latitudes of lynx distribution, lynx are found at 

 higher elevations where environmental condi- 

 tions are more similar to the boreal forests of 

 Canada and Alaska. Within these forests, lynx 

 habitat in western Montana appears to consist 

 of a heterogeneous mosaic of 2 structurally 

 different forest cover types: 



foraging areas consisting of early- to mid- 

 successional coniferous forests that contain 

 high numbers of snowshoe hares, and 

 denning areas consisting of late succes- 

 sional forests with large amounts of 

 downed woody debris to provide cover for 

 kittens (Koehler and Aubry 1994). 



We currently lack a thorough understanding of 

 what types and conditions of forests in west- 

 ern Montana provide optimum, or even 

 acceptable, amounts of these 2 habitat ele- 

 ments, but it does seem clear that elements of 

 both are needed for hares and lynx. A third 

 component that appears necessary is a mini- 

 mum amount of forest cover on lands that 

 serve to connect the first two (Koehler and 

 Aubry 1994). 



Although lynx use of the area cannot be 

 completely ruled out, the low elevation of the 

 area (less than 5,000 feet) and the general lack 

 of older stands with dead and down material 

 suggest that it is unlikely to be used as den- 

 ning habitat. Since the closest areas exceeding 

 5,000 feet in elevation are over 3 miles away 

 and on other ownership (habitat conditions 

 there are unknown and cannot be managed by 

 DNRC), there is no ability to provide a forage/ 

 denning habitat matrix. There is no 

 precommercial thinning planned for this 

 project, so lynx foraging habitat will not be 

 reduced. Any thinning in the future would 

 follow DNRC's Sensitive Species Implementa- 

 tion Guidance with respect to maintenance of 

 lynx foraging habitat. Since denning and 

 foraging habitat would not be affected nega- 

 tively and there is no opportunity to provide a 

 habitat matrix, the lynx will not be considered 

 further in this analysis. 



■j*)wo( 'jd: 



COEUR D'ALENE SALAMANDERS 

 (PLETHODON IDAHOENSIS) 



Coeur d'alene salamanders are found in 

 elevations below 5,000 feet, primarily in spring 

 seeps, waterfall spray zones, and streamsides 

 of small cascading creeks with dense overhead 

 canopies that maintain cool, moist microcli- 

 mates. Fractured bedrock or gravels that 

 provide underground refuge during the 

 winter appear to be an important habitat 

 component (Blaustein et al. 1995). None of 

 these habitats were found in the project area. 



No surveys for this species have been con- 

 ducted on Stillwater State Forest. At present, 

 its known geographic range does not extend 

 as far east as Stillwater State Forest (Thomp- 

 son 1982, Reichel and Flath 1995). 



FERRUGINOUS HAWK (BUTEO 

 REGALIS) 



The ferruginous hawk occupies open country 

 that may be covered with sagebrush and 

 saltbush-greasewood shrubs, or at the periph- 

 ery of pinyon-juniper and other woodland 

 types. Such habitats do not occur in the 

 project area. 



COLUMBIAN SHARP-TAILED GROUSE 

 (TYMPANUCHUS PHASIANELLUS 

 COLUMBIANUS) 



The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is a sub- 

 species of the more common sharp-tailed 

 grouse. It occupies open grassland and 

 shrubland habitats not found in the project 

 area. 



BOREAL OWL 



Boreal owls in Montana inhabit mature to old- 

 growth forests at elevations from 5,000 to 8,000 

 feet. Nesting in the Rocky Mountains has 

 been documented in subalpine forests domi- 

 nated by subalpine fir and Englemann spruce 

 (Hayward 1994). No boreal owl habitat exists 

 within the project area. The highest elevation 

 in the project area is about 3,900 feet and does 

 not include subalpine fir-Englemann spruce 

 forests suitable for boreal owl nesting habitat. 



111-20^ 



•Stillwater State Forest • Beaver Lake Timber Sale Project 



