INTRODUCTION 



In order to facilitate responsible development of national 

 coal reserves with due consideration for other resources, 

 inventory studies have been conducted on potential coal lease 

 areas in southeastern Montana. 



The wildlife inventory studies presented in this report were 

 sponsored by the Bureau of Land Mana";ement . The study areas 

 concerned are primarily privately owned lands overlaying 

 federal coal deposits. Information furnished by these studies 

 will be used by the Bureau of Land Management to (1) update 

 BLM's land use planning system; (2) establish baseline data 

 to assist in predicting impacts of coal development; (3) assess 

 the reclamation potential of different habitats; and (4) determine 

 habitats unsuitable for mining according to the Secretary of 

 the Interior's "unsuitability criteria." 



Wildlife studies sponsored by coal companies in the Colstrip, 

 Rosebud Creek, Sarpy Creek, Spring Creek and Decker areas 

 have added much information to the data base. Wildlife studies 

 in coal field vicinities have been sponsored by the U.S. Fish 

 and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management. The Montana 

 Department of Pish, Wildlife and Parks has also been active 

 in gathering pertinent information. In spite of these efforts, 

 which were initially directed toward game species, additional 

 site-specific information is needed for each potential coal 

 lease area for both game and nongame soecies. The primary game 

 species found in the region are mule deer {Odocollzui he.mlonu6) , 

 pronghorn antelope {AntZtocapn-a amQ.filc(inoi) , sharptailed grouse 

 {Pzd-ioczte.6 phoi&-iamttuL&] , sage grouse [C(int>ioc.<Ln.zui& ufiopha.iianU'S) , 

 and ring-necked pheasants {Phaslanai colchlau6) . White-tailed 

 deer {OdocoA.Zzui vZ^g^.n-ianui] and wild turkeys {Mzle.agn.l6 

 gallopavo) also inhabit the area. 



Information on nongame wildlife in the region is meagor. Range 

 mans prepared by Stebbins (1966) indicate the occurrence of 

 nineteen species of reptiles and amphibians in the area. Range 

 maps of Hoffman and Pattie (1968) indicate the presence of 53 

 species of mammals. Skaar (1980) listed 255 bird species occurring 

 in latilongs 33, 34, 43, and 44. Resident breeding status in 

 at least one of the four latilongs concerned has been documented 

 for 95 species. The bird inventory for the region is considered 

 to be deficient. 



These studies were begun in April I98O. Data gathered through 

 the end of August I98I are included in this report. Species 

 lists are not to be considered Inclusive, rather partial due to 

 the extensive nature of this study. 



