Lost Bear Timber Sale EA - Attachment D 



II Description of Relevant Affected Resources 



A. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Big Game Considerations 



Project Area 



The project area is used extensively by the Chamberlain and Lindbergh elk herds, 

 white-tailed deer, mule deer, and moose (Burcham et al. 1998). Each species has 

 slightly different habitat requirements. Elk and deer generally avoid open roads, with 

 elk becoming more tolerant of closed roads in the area over time (Lyon 1998). Densely 

 stocked thickets of conifer regeneration and overstocked mature stands provide thermal 

 protection and hiding cover for deer and elk in winter, which can reduce energy 

 expenditures and stress associated with cold temperatures, wind, and human-caused 

 disturbance. Additionally, extensive (e.g., >250 acres) areas of forest cover >0.5 miles 

 from open roads serve as security for elk. Thus, removing cover that is important for 

 wintering 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 deer herds. 



Moose, however, are generally closely associated with riparian areas, feeding upon 

 mesic shrubs. Moose use of habitats in proximity to any road, closed or open, differs 

 based upon whether hunting season is in effect: during the non-hunting season, moose 

 use habitats within 200 m of roads in greater proportion than their availability; during 

 the huntmg season, moose habitat use is negatively associated with proximity to any 

 road, open or closed (Lyon 1998). 



Within the project area, there are currently 7.8 miles of restricted use (i.e., gated and 

 locked) roads, for a total of 3.9 miles of total road per square mile (simple linear 

 calculation), and 1,045 acres of forest cover that could be used for snow-intercept cover. 

 There are approximately 27 acres of forest cover within the project area (located in 

 section 36) that could currently be used for security cover during the hunting season. 



Analysis Area 



Within the analysis area, there are 27 miles of open road, for a total of 0.72 miles of 

 open road per square mile (simple linear calculation), and at least 65 miles of total road, 

 for a total of at least 1.8 miles of total road per square mile (simple linear calculation). 

 There are 15,014 acres of forest cover that could be used for snow-intercept cover, and 

 approximately 3,255 acres of forest cover that could be used for security cover during 

 the hunting season. 



B. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Grizzly Bears 



Project Area 



Grizzly bears have recently moved into the area, utilizing riparian habitats and 

 vegetation as well as shrub and berry fields in old harvest units (J. Jonkel, MT FWP, 

 pers. comm., October 2002). This species is wide ranging in its movements, with home 



