Huxoll 2011). The cause of<br />
the mountain goat population decline is unknown. Possible causes include high predator<br />
(mountain lion) numbers, genetics (all descendants from a small number of goats in<br />
1924), and/or loss of or lack of habitat. The Forest will continue to coordinate with the<br />
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks to determine if more specific habitat<br />
management actions are needed to conserve/enhance habitat for this species (USDA<br />
Forest Service 2010). Since 2007, no hunting licenses have been issued for this species.<br />
The Black Hills mountain goat population occurs largely within the Black Elk Wilderness<br />
(MA 1.1A), somewhat in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve (MA 5.4A), Buckhorn Mountain<br />
(MA 4.1) where patch clearcuts have been created to provide for forage, and within<br />
Crazy Horse boundary.<br />
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