MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 



S 333.95 F2t C.I Martin 



Terreslnal wlldlile habitat invenlory I 



3 0864 00035905 2 Abstract 



A wildlife inventory study on three areas of southeastern Montana 

 (Otter Creek, Prairie Dog Creek and Hanging Woman Creek) encompassing 

 approximately 105,200 acres was begun in April 1979. Field work 

 was completed July 1, 1980. This report, will, among other things, 

 be used to determine habitats unsuitable for mining according to 

 the Secretary of the Interior's "unsuitability criteria." 



Game species observed on the Otter Creek study area include mule 

 deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, sharp-tailed grouse and ring- 

 necked pheasants. One hundred and ten bird species, including the 

 golden eagle, Swainson's hawk, prairie falcon, upland sandpiper, 

 mountain bluebird and Brewer's sparrow, were observed. Twenty-nine 

 mammals including beaver, raccoon, black-tailed prairie dog and 

 red fox were observed on the study area. Ten species of amphibians 

 and reptiles were observed. 



The mule deer population structure in October 1979 was 8.7 percent 

 bucks, 41.7 percent does and 49.5 percent fawns. Fawn production 

 was extremely high at 118.6 fawns per 100 does. Antelope production, 

 as observed in August 1979 was 64.4 fawns per 100 does. Twenty 

 sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds were located. Bird species 

 composition was determined on grassland, sagebrush, ponderosa pine- 

 juniper and riparian habitat types. The riparian type had the 

 highest diversity, 31 species, while the sagebrush habitat type 

 had the lowest diversity, 6 species. Prairie falcon aeries and 

 red-tailed hawk nests were located. Small mammal trapping was 

 conducted on 5 habitat types; grassland, sagebrush, ponderosa pine- 

 juniper, deciduous tree riparian and marsh riparian. The deciduous 

 tree riparian type had the highest number of captures, 63, and the 

 sagebrush type had the lowest, 2. 



The Hanging Woman Creek area had mule deer, antelope, sage grouse, 

 sharp-tailed grouse and ring-necked pheasants as resident game 

 species. Seventy-eight bird species, including Cooper's hawk, 

 ferruginous hawk, golden eagle and prairie falcon, were observed. 

 Fifteen mammal species including the coyote, yellow-bellied marmot 

 and black-tailed prairie dog were observed. Eight amphibian and 

 reptilian species were observed. 



Over 1800 mule deer observations were made during the study period. 

 Fawn production was observed to be 92.2 fawns per 100 does in 

 October 1979. Antelope production, as observed in July 1979, was 

 67.4 fawns per 100 does. Three sharp-tailed grouse dancing grouncls 

 and five sage grouse strutting grounds were documented. Bird species 

 composition was determined on grassland and sagebrush habitat types. 

 Numbers observed were highest on the sagebrush type while species 

 diversity was highest on the grassland type. Small mammal trapping 

 was conducted on the sagebrush and grassland habitat types. 

 Fourteen prairie dog towns were located within or near the Hanging 

 Woman study area. 



