Pine Marten. Areas of mature coniferous timber and small 

 openings are preferred by marten (Newby 1955) because of the diver- 

 sity of year-round foods provided by such areas (Koehler and Horn- 

 ocker 1977). Bottomland and lower valley slopes where old growth 

 was interspersed with fire-caused openings probably provided the 

 highest quality marten habitat within the area of concern. 



Lynx. Koehler et al. (1979) found dense serai timber stands 

 to be preferred habitat for lynx due to the high densities of 

 snowshoe hares, their preferred prey. Snowshoe hares reach their 

 highest densities in dense serai forest (Adams 1959). Dense 

 stringers of mature Douglas-fir and western larch are also impor- 

 tant habitats for lynx (Koehler et al. 1979). 



Bobcat. Though regional habitat utilization data for this 

 species araa lacking, it is more a species of open shrubland and 

 rocky habitats (Hoffman and Pattie 1968). Brown (1984, pers. 

 commun.) felt the inundated bottomlands along the valley were 

 conducive to bobcat inhabitatiai. 



3) Population Status 



Quantitative data for the furbearer species within the area of 

 concern are lacking. Therefore, with the exception of the river 

 otter population estimates were not compiled for any of the fur- 

 bearers. Melquist and Hornocker (1983) observed a density of 1.0 

 river otter/2.7-5.8 km of river habitat. Using this density range 

 it was estimated 14-31 river otters inhabited the 52.5 miles of 

 inundated riverine habitat. 



4) Assessment of Impacts 



Beaver. Over 52.5 miles of riverine habitat, 48.8 miles of 

 tributary streams, several bodies of standing water, and 4,051 

 acres of riparian habitats were inundated by the project. The 

 majority of these habitats provided the components necessary for 

 quality beaver habitat. These habitats were replaced with a reser- 

 voir which is marginal or unsuitable for beavers. The fluctuating 

 water levels of the reservoir hinder establishment of preferred 

 foods (willow, popular, etc.) and expose denning sites during 

 periods of drawdown. 



Huskrat. Muskrat populations were closely associated with 

 habitats created by beavers and grassy areas adjacent to the river 

 and tributaries. These habitats were lost v/ithin the pool area. 



River Otter. Preferred river, stream, and backwater habitats 

 for a population of river otters was replaced by Lake Koocanusa, 

 which represents marginal or unsuitable habitat for otters. 



Mink. Riparian habitats (4,051 acres) along 52.5 miles of 

 river and 48.8 miles of tributary streams were lost to inundation 

 and replaced by a reservoir; marginal habitat for mink due to a 



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