Wildlife Specialist report
Wildlife Specialist report
Wildlife Specialist report
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Table 25: Mountain Lion Analysis Area - Existing Condition and Proposed Change Table by<br />
Alternative:<br />
Total NMGF Core Mt. Lion<br />
Habitat on USFS = 2,806,314<br />
Acres<br />
Motorized Routes<br />
Existing Effects Change in Effects<br />
Alt B (No Action) Alt C Alt D Alt E Alt F Alt G<br />
Open Existing ML 2 - ML 5 Miles 2,918 -261 -1,129 -1,579 -867 -879<br />
Reopen Closed ML 1 Miles 0 4 1 1 1 1<br />
Administrative Route Miles 0 124 227 287 197 196<br />
Add Unauthorized Route Miles 0 7 5 2 5 6<br />
Add Admin. Unauthorized Miles 0 3 4 4 2 3<br />
Seasonal - Resource Protection Miles 0 0 8 0 0 0<br />
Motorized Trails<br />
Existing Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 34 57 2 75 77<br />
Existing ATV Trail Miles 16 -1 -7 -16 -1 -1<br />
Closed Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 28 14 0 22 22<br />
Administrative Trail Miles 0 4 7 6 4 4<br />
Add Unauthorized Trail Miles 0 115 29 0 47 45<br />
Total FS Routes and Trails Miles 2,934 2,990 2,149 1,641 2,420 2,409<br />
Percent in Miles of Alt. B (Existing) %Miles<br />
1.90% -26.77% -44.07% -17.53% -17.91%<br />
Motorized Dispersed Camping Acres 1,994,180 -1,924,754 -1,942,682 -1,994,180 -1,930,497 -1,936,656<br />
Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres<br />
Motorized Areas<br />
-96.52% -97.42% -100.00% -96.81% -97.12%<br />
Motorized Area - All Vehicles Acres 11 0 -11 -11 0 0<br />
Motorized Area - OHV Only Acres 2 0 -2 -2 0 0<br />
Motorized Big Game Retrieval Acres 1,994,180 -357,650 -1,942,682 -1,994,180 -889,550 -1,936,656<br />
Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres<br />
-17.93% -97.42% -100.00% -44.61% -97.12%<br />
No Action Alternative (Alt. B): Under this alternative there are 3,764 miles of<br />
motorized routes in the black bear analysis area and 2,918 miles of motorized routes in<br />
the mountain lion analysis area. These routes continue to cause habitat loss and the<br />
potential for other types of direct effects to this species. Lower traffic rates and travel<br />
speeds on forest routes reduce the potential for collision loss; however, increases in road<br />
densities increases the potential for take associated with hunting and poaching. In the<br />
black bear analysis area the potential disturbance zone of 522,626 acres along motorized<br />
routes continue to cause the potential for indirect effects. The literature related to<br />
disturbance zones related to mountain lions is lacking, but one can assume that as the<br />
road densities increase so does the potential to cause indirect effects to mountain lions<br />
adjacent to motorized routes.<br />
Under this alternative you continue to have motorized cross country travel, dispersed<br />
camping, and big game retrieval allowed across the Gila National Forest. These three<br />
types of uses continue to have potential effects to black bears and mountain lions.<br />
Additionally, these three types of uses perpetuate the development of additional roads<br />
and motorized trails; potentially allowing for the development of greater road densities.<br />
40