Lost Bear Timber Sale EA - Attachment D 



Action 



Under the proposed action, approximately 157 acres of the roughly 4,800 acres of lynx habitat 

 would be modified within the analysis area. Fifty-six of those acres would be commercially 

 thinned, and the remaining 101 acres would be clearcut with reserves. Within the analysis area, the 

 proposed action would modify lynx habitat on the northern fringe of the 4,800 acre block of 

 habitat. ser\ing to fragment the edge of habitat, but not affecting the interior core of lynx habitat 

 within the analysis area. In the short term, 10-15 years, the proposed clearcut would reduce the 

 availability of potential denning habitat for lynx. However, in a longer time period (15 - 40 years 

 post harvest), the clearcut would provide densely regenerating saplings in which lynx would forage 

 for snowshoe hares. Additionally, the new foraging habitat would be well within reach of current 

 lynx activity immediately to the south of the section (J. Squires, USPS, pers. comm. November 

 2002). With the aforementioned mitigations (see Project Area description) implemented, there 

 would be low potential for the proposed action to impact lynx within the analysis area because 

 potential denning and foraging habitat and would still be present in the project and analysis areas. 



Gray Wolf 



Direct and Indirect Effects 



No Action 



No changes from current conditions are expected under this alternative. 



Action 



Gray wolves could use the project area, although there are no documented dens in the project area 

 (Joe Fontaine, USFWS, pers. comm., November 2002). The two sections within the project area 

 are relatively secure because all roads are closed due to locked gates on private lands controlling 

 access. Because of the project area's inaccessibility due to gated and locked roads, and 

 concentrations of big game, the project area would be attractive to gray wolves. Additionally, the 

 proposed action would likely stimulate forage production and potentially augment big game 

 populations in the short term. Thus, there would be low potential for direct or indirect negative 

 effects to gray wolves. 



Cumulative Effects 



No Action 



No changes from current conditions are expected under this alternative. 



Action 



Gray wolves could use the analysis area, although there are no documented dens in the analysis 

 area (Joe Fontaine, USFWS, pers. comm., November 2002). Most of the analysis area is relatively 

 secure, with an open road density of 0.72 miles of open road per square mile, and at lest 38 miles of 

 closed road in the analysis area due to locked gates on private lands controlling access. Because of 

 the analysis area's inaccessibility due to gated and locked roads, and concentrations of big game, 

 the area would be attractive to gray wolves. Additionally, the proposed action, in connection with 

 the proposed Headquarters and Haywire Wallace timber sales would likely stimulate forage 



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