be expected to continue at 

 current levels. 



• Direct and Indirect JElffects t(f Action 

 Alternative B on Gray JVolce^ 



Wolves using the area would 

 likely be disturbed by 

 harvesting activities, and are 

 most sensitive at den and 

 rendezvous sites. After 

 harvesting activities, wolf use 

 of the proposed project area for 

 denning and rendezvous sites 

 would likely revert to 

 preharvest levels. In the short 

 term, the proposed harvest units 

 are expected to lead to an 

 increase in big game forage and 

 a decrease in summer thermal 

 cover for white-tailed deer. 

 This may lead to a slight 

 increase in white-tailed deer 

 use, which, again, is an 

 important food source for 

 wolves . 



Cumulative Effects 



• Cum III at ice f^ectit ofJVo-, Iction 

 .llternaticc A on Gray IV'olveg 



Under this alternative, white- 

 tailed deer winter range would 

 not be affected, and substantive 

 change in white -tailed deer 

 population, distribution, or 

 habitat use is not anticipated. 

 Levels of human disturbance are 

 expected to remain similar to 

 present levels. Therefore, the 

 effects to wolves are expected 

 to be negligible. 



• Ciimiilatice H^ffects of. Iction Alternntice 

 JI on Gray M^^olven 



Since the expected effects of 

 this project on wolves would be 

 minor, cumulative effects would 

 also be minor. Some slight 

 shifts of big game use may 

 occur. Reductions in cover may 

 cause slight decreases in use by 

 deer and elk; however, these 

 shifts are likely to be at least 

 partially offset by the 

 increases in forage production 

 in the near-term. Travel 



corridors along riparian areas 

 would be retained throughout the 

 project area, maintaining 

 connectivity with surrounding 

 forested habitats. Reductions 

 in cover within the proposed 

 project area will be additive to 

 existing openings from past 

 timber-harvesting activities. 

 The affect of this reduction 

 should still only be minor to 

 wolves due to low human- 

 disturbance levels. Human- 

 disturbance levels are expected 

 to revert to levels similar to 

 current levels after the 

 proposed harvesting is done and 

 roads are again closed. No 

 substantive change in wolf use 

 of Stillwater State Forest is 

 expected; wolves would continue 

 to use Stillwater State Forest 

 and adjacent areas in the long 

 term. 



Mitigation Measures Included 



• Suspend operations and 

 temporarily restrict use of 

 roads within a 1-mile radius of 

 any known active wolf den. 



• Suspend operations and consult a 

 DNRC biologist if a suspected 

 rendezvous site is observed 

 within 0.5 mile of any ongoing 

 project activities. 



• Retain connective corridors of 

 heavy forest cover, when 

 possible, to maintain travel 

 routes, visual screening, and 

 partial security for elk and 

 deer. 



• Reclose roads and skid trails 

 opened with proposed activities 

 to reduce the potential for 

 unauthorized motor vehicle use. 



• Use a combination of topography, 

 group retention, and roadside 

 vegetation to reduce views into 

 harvest units along open roads. 



> Canada Lynx cZi/ywcy/^.y^^aaf/j) 



Issue 



There is concern that timber 

 harvesting could alter habitat or 



Page E-14 



Dog/Meadow Timber Sale Project Draft EA 



