Final Environmental Impact Statement

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Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Hoary Bat (R2 Sensitive Species) The hoary bat is a solitary species, roosting primarily among foliage in deciduous and coniferous trees, often along the edges of clearings. They have been observed in numerous forested cover types, including mixed conifer, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper, and riparian areas with cottonwood and willow. Hoary bats forage on a wide variety of insects, especially moths (Shump & Shump 1982, Valdez & Cryan 2009). They are long-distance, seasonal migrants (Cryan et al. 2004). Because hoary bats are not known to use caves or abandoned mines or go into a prolonged hibernation, they are not thought to be vulnerable to the disease referred to as ‘white-nose syndrome’ (WNS), as are some cave hibernating bat species. In South Dakota this species is considered state-wide in distribution (Higgins et al. 2000), and the hoary bat is known to occur throughout the Black Hills region. Data on hoary bat population trends are scarce; however, even in the absence of these data, there is evidence that this species is experiencing a downward population trend. The bark beetle epidemic in R2 has killed more than 3 million acres of pine forests, decreasing the quality and quantity of this vital roosting habitat. This species is new to the R2 Sensitive Species list as of June 10, 2011. Therefore, this species has not been tracked in the project area, or there are no known observations/recordings of this species. However, it is expected that suitable habitat is present within the project area. American Marten (R2 Sensitive Species) Recent research on the Black Hills National Forest indicates that high quality marten habitat consists of mature spruce stands with canopy cover >50% near riparian areas at elevations >5,200 feet (Fecske et al. 2002). However, spruce stands that are too small, have little canopy cover and/or located long distances from water provide little suitable habitat (Fecske & Jenks 2002). Ponderosa pine is not considered optimum habitat, although there is evidence that martens use pine habitat in the Black Hills. According to a recent marten study (Fecske 2003), the greatest marten concentrations appear to be in the northern part of the Forest southwest of Deadwood, SD (northern subpopulation) and in and around the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve (Norbeck subpopulation), (Fecske 2003). These two dominant subpopulations are likely very important in maintaining species persistence in the Black Hills. The Black Hills supports an isolated population, with the nearest neighboring population in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming (Buskirk 2002). Track-plate boxes for detection of marten were set up in Vestal in the Tenderfoot area. No marten were detected or observed at the track-plate boxes or within project area. However, a small amount of suitable habitat does exist. Flammulated Owl (R2 Sensitive Species) There have been two reports of flammulated owls in the past 10 years that could be valid sightings. These could represent periodic use by transient individuals, or the beginning of a range expansion. In 2002 at least two and maybe three flammulated owls were observed in the northern Black Hills (Panjabi 2003). 74
Vestal Final Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Migration in this species is still poorly understood but recent review of the data suggests that this species may be a long distance, north-south, migrant. Experiments have found that this owl does not become torpid in cold temperatures. It is likely that prey availability also plays a large role in the migratory behavior of this species (McCallum 1994). There are no records for this species in the project area, but based on published information, and Black Hills sightings, it is reasonable to expect that suitable habitat for flammulated owls is currently present in the Vestal project area. The ponderosa pine structural stages corresponding most closely to potential flammulated owl nesting and foraging habitat on the Forest are SS 4A, 4B, and 5 (USDA Forest Service 2005a). Cooper’s Mountain Snail (R2 Sensitive Species) In the Black Hills, the Cooper’s mountain snail is mostly found in the higher elevations of the Limestone Plateau, along limestone outcrops, talus, and isolated exposed limestone. Sites range from open to closed canopy coniferous overstory to mixedconiferous to deciduous tree overstory with well developed litter layer (Anderson 2005). Dead and down woody debris is important characteristic at the micro-site level. Risk factors for the Cooper’s mountain snail are loss of moist habitat conditions through drought, fire, vegetation management, trampling, overgrazing, development, road construction, and habitat fragmentation. Distribution data for the United States and Canadian provinces is known to be incomplete. Current identified distribution is in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Populations are limited in the Black Hills to suitable habitat mostly in Spearfish Creek, upper reaches of Rapid Creek, Higgins Gulch, Prospect Gulch and Grand Canyon near Deadwood, SD. This species could also be found in other drainages in the northwest region of the Black Hills. According to Frest and Johannes (2002), others cited a wider range. There are two Frest snail survey sites that occur within the project area: 030906-9 (#112) and 030904-8 (#67). This species was not found at either site (refer to Frest & Johannes 2002 for details on site location, species found and habitat). Snail surveys were conducted during summers, but no snails were found. Regal Fritillary Butterfly (R2 Sensitive Species) Suitable habitat is limited to larger native meadows in the Black Hills where native violets exist (Royer & Marrone 1992, Marrone 2002). Historically, this species ranged from New England to the Great Plains. The Black Hills is at the western edge of this species’ range. Distribution within the Black Hills may be related to moisture gradient (USDA Forest Service 2000). Threats to the species include: overgrazing, herbicide/pesticide use, fire, cultivation of prairie, loss of meadows to trees, and invasion of non-native plants (Royer & Marrone 1992, USDA Forest Service 2000). The regal fritillary has not been documented within the Vestal project area. Potential suitable habitat occurs in wet meadows and riparian areas. 75
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Final Environmental Impact Statement

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