Wildlife Specialist report

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