Some of the regeneration harvests conducted in the late 1980's are starting to develop 

 lynx foraging habitat components. 



3. Grizzly Bear 



Grizzly bears are listed as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. The Grizzly 

 Bear Recovery Plan defines 6 recovery areas (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1993). This 

 project is not located in any of the identified recovery areas. The nearest subunit of the 

 Cabinet/Yaak Ecosystem (Mount Headley Bear Management Unit) is over 2 miles away. 

 Grizzly bear use of the project area is unlikely due to the high road density and high 

 amount of timber harvesting activities. These activities increase disturbance and human 

 presence, thereby decreasing grizzly bear security and discouraging use. 



Although no observations are documented on these parcels, habitat for this species exists 

 on both parcels. These parcels probably provide summer and autumn habitat and food 

 sources for bears. During this period of the year, bears focus on green vegetation mainly 

 in riparian areas and ripening berries, especially huckleberries. Huckleberries are 

 common in Section 16, but not in Section 4. Use of these parcels during other seasons of 

 the year is possible, but not probable based on the current vegetation communities and 

 elevation. 



4. Wolf 



The gray wolf is listed as "Endangered" under the Endangered Species Act. The Northern 

 Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Plan defines 3 recovery zones (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service 1987). The proposed project is in the Northwest Montana Recovery Zone. 



The wolf is a wide-ranging species. Adequate habitat for wolves contains adequate 

 vulnerable prey and m.inim.al human disUirbance. Primary prey species in northv.'est 

 Montana are white-tailed deer, elk, moose, and mule deer. Distribution of wolves is 

 strongly associated with white-tailed deer winter range. 



Wolves in northwest Montana typically den in late April. Wolves choose elevated areas 

 in gentle terrain near a water source (valley bottoms), close to meadows or other 

 openings, and near big game wintering areas for dens and rendezvous sites. Wolves are 

 most vukierable to human disturbance at den and rendezvous sites. Most of the project 

 area is high in elevation and steep, therefore no wolf dens or rendezvous sites are 

 expected in the project area. Wolves may pass through the area sporadically. The project 

 is not expected to prevent use of or travel through the area, hi the event an active den or 

 rendezvous site is discovered within 1 mile of the project area, DNRC will contact 

 USFWS to determine adequate mitigation measures to avoid adverse impacts to these 

 areas. Since wolves do not currently use the project area; this project is not expected to 

 affect important wolf habitat (denning or rendezvous sites), and forested travel corridors 

 would be retained through the project area, this species will not be discussed further in 

 this document. 



F. Sensitive Species 



When conducting forest management activities, the SFLMP directs DNRC to give special 

 consideration to the several "sensitive" species. These species are sensitive to human activities, 



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