Wildlife Specialist report

dates the species’ successful nesting activity in a given area. Therefore, in most cases
ongoing existing uses may proceed with the same intensity with little risk of disturbing
birds of prey (USF&W, 2007). Increases in the level of use on these routes through time
would increase the potential for indirect effects.
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 effect raptors. Additionally, these three types of
uses perpetuate the development of additional roads and motorized trails; potentially
allowing for the development of higher road densities. Under the no action alternative
through time the potential for the direct loss of individuals and habitat would increase, as
would the potential for disturbance affects to these species.
Action Alternatives (C, D, E, F, and G): Under all action alternatives motorized cross
country travel (see assumption) is no longer allowed. The change from the existing
condition is a 100% reduction in motorized cross country travel. In the goshawk PFA
analysis area motorized dispersed camping is reduced by 94 to 100% under all action
alternatives; goshawk ponderosa pine analysis area 95 to 100%; peregrine falcon analysis
area 97 to 100%; bald eagle analysis area 99.7 to 100%; and 94 to 100% in the golden
eagle analysis area. For these focal species the area of potentially affected habitat for
motorized big game retrieval is reduced by 100% under Alternative E, 95 to 99.7% under
Alternative D, 8 to 57% under Alternative F, 95 to 99.7% under Alternative G, and 0 to
16% under Alternative C. The wide range of change between focal species under
Alternative F is more specifically, a reduction of 8% in the bald eagle analysis area; 20%
reduction in the goshawk PFA analysis area; 33% reduction in the goshawk ponderosa
pine analysis area; 57% reduction in the peregrine falcon analysis area; and 47%
reduction in the golden eagle analysis area.
Motorized areas are locations where we have had traditional uses like motorized camping
and OHV use. For all focal species, except for the goshawk ponderosa pine analysis area,
there are currently no areas and no areas have been designate under any of the action
alternatives. In the goshawk ponderosa pine analysis area currently there are 9 acres of
habitat being affect by a motorized area. Alternative E and D eliminate these acres of
affected habitat, and the remaining action alternatives propose no change from the
existing condition.
Under Alternative D, E, F, and G miles of motorized routes and trails and acres of
potentially affected habitat is reduced respectively by 49, 66, 27, and 28% in the goshawk
PFA analysis area; 30, 48, 21, and 21% in goshawk ponderosa pine analysis area; 33, 44,
13 and 22% in peregrine analysis area; 3, 3, 3, and 3% in the bald eagle analysis area; and
21, 34, 19 and 19% in the golden eagle analysis area. Under Alternative C miles of
motorized routes and trails and acres of potentially affected habitat is increased by 9% in
the goshawk PFA analysis area;