171 



was observed on the study area in 1981. A decline in merlin 

 nesting activity was also documented in the Long Pines area of 

 southeastern Montana in 198I (Becker, pers. comm.). 



Owls; Great horned owls were sighted on several occasions and 

 it is very likely that they nested in the vicinity. A long- 

 eared owl was observed during a migration period. 



Nongame Mammals 



Twenty species of mammals. Including game species, were observed • 

 in the Sand Creek study area (Table 89). The black-tailed 

 prairie dog is listed by Plath (1981) as a species of special 

 concern in Montana. No prairie dog towns were present on the 

 study area, but a transient individual was observed. 



Results of small mammal sampling are summarized in Table 90. 

 Location of traplines is illustrated in Figure 8I. The largest 

 number of captures was obtained in ponderosa pine habitat but only 

 three species were caught. Poor trapping success in all habitats 

 probably reflect depressed population densities of small mammals 

 due to drought conditions. 



Other soecies possibly occurring: on the study area (excluding bats) 

 include: masked shrew [Sofizx c■ine.A.^a6 ] , Mountain cottontail 

 {SylvZlaga6 nattoLllll] , Ora kangaroo rat {Vlpodomii6 ofidll] , 

 Wyoming pocket mouse (V(LfiOQna.thtx& f^ai,Q.iatai>] , meadow Jumping mouse 

 (ZapLiA fcuci4on'tca4 ) , western harvest mouse {?.2.lthKodontomy& imgalotli) , 

 northern grasshopper mouse iOnychomy6 lzacoQCi&t(Lfi] , white-footed 

 deer mouse {PzA-omyicui £eacopu,4 ) , prairie vole (M-tc-^o-tu^ ochH.oga6tz.fL), 

 meadow vole [Mlcn.ota6 pznni>ylvanl(i.Ui&] , short-tailed weasel [^a&tdla 

 dfimlnzoi] and long-tailed weasel {l\ai>tzta iKZYiata] (Hoffman and 

 Pattle 1968, Plath I98I). 



Amphibians and Reptiles 



Occurrence of two species of amphibians and five species of 

 reptiles was documented on the study area (Table 91). None 

 are listed as species of special concern in Montana (Flath 198I). 



