species utilized the coniferous type exclusively. A total of 122 territories 

 was identified on the transect for the 26 species. Eighty-seven percent of the 

 territories occurred in the riparian type or ecotone; 77 percent of these 

 occurred exclusively in the riparian type. 



Mamma 1 s 



The general habitat description and local distribution of mammals observed 

 on the Kootenai Falls study area during 1978 are presented in Table 2. 



Bighorn sheep were the most frequently observed ungulate in the Kootenai Falls 

 study area. Twenty-one bighorns were transplanted along the Kootenai River between 

 Libby and Troy in 1954, 1955 and 1963. Sporadic observations have been made by 

 Montana Department of Fish and Game personnel (K. Knocke and B. Campbell) since 

 1974. Only the information collected since June 1977 was utilized in the following 

 analysis. 



From June 1977 through July 1978, 109 groups totaling 522 sheep observations 

 were recorded (Table 5). These consisted of 91 rams, 247 ewes, 102 lambs and 82 

 unclassified sheep. Monthly censuses were conducted from February through June 

 1978, and the number observed during any one census represented a minimum number 

 of sheep present on the visible portion of the study area. During the February 

 census 40 sheep were observed, followed by 76 in March, 74 in April, 46 in May and 

 35 in June. These figures represent the maximum number of sheep observed during 

 any one census. Observability of sheep was hampered by dense timber, rugged terrain 

 and ground censusing from one elevation along the highway. Aerial surveys were 

 limited due to dangerous flying conditions in the narrow canyon. A capture and 

 mark program would be necessary to obtain population estimates or yearly trends. 



Bighorn ewes do not normally breed until 2^5 years of age (Smith 1954). It 

 was difficult to separate the yearling ewe component and the 1/2 to 3/4 year old 

 rams from adult ewes depending upon the date of observation. The unclassified 

 portion of the herd consisted of this faction and possibly some adult ewes. Sheep 

 classified as lambs in April were considered yearlings in May, since two newborn 

 lambs were observed May 7. The lamb/ewe ratio (primary age ratio) based on 

 classified animals for the February through April period was 50.5/100. This figure 

 may be high if adult ewes were inadvertently unclassified. The ratio is 39.4/100 

 when the unclassified segment is incorporated. The true primary age ratio falls 

 within this range (11 percent). Stelfox (1976) indicates that the average primary 

 age ratio of four Canadian bighorn herds during the winter period was 45.6 

 lambs/100 ewes, which compares closely with these findings; however Brown (1974) 

 found an 82 percent ratio for the February through April period in the nearby 

 Thomoson Falls herd. Age ratios cannot be used to interpret herd vigor (Caughley 

 1974) because the population may be exploding or crashing while the age ratio is 

 doing the opposite, depending upon other demographic factors. The ram/ewe ratio 

 for all months combined was 36.8/100. 



The activity or behavior of all observed bighorns was recorded according to 

 one of five activity patterns (Table 6). Seasonal changes did not seem to 

 influence activities, although walking and running were observed more often 

 during the summer months. 



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