Wildlife Specialist report
Wildlife Specialist report
Wildlife Specialist report
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literature review of traffic/road type affects on several ungulates, including pronghorn<br />
and came up with an average zone of influence distance of 200 m for ungulates. Taylor<br />
and Knight (2003) examined pronghorn responses to mountain bikers and hikers. Biking<br />
activities caused pronghorn to be altered at an average distance of 328 m and to flee at an<br />
average distance of 234 m. To analyze disturbance affects of motorized activities to<br />
pronghorn this analysis will use disturbance zone of 200 m.<br />
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has mapped core bighorn sheep habitat<br />
on the Forest; for this analysis the analysis indicators (mile/density and disturbance zone)<br />
will analyze the change in these areas by alternative from the existing condition.<br />
Deer (Management Indicator Species Representative of Desert Shrub, and Pinon<br />
Juniper/Shrub Oak Woodland Vegetation Cover Types) - Wisdom et al. (2004)<br />
documents that mule deer do not exhibit the same flight response as elk in relation to offroad<br />
activities. Unlike elk mule deer showed very little flight response to off road use.<br />
Yarmoloy et al. (1988) suggest that deer tend to seek cover when harassed by ATVs.<br />
Wisdom et al. (2004) also suggested that deer are responding by seeking cover. If deer<br />
are spending more time hiding in cover during periods of motorized use and less time<br />
foraging this could affect fitness levels. Rost and Bailey (1979) <strong>report</strong>ed a road<br />
avoidance zone of 200 m for deer. Wisdom et al. (2004) <strong>report</strong>ed a 0.06% chance of<br />
flight for deer within 100 m of ATV use. To analyze disturbance affects of motorized<br />
activities to deer this analysis will use disturbance zone of 200 m.<br />
Mule deer have been identified as a management indicator species on the Gila National<br />
Forest for species associated with Desert Shrub, Pinon-Juniper, and Shrub Oak Woodland<br />
vegetation. For the analysis of this focal/management indicator species (mile/density and<br />
disturbance zone) the analysis indicators will analyze the change in these<br />
habitat/vegetation associations by alternative from the existing condition.<br />
Ungulate Summary:<br />
Table 11 list road associated and motorized trail/ORV factors related to Ungulates and<br />
the focal species that represent this group (Gaines et al. 2003); analysis factors based on<br />
the analysis factor discussed above; and the indicator that will be used to compare the<br />
different levels of affect between the different alternatives.<br />
Table 11:<br />
Focal<br />
Group<br />
Road Associated<br />
Factors<br />
Ungulates Hunting, Poaching,<br />
Collisions³<br />
Habitat Loss<br />
Disturbance,<br />
Displacement,<br />
Avoidance,<br />
Harassment<br />
Motorized<br />
Trail/ORV<br />
Associated Factors¹<br />
Combined Analysis<br />
Factors<br />
Analysis<br />
Indicator<br />
Hunting, Poaching Harvest/direct effects Route Miles<br />
Habitat Loss<br />
Disturbance,<br />
Displacement,<br />
Avoidance,<br />
Harassment<br />
Disturbance/indirect<br />
effects<br />
Disturbance Zone<br />
Summarized In<br />
Acres<br />
22