Raptors 



Raptor nests were located using the methods described by Call 

 (1978). Creekbottoms 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. 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. 



Non-game Mammals 



Non-game mammals were sampled using the trapping method suggested 

 by Flath (1979a) for use in baseline studies. Two traplines 

 were set up on each of the four main habitats, and run for 

 five days consecutively. One trapline in deciduous tree 

 riparian habitat was heavily disturbed by raccoons, so an extra 

 trapline was set up in this habitat and run for six days 

 consecutively. One trapline was also set up in marsh riparian 

 habitat and run for six days consecutively. Each trapline 

 consisted of 25 stations spaced 10 m apart. Each station 

 contained one Sherman live-trap, two mouse snap-traps, and 

 one 5-pound coffee can pitfall trap. 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. Several pitfall trap-nights were also 

 subtracted due to flooding. 



STUDY AREA 



Otter Creek 



The Otter Creek portion of the study area (Figure 1) is located 

 east of the Tongue River near Ashland, Montana. It lies 

 primarily in Powder River county with about 10 percent of its 

 approximately 59,000 surface acres in Rosebud County. 



Otter Creek is the primary drainage system in the study area 

 flowing from the southern border northeast to the Tongue River 

 at Ashland. Double E coulee and Cook Creek provide for drainage 

 of the northern portion of the area. Home Creek and Three-mile 

 Creek are the major tributaries of Otter Creek in the southern 

 portion. Several other creeks are also found in the area. 



The area south of U.S. Highway 212 is dominated by Otter Creek 

 and its associated agricultural fields. Terraces adjacent to 

 the creek and dissected mid-slopes comprise most of the area. 

 Near the edge of the Custer National Forest, ponderosa pine 

 uplands and steep sandstone bluffs are the dominant features. 

 North of the highway, ponderosa pine breaks and creekbottoms are 

 most prominent. The plateau areas between drainages have some 

 agricultural development. 



