Impacts of surface mining on calving elk
- Cyprus Empire Corp., Craig, CO (United States)
Due to concern over potential impact of surface coal mining on a traditional elk calving ground, Colorado Yampa Coal Company conducted a six and one half year study from 1981 to 1987 to monitor elk calving behavior in connection habitat disturbance resulting from mining. The specific objectives were to: (1) determine if productivity of elk is changed as they are displaced from a traditional calving area; (2) determining what fidelity they exhibit to calving areas; and (3) describe the physical and vegetation characteristics of elk calving areas. During the study, 448 elk captures were recorded, 294 individual elk were tagged, 75 of which received radio transmitters. The radio transmitter collared elk were relocated 4,583 times. Telemetry work on the 75 individual elk revealed no negative impacts on elk using the mine site. Productivity, calving home range size and fidelity, and habitat utilization patterns between elk using the mine site and control elk were not significantly different. There has been no indication that elk are abandoning mine areas. Aspen habitats directly adjacent to active mining continue to be selected for during the late spring and summer. Reclaimed sites are used in proportion to their availability during spring and summer and are selected for during the fall and early winter. In addition, a large amount of information on cow elk mortality, summer and winter ranges, migration patterns and habitat utilization was obtained.
- OSTI ID:
- 56912
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9003298-; TRN: 95:000425-0004
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 5. Billings symposium on disturbed land rehabilitation, Billings, MT (United States), 25-30 Mar 1990; Other Information: PBD: 1990; Related Information: Is Part Of Fifth Billings symposium on disturbed land rehabilitation. Volume II: Hazardous waste management; wildlife; hydrology, drainages, erosion and wetlands; soils, minesoils and overburden; linear disturbances; oil and gas; PB: 397 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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