1.10.1.13 Big Game (Issue #13) 



Timber harvesting activities associated with this project could aUer habitat or 

 create disturbance that could adversely affect big game species that use the 

 project area. 



1.10.2 Issues Eliminated from Further Study 



1.10.2.1 Endangered Species (Issue #11) 

 1.10.2.1.1 Lynx 



1.10.2.1.1.1 Lynx Issue 



Issue: There is concern that timber harvesting could alter habitat or 

 create disturbance that would be detrimental to lynx. 



The lynx is currently listed in Montana as a threatened species under 

 the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Lynx are a forest dwelling, 

 medium sized carnivore with home ranges averaging between 17 and 

 45 square miles in Montana studies (Aubry et al. 1999). Due to these 

 large home ranges, the Analysis Area used in the grizzly bear and wolf 

 assessment would be used here. 



Although we lack specific information on optimum habitats and 

 conditions that provide for lynx and their prey in western Montana 

 (Ruggiero and McKelvey 1999), intensive research is currently being 

 conducted on lynx and their prey in the Seeley Lake area 

 approximately 32 miles to the northeast of the Analysis Area. From 

 this research, it has been found that lynx generally occur between 

 3,939 and 6,890 feet in elevation in forests dominated by mesic mixed 

 forest composed primarily of Douglas-fir, western larch, and lodgepole 

 pine at lower elevations and subalpine fir, whitebark pine, and 

 Engelmann spruce at upper elevations (Aubry et al. 1999). The 

 primary prey species of lynx are snowshoe hares and hence lynx 

 habitat use occurs predominantly in early to mid-successional stands 

 that produce high densities of hares, while lynx appear to avoid 

 openings with little cover or foraging opportunity (Aubry et al. 1999). 

 Lynx denning habitat is less well documented, however denning stands 

 are generally characterized as mature to old, subalpine fir and 

 Engelmann spruce dominated stands on moist sites (north facing 

 slopes) with moderate to high canopy closure (i.e. at least 50% canopy 

 closure) and accumulations of coarse woody debris (i.e. at least 40 

 logs/50 m) that provide security and escape cover for kittens (Koehler 

 1990, Koehler and Brittell 1990). 



Although within the elevational range of the species, the forest types 

 found in the Project Area are dominated by warm, dry vegetation and 



Deadman Gulch Timber Sale Environmental Assessment 1-6 



