Table 4-8 

 Total road densities (simple linear calculation) resulting from proposed action alternatives: 



*Total road density 



Due to uncertainty associated with grizzly bear presence in the area (J. Jonkel, MT FWP, pers. 

 comm., November 2002), and the level of restricted motorized access within both the project and 

 analysis areas, there is a low level of direct, indirect, or cumulative negative effects to grizzly 

 bears as a result of the proposed action alternatives. 



Gray Wolf 



Alternative A~No Action 

 Project and Analysis Areas 



Because of wolves' large home range, the grizzly bear analysis area will also be used for the wolf 

 landscape analysis. With no action, current conditions are not expected to change, with the 

 exception of gradual forest successional changes over time and possible stand replacing events 

 caused by insects disease or fire. However, the risk of stand replacing fire would increase over 

 time and would likely result in a short-term (15-20 year) cumulative negative effects to wolves 

 because it could reduce visual screening and hiding cover, which are important habitat 

 components to wolf security. Risk of negative effects from direct, indirect, and cumulative 

 effects to wolves under this alternative is low. 



Alternatives B, C, and D—Harvest 

 Project and Analysis Areas 



Although not currently present, wolves could use the project and analysis areas. Under all action 

 alternatives, there would be a reduction in visual screening cover, most notably through stand 

 replacement harvests. Both low intensity and mixed severity harvests would have minimal 

 indirect impact on wolves because each harvest type would leave trees for visual screening cover. 

 Removal of screening cover, as in the proposed stand replacement harvests, would leave wolves 

 crossing the proposed clearings potentially vulnerable to hunters through misidentification (i.e., 

 confusing a wolf with a coyote). However, all three types of proposed harvest (stand 

 replacement, low intensity, and mixed severity) could produce indirect benefits to wolves 



93 



