spersion of the different habitat types along the road routes. 

 Each census strip was approximately 1250 m long and 100 m wide, 

 and within a single habitat type as much as possible. 



Nomenclature follows the A.O.U. checklist (1957) and supple- 

 ments (1973, 1976). 



Raptors 



Raptor nests were located using the methods described by Call 

 (1978). Creek bottoms were searched in the early spring by 

 airplane and from the ground for hawk and eagle stick nests. 

 Suitable cliffs were examined by airplane and on foot for falcon 

 aeries and eagle nests. Intensive aerial nest searches were 

 conducted by helicopter during the spring of 198I. Observations 

 of all raptors except kestrels were mapped during the breeding 

 season to aid in delineating territories. Intensive foot searches 

 were employed when highly defensive adults were encountered. 

 Prairie dog towns were checked during July for burrowing owl 

 broods . 



Nongame Mammals 



Nongame mammals were samnled on all study areas during July 

 and August. Two traollnes were set in each of the three major 

 habitat categories (riparian, ponderosa pine, sagebrush/grass 

 land) and run for five consecutive days. Each trapllne consisted 

 of 25 stations, placed at 10 m intervals. Each station included 

 one Sherman live trap and three mouse snap traps, with a rat 

 snaptrap at every fourth station. A mixture of peanut butter 

 and rolled oats was used as bait. 



Live traps and snap traps which were sprung, but empty, were 

 subtracted from the total trap, nights. 



Prairie dog towns were searched for sign of black-footed ferrets 

 (Henderson et al. 197^, Martin 1978). 



Amphibians and Reptiles 



Observations of amphibians and reptiles on the study areas were 

 noted in conjunction with other wildlife observations. 



Description of Study Areas 



Sweeney-Snyder 



The Sweeney-Snyder study area (T?lgure 1) is located between Rosebud 

 Creek and the Tongue River approximately 12 miles east of Colstrlp, 

 Montana. It lies about 20 miles south of the Yellowstone River 

 with over 93 percent of its 7^,000 plus acres located in Rosebud 

 County. A small portion in the northeast corner of the area is 

 located in Custer County. 



