I dentified Wildlife-Mining Conflicts 



Moose 



The Stanley Creek drainage (site of the mine) was ex- 

 tensively used by moose during the winter and moose were 

 year-long residents of the Lake Creek flats at the site of 

 the tailing pond. Moose will realize serious adverse im- 

 pacts as a result of mining activities since these activi- 

 ties occur coincident with known moose winter use areas. 



Elk 



Stanley Mountain, the mouth of Stanley Creek, the north 

 end of Bull Lake and the lower section of Camp Creek as it 

 enters Lake Creek all receive substantial winter use by 

 elk. These areas will receive direct adverse impacts from 

 mine development, and the surrounding areas will receive 

 secondary human impacts. Stanley Creek was used by elk 

 as a migration corridor to gain access to the Mount Vernon 

 ridge. Movement along Stanley Creek will likely be pre- 

 empted because of mine development. 



Mule Deer 



Mule deer use of the study area included the Mount 

 Vernon ridge. The probability of mule deer losses through 

 poaching, increased hunter access, collisions with vehicles 

 or stress will be increased if access to the Mount Vernon 

 ridge by either the Stanley Creek or Ross Creek road is 

 improved or if use of either of these roads is increased by 

 mine company personnel. Stanley Creek appears to be used 

 as a travel route by mule deer during spring and fall. Dis- 

 ruption of travel by deer along traditional routes and dis- 

 placement of mule deer from regularly used areas may result 

 in a lowered carrying capacity. Mule deer will be particu- 

 larly vulnerable to mining activities during spring and 

 winter. Mule deer use of the lower mill site during spring 

 by females suggests that this area is used as a fawning 

 ground. Numerous tracks, pellet groups and beds of deer, 

 presumed to be mule deer, were noted during December on the 

 slope immediately above the upper mill site. 



White-tailed Deer 



Areas receiving substantial white-tailed deer use in- 

 cluded Ross Creek; south, west and north shore of Bull Lake; 

 Stanley Mountain; Keeler Mountain; Lake Creek; Camp Creek; 

 Grouse Mountain; and along Highway 202 between Felix Creek 

 and Twin Creek. The utility corridor and tailing impoundment 

 may constitute a real if not psychological barrier to move- 

 ment of whitetails and contribute to direct habitat loss. 



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