Vll 



ABSTRACT 



A nongame wildlife survey and inventory was conducted in the Terry Badlands 

 adjacent to the Yellowstone River, southeastern Montana, from May, 1979 to 

 July, 1980. Four major vegetation types (grassland, sage-grassland, creek, 

 badlands) and two subtypes (ponderosa pine badlands, limber pine badlands) 

 were delineated for the area. Occurrence, distribution and relative abundance 

 were determined for 109 species of birds, 30 species of mammals, and 13 species 

 of herpetiles. Surveys of breeding bird densities were conducted on belt 

 transects (2000 m x 100 m) in each of the four major vegetation types In 1979 

 and 1980. Results of these surveys in 1980 indicated declines of 73%, 54%, 

 37% and 6% in the sage-grassland, grassland, badland and creek types, respect- 

 ively, from densities observed in 1979. The extreme drought conditions which 

 occurred in the spring of 1980 are believed to be the major reason for this 

 decline. Wintering bird surveys were conducted on the area from 12-16 January 

 and 15-19 February, 1980. General observations indicated a lack of wintering 

 birds on the area. Small mammals were surveyed in the four major vegetation 

 types, two subtypes and grassland coulees utilizing a combination of snap 

 traps, live traps and pitfalls. Captures per 100 trap nights were highest in 

 the badland (12.28) and creek (5.58) types. Two rare species of reptiles 

 (plains hognose snake and milk snake) were observed on the area. The peregrine 

 falcon and bald eagle, both endangered species, were also observed on the area 

 during the study. Habitat conflicts and problems, and species in need of 

 further study are discussed. 



