279 



Prairie falcon - One prairie falcon aerie was located In 198I 

 (Table 159) . ^Most of the cliffs In the study area are unsuit- 

 able for falcon nesting, being either too crumbly or lacking 

 potholes. 



Peregrine falcon - One female peregrine falcon was sighted 

 over the reservoir on 12 May 198O. This bird was definitely 

 a migrant. Other migrant peregrine falcons were sighted in the 

 region on the Foster Creek area, the Greenleaf-Miller area, 

 the Cheyenne Indian Reservation, and the Montco Mine permit 

 area (Olson-Elliott and Associates I98O). Peregrines seemed 

 to be attracted to the Tongue River and large stock ponds, 

 probably to feed on waterfowl, during migration. 



Other special interest species - The Brewer's sparrow is also 

 listed as a species of special interest or concern in Montana 

 (Plath 1981). They were fairly common in sagebrush areas 

 throughout the study area. 



The white pelican and double-crested cormorant are species of 

 high federal interest. Flocks of white pelicans were seen 

 occasionally during both summers of the study. They apparently 

 were non-breeders. Double-crested cormorants nested in the 

 great blue heron rookery at the southern end of the reservoir 

 (Figure II8). No nest count was made, but the rookery was large 

 and contained many nests of both species. 



Nongame Mammals 



Twenty species of mammals, including game species, were observed on 

 the study area (Table 16O). This list is certainly not a complete 

 list of the mammals found in the area. Other species of small-mammals 

 were cactured during studies conducted on and near the study area by 

 Ecological Consultants Inc. (1976), Pitcher (1976) and Renewable 

 Resources Consulting Services, Ltd. (1976). 



Fourteen small-mammal traplines were run, eight during summer and 

 six during fall (Figure 119). Trapping success ranged from 1.7 

 captures/100 trap nights in riparian habitats to 2.7 captures/100 trap 

 nights in areas next to cliffs (Table I6I). Deer mice were the most 

 common of the four species caught. 



Only a few coyotes were observed, mainly in the northern half of the 

 study area. One den with four pups was located on Anderson Creek in 

 1981. A few red fox were observed, primarily at the southern end of 

 the reservoir. Bobcats probably occur in the rugged northern half 

 of the study area, but none were seen during the study. There are 

 no prairie dog towns in the study area. 



Amphibians and Reptiles 



Seven species of herps were observed in the study area (Table l62). 

 This is certainly not a complete list of all herps found in the 

 area. The three species of snakes were the most commonly 

 encountered herps. The snapping turtle is listed as a species of 

 special interest or concern in Montana by Flath (198I). They were 

 fairly common in the Tongue River below the dam. 



