by large western larch or ponderosa pine. Mature aspen and cottonwood 

 stands are also used by pileated woodpeckers. Pileated woodpeckers typically 

 do not nest in trees less than 15" dbh, and preferred trees are generally over 

 20" dbh. Sufficient large snags and coarse woody debris are important 

 components of pileated woodpecker habitat. 



Quality pileated woodpecker habitat occurs to the north and west of section 16 

 in mature to old, ponderosa pine stands on Forest Service lands. Within the 

 Project Area, stand structure is of low quality, being dominated by medium to 

 small sized Douglas-fir/ponderosa pine, with scattered larger trees and little 

 downed woody debris. More suitable habitat does occur to the southeast of 

 the Project Area, where stands are composed of larger, older ponderosa pine. 



3.2.12.3 Black Backed Woodpeckers 



Black-backed woodpeckers are closely associated with standing dead forests, 

 created by large fires of high intensity (Hutto 1995). Burned forests tend to be 

 used soon after fire events occur (-2-5. years), and large, densely stocked 

 stands with an abundance of large trees of various species appear to provide 

 the greatest benefit to black-backed woodpeckers (Heijl et al. 2000, Hitchcox 

 1996). Black-backed woodpeckers are also found in green forests with high 

 levels of insect activity (Goggans et al. 1989). Black-backed woodpeckers are 

 not migratory, but are known to undertake large movements in response to fire 

 events. Therefore, the Analysis Area used for the grizzly bear assessment will 

 be used for the black-backed woodpecker cumulative effects analysis. 



No recent stand-replacement fires or major insect infestations are known to 

 occur within the Analysis Area. Consequently, preferred black-backed 

 woodpecker habitat is rare to non-existent in the Analysis Area and the 

 likelihood of resident populations of black-backed woodpeckers is very low. 



3.2.13 Big Game (Issue #13) 



Densely stocked thickets of conifer regeneration and overstocked mature stands 

 provide thermal protection and security for elk and deer in winter, which can 

 reduce energy expenditures and stress associated with cold temperatures, wind, 

 and human-caused disturbance. Although thermal cover attributes may be less 

 important for elk than has been thought (Cook et al. 1998), areas with densely 

 stocked mature trees are also important for snow interception, which makes travel 

 and foraging less stressful during periods when snow is deep. Dense stands that 

 are well connected provide for animal movements across wintering areas during 

 periods with deep snow, which improves their ability to find forage and shelter 

 under varied environmental conditions. Thus, removing this "winter cover" 

 important to wintering elk and deer through forest management activities can 

 increase their energy expenditures and stress in winter. Reductions in cover could 

 ultimately result in a reduction in winter range carrying capacity and subsequent 

 increases in winter mortality within local elk and deer herds. 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 3-15 



