Appendix W 

 Happy Valley Wildlife 



Strategies to protect the bald eagle are outlined in the Pacific States Bald Eagle Recovery Plan 

 (USFWS 1986) and the Montana Bald Eagle Management Plan (Montana Bald Eagle Working Group 

 1994). Management direction involves identifying and protecting nesting, feeding, perching, roosting, 

 and wintering/migration areas (USFWS 1986, Montana Bald Eagle Working Group 1994). The 

 nearest bald eagle nests were known to occur 10-11 air miles north and west of the proposed project 

 area near Whitefish Lake. Occasional use of the proposed project area by foraging bald eagles might 

 occur during the winter when eagles are more dependent upon big game carrion. Overall, habitats 

 found within the state parcel and surrounding vicinity have low inherent value for bald eagles. No 

 cumulative or localized effects that would positively or negatively influence bald eagles would be 

 expected to occur as a result of either alternative considered. Therefore, this species will not be 

 considered further in this analysis. 



b. Grizzly Bear (Ursiis arctos) 



Issue: There is concern that timber harvesting and associated activities could alter habitat or create 

 disturbance that would be detrimental to grizzly bears. 



Existing Environment 



Grizzly bears are wide-ranging mammals that use forested upland habitats. Preferred grizzly bear 

 habitats are meadows, riparian zones, avalanche chutes, subalpine forests, and big game winter ranges, 

 all of which provide seasonal food sources. The project area is approximately 7 miles southwest of the 

 North Continental Divide Ecosystem Recovery Zone (USFWS 1993). contains a limited amount of 

 preferred grizzly bear habitats (430 acres of big game winter range), and there have been no 

 documented observations of grizzly bears in the proposed project area. Grizzly bear use is unlikely 

 due to surrounding habitat conditions and high le\els of human development. Since neither alternative 

 is expected to affect grizzly bears, this species will not be considered further in the analysis. 



c. Gray Wolf (Caniis lupus) 



Issue: There is concern that timber harvesting could alter habitat or create disturbance that would be 

 detrimental to the gray wolf 



Existing Environment 



The Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Plan defines 3 recovery areas (USFWS 1987, USFWS 

 et al. 2002). The proposed project area falls within the Northwest Montana Wolf Recovery Area. 



The wolf is a wide-ranging species whose habitat contains adequate vulnerable prey and minimal 

 human disturbance. Primary prey species in northwestern Montana are white-tailed deer, elk, moose, 

 and mule deer. The distribution of wolves is strongly associated with white-tailed deer winter range. 



Wolves choose elevated areas in gentle terrain near a water source (\alley bottoms), close to meadows 

 or other openings, and near big game wintering areas for dens and rendezvous sites. The project area 

 contains big game winter range and is on moderate terrain. There has been no documented wolf 

 activity near the project area, and high levels of human disturbance and development would likely 

 eliminate this area from potential future use as the wolf populations increase through time. Wolves 

 might pass through the area sporadically. Nearest documented wolf activity has been in Lazy 

 Creek/Swift Creek area 16-18 air miles north and west of the project area (T. Meier, USFWS, pers. 

 comm. Jan. 2003). Since neither alternative is expected to affect wolves, this species will not be 

 considered further in the analysis. 



d. Canada Lynx (Felis lyiux) 



W-6 



