Wildlife Specialist report

Table35: Long-tailed vole and beaver Gila National Forest management indicator species
determination by alternative
Management
Indicator
Species
Alt. B
Existing Condition
Determination by Alternative
Alt. C Alt. D Alt. E Alt. F Alt. G
Long-tailed vole NA NA NA NA NA
Beaver NA NA NA NA NA
Rationale for
determination
Under alternatives D to G, the potential effects to small mammals are reduced, particularly
under alternative E. The potential to affect individuals under all action alternatives still exists;
but population and habitat trends for the beaver and long-tailed vole would not be affected by
any of the action alternatives.
*NA – No adverse effects to the population or habitat trends
Amphibians and Reptiles
Table36: Amphibian and reptile species selected to be analyzed and rationale for selection
Species Analyzed Rationale For Selection
Chiricahua leopard frog Federally Listed “Threatened” Species
Mexican gartersnake FS Sensitive Species
Arizona toad FS Sensitive Species
Narrow-headed gartersnake FS Sensitive Species
Reticulate Gila monster FS Sensitive Species
Compared to groups like large mammals, relatively few studies have been completed
related to the effects of human recreation and travel activities on herpetofauna. Habitats
important to many herpetofauna are breeding/rearing, foraging, and overwintering areas.
Amphibians usually require warmer lentic aquatic areas with vegetation for
breeding/rearing, riparian areas that support large amounts of insects for foraging, and
soils that lend themselves to burrows, forest litter and/or large woody debris, or deep
waters that are unlikely to completely freeze for overwintering (Maxwell and Hokit
1999). Reptiles usually require adequate sun exposure and substrate for nesting or
basking; habitats that support adequate forage, which includes insects, fish, amphibians,
small mammal, or birds; and overwintering areas like deep water, mud flats, deep rock
crevices, or mammal burrows. In areas where these three types of habitat are in relatively
close proximity, herpetofuana migration distances are relatively short; but if these areas
are isolated spatially, reptiles and amphibians are capable of undertaking quite extensive
seasonal migrations. Management actions that have the potential to affect one or more of
these habitats, or the migration that many species undergo to reach these habitats, should
be considered when evaluating the effects of an activity.
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