Habitat disruption and restricted movement may have the ef- 

 fect of concentrating whitetails on more limited areas, re- 

 sulting in over utilization of the remaining habitat and an 

 overall reduction in carry capacity of the valley. 



Bighorn Sheep 



Two neck-banded bighorn ewes were observed on several 

 occasions on the south side of Mount Vernon near the south 

 adit. It is not known whether Mount Vernon has assumed an 

 essential role in the life requirements of these sheep which 

 were planted on Berray Mountain in 19 75 by the Montana De- 

 partment of Fish and Game. 



Mountain Goat 



Mountain goats are particularly vulnerable to human 

 developments because they exhibit strong homing tendancies 

 (Kuck 1977) , limited pioneering abilities (Geist 1971) and 

 phlegmatic personalities. The only two known winter concen- 

 tration areas for mountain goats in the West Cabinet Moun- 

 tains of Montana are Mount Vernon and Ross Point. If access 

 for miners is allowed to the ridge between Mount Vernon and 

 Spar Peak via either the Stanley Creek or Ross Creek road, 

 then mountain goats may experience habitat inaccessibility, 

 behavioral modifications from human interactions or poaching 

 pressure. Information concerning mountain goats in the West 

 Cabinet Mountains collected over a 3-year period will be 

 presented in a separate report. 



Bears 



Spring green-up may concentrate bears in vulnerable 

 situations such as along road rights-of-way where vegeta- 

 tion first emerges (Jonkel 1976) . The haul road will be 

 regularly plowed and in use 24 hours per day so the shoulders 

 of the road would green-up early because the road margin 

 will be free of snow. The attraction of bears to the road 

 for spring feeding may result in casualties from vehicle 

 collisions, as well as result in increased legal and illegal 

 mortalities. The mine would have the potential of attract- 

 ing both grizzly and black bears if food refuse accumulates 

 or if road margins are seeded with legumes (a palatable 

 food item) . 



Mountain Lion 



The Stanley and Keeler creek drainages and associated 

 Lake Creek bottom were extensively used by mountain lions. 

 Lions regularly cross Stanley Creek enroute between deer 

 winter ranges, so the utility corridor which follows the 



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