similar conclusions. 

 No further analysis of this concern will be made. 

 Wildlife 



> Retention of overstory cover and movement corridors is a concern because harvest 

 may remove cover and can decrease habitat security for some species. 



Harvest can render habitats less suitable or unusable for species such as big game, lynx, 

 fisher and marten. This is particularly important where overstory canopy cover has been 

 altered in the surrounding landscape. This issue will receive further analysis in Chapters 

 3 and 4 



> Recruitment of large-sized snags and coarse woody debris is a concern because 

 harvest can remove trees that appear unhealthy from a timber producing 

 perspective. 



With time and natural tree decline, large-sized unhealthy trees are the individuals most 

 readily recruited into large-sized snags and ultimately, large pieces of coarse woody 

 debris. Over 50 species of wildlife depend on snags or coarse woody debris for nesting, 

 roosting, feeding or loafing sites. Nearly 100 species, including bats, small mammals, 

 amphibians, furbearers, woodpeckers, raptors, passerines and waterfowl are known to use 

 snags or coarse woody debris. To mitigate for this concern the Douglas fir and ponderosa 

 pine within harvest units would be retained under all of the action alternatives. This issue 

 will receive further analysis in Chapters 3 and 4. 



> High road densities decrease habitat security and quality for many wildlife species, 

 compared to similar habitats without high road densities. 



High road densities contribute to loss of snags and snag recruits due to firewood cutting. 

 The presence of a road allows snowmobile access in winter, even if roads are closed to 

 vehicle traffic with a gate. If roads are closed to vehicles, unauthorized access often 

 occurs such that security or habitat quality is compromised. For further analysis of this 

 concern, refer to Chapters 3 and 4. 



> The proposed road building and timber harvesting could have a negative impact on 

 the elk population, which uses this area, by reducing security cover. 



Elk security is defined as a "nonlinear block of hiding cover 250 acres in size and at least 

 '/2 mile from any open road. CollecUvely these blocks must equal at least 30% of an 

 analysis unit"(Hillis et al. 1991). Thus, elk security is a funcUon of cover and road 

 density, parameters discussed above. The synthesis of those 2 factors will be discussed in 



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