WILDLIFE 



changes in big game security would 

 be anticipated. 



INDIRECT EFFECTS 



• Indirect Elffecta qfJWo-^lction JlltemnHve A 

 on Wildlife 



No additional effects to nesting 

 eagles, gray wolves, or grizzly 

 bears would be expected from this 

 alternative . 



This alternative would allow for 

 the greatest development and 

 abundance of existing and 

 potential future lynx and fisher 

 denning habitats, and pileated 

 woodpecker nesting and foraging 

 habitats. As stands become 

 dominated by shade -tolerant tree 

 species, habitat substainability 

 and quality for pileated 

 woodpeckers would gradually 

 increase through time, then would 

 decline as any remaining shade- 

 intolerant species were removed by 

 mortality. . 



This alternative would not reduce 

 big game hiding or thermal cover 

 in the project area. Through 

 time, thermal cover would 

 increase, forage production would 

 probably decline, and elk security 

 would remain relatively unchanged. 



• Indirect Effects qf Action Alternative B on 

 Wildlife 



The proposed action alternative 

 would not reduce alternative bald 

 eagle nest sites, foraging 

 opportunities, or the ability of 

 the territory to support a pair of 

 nesting bald eagles; therefore, 

 the indirect effects to bald 

 eagles are expected to be minor. 



Reductions in the quality of 

 grizzly bear hiding cover are 

 anticipated. The proposed project 

 area occurs in spring grizzly bear 

 habitat. In addition to the 

 previously described reduction in 

 hiding cover, the proposed 

 treatments would also alter some 

 of the spring habitat components 



likely causing grizzly bears to 

 avoid the treated areas during the 

 spring. Therefore, grizzly bear 

 use during the spring, and 

 possibly other seasons, is 

 expected to decline. Forage 

 production is anticipated to 

 increase. No long-term increases 

 in open- or total-road densities 

 are proposed, which would minimize 

 disturbance to grizzly bears. 



Potential Canada lynx denning 

 habitat would not be removed, and 

 no impacts to lynx prey or 

 movement would be expected. 

 Foraging habitats would be 

 generated through the proposed 

 harvest. Landscape connectivity 

 would be retained through riparian 

 buffers . 



Likely increases in forage 

 production may result in a light 

 increase in big game use, which, 

 in turn, may benefit gray wolves. 



The proposed project would reduce 

 potential fisher denning habitat 

 on 172 acres. Potential fisher 

 habitat would be retained within 

 riparian buffers. Otherwise, 

 effects to fisher are expected to 

 be minor because the proposed 

 project largely avoids typical 

 fisher habitats. 



Suitable habitat for pileated 

 woodpeckers would be reduced due 

 to the removal of 4 acres of 

 potential nesting habitat. The 

 canopy would be expected to be too 

 open over the 939 acres proposed 

 for harvesting to be considered 

 pileated woodpecker habitat. 



Harvesting is expected to reduce 

 thermal cover for big game. The 

 proposed activity should increase 

 forage production. Elk security 

 is expected to decline in the 

 short term, but increase in the 

 long term. Reclosing roads after 

 harvesting would benefit elk 

 security. 



t 



Page III -16 



Dog/Meadow Timber Sale Project Draft EA 



