3.7.1.6 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Wildlife Species

3.7.1.6 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Wildlife Species

A list of ESA-listed species potentially occurring within the Project Area was prepared using the USFWS IPaC website (USFWS 2021). No ESA-listed mammal species were reported from the IPaC report. However, the IPaC report indicated that that the ESAthreatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and the whooping crane (Grus americana) have the potential to be affected by the Project18 . These two species, which are included in the PRRIP, are discussed in Section 3.7.1.7. One ESA Candidate terrestrial wildlife species, the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), was also reported from the IPaC report; however, Candidate species are not afforded protection by the ESA or other statutes. No designated critical habitat for any ESA-listed species occurs in the Footprint of Potential Disturbance. The unofficial IPaC report is included in Appendix G.

Although not listed on the IPaC report, the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is also potentially present in the study area and is listed as ESA-endangered. The implementation of the 10J rule designated Wyoming’s black-footed ferret populations as experimental, non-essential populations, basically treating them as proposed for ESA-listing. As such, these populations are not afforded protection by ESA or other statutes.

Both golden and bald eagles were confirmed present within the wildlife study area during the 2021 Habitat Assessment and Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Evaluation Study (HDR 2022c). Bald eagles were observed foraging and nesting in the wildlife study area during the 2021 wildlife field surveys. Additionally, bald eagles were also frequently observed along the margins of Seminoe Reservoir while conducting fisheries studies for the Project in the summer of 2021. As previously mentioned, golden eagle nesting has historically occurred in the Project vicinity. BLM records list four known nests in the wildlife study area, and during the 2021 raptor nest surveys, an additional nest presumed to be a golden eagle nest was found high on a cliff above Kortes Reservoir. No active golden eagle nests were observed in the wildlife study area in 2021, but two nests were observed to be in good condition (HDR 2022c).

In addition to addressing the needs of ESA-listed species, the WYNDD was reviewed for state-listed threatened and endangered terrestrial wildlife species known to occur or with the potential to occur in the Project Area (University of Wyoming undated). Based on this review, state-listed threatened or endangered terrestrial wildlife species are not known to occur within the Footprint of Potential Disturbance.

The BLM maintains a list of sensitive terrestrial wildlife species for Wyoming (BLM 2010). The review of the WYNDD for the Project Area included records of BLM sensitive terrestrial wildlife species known to occur in the Project Area (University of Wyoming undated).

Per the 2021 Habitat Assessment and Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Evaluation Study (HDR 2022c), species were compiled from the above reviews, analyzed for their potential to occur, and then grouped into a table if the species was determined to have the potential to occur in the wildlife study area (Table 3.7-5). Wyoming big game species with the potential to occur in the Project vicinity are also included in this table.

18 The Project area is located outside of the known ranges for the piping plover and whooping crane (HDR 2022c).

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Table 3.7-5. List of All Special Status Species Considered for Analysis, Likelihood to Occur in the Wildlife Study Area, Habitat Associations, and Summary of Modeling Methods

Common Name Scientific Name Status Study Area Located within Known Range of Species

Insects

Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus ESA Candidate Yes

Likelihood of Occurrence in Study Area Brief Range/Habitat Description Summary of Habitat Modeling Methods

Unlikely Rare in study area but can occur in association with milkweed which are found in mesic habitats. 1) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 2) NWI wetlands except lake

Amphibians/Reptiles

Boreal Toad Anaxyrus boreas SGCN Tier I/BLM Sensitive No Does Not Occur Study area located outside current range, but within historic range. Habitat includes subalpine ponds and streams from 6,500-11,500 ft above mean sea level. NA

Columbia Spotted Frog

Great Basin Spadefoot

Midget Faded Rattlesnake

Northern Leopard Frog Rana luteiventris SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive No

Spea intermontana SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes

Crotalus oreganus concolor SGCN Tier I/BLM Sensitive

Lithobates pipiens SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive No

Yes Confirmed (Data) Near permanent water in any upland type, particularly marshy wetlands. High Quality: 1) NWI wetlands except lake and riverine, 2) GAP species model. Moderate Quality: 1) 100 m buffer of all wetlands except riverine, 2) 100 m buffer of all perennial rivers.

Does Not Occur Range in Wyoming includes forests and mountains of the western, northwest, and north-central portions of the state. Unlikely Xeric adapted amphibian. Found throughout most landcover types within up to 5 km of permanent or ephemeral water sources. Breeding depends on waterbodies.

Does Not Occur Range limited to southwest Wyoming near Rock Springs; species not found in study area. NA

1) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G). 2) NWI wetlands (except lake and riverine) 3) Perennial water features

NA

Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus ESA Endangered No

Birds

Baird's Sparrow Ammodramus bairdii SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive No

Yes Confirmed (Field) Aquatic and riparian wetland systems; nest in deciduous trees; forage near open water and rivers, or for carrion along roads. Nesting: Deciduous trees - digitized from aerial imagery Foraging: Platte and Medicine Bow Rivers, Seminoe Reservoir from Wyoming perennial water features dataset; major gravel roads from WYDOT dataset

Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes Confirmed (Field) Sagebrush obligate; also nests in shrubland openings of forests and riparian saltbush shrublands. Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia SGCN Tier I/BLM Sensitive

Columbian Sharptailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes

No Does not occur Platte River Species; see Section 3.7.1.7 NA

Unlikely Study area located within migratory route, occurrence is unlikely and intermittent.

Confirmed (Data) Nests almost exclusively in prairie dog colonies and other burrows. NA

Used white-tailed prairie dog habitat model.

Does Not Occur Study area located in historic but not current range. NA

Common Name Scientific Name Status Study Area Located within Known Range of Species

Common Loon Gavia immer SGCN Tier I Yes Confirmed (Field) Occasional visitor during migration; known to stopover on Seminoe Reservoir Perennial water feature (Seminoe Reservoir) from WY GAP Project

Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos SGCN Tier II Yes

Greater Sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes

Interior Least Tern Sternula antillarum athalassos ESA Endangered No

Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive

Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes

Yes Likely Short and mixed-grass prairie, flat to rolling terrain; avoid trees, tall grasses, shrubs, and dense vegetation; near water. Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

Mountain Plover Charadrius montanus SGCN Tier I/BLM Sensitive Yes Likely Grassland and desert shrub, flat/rolling terrain, at least 50% bare ground. 1) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 2) Terrain Roughness Index (TRI; inverted to select flat terrain) 3) WYNDD Species Distribution Model

Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis SGCN Tier I/BLM Sensitive

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes Unlikely Mature, old-growth forests with dense canopy. 1) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 2) WYNDD Species Distribution Model

Yes Confirmed (Data) Cliffs near waterbodies, river and lake bluffs 1) Terrain Roughness Index (TRI) 2) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 3) WYNDD Species Distribution Model

Piping Plover Charadrius melodus ESA Threatened No Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes

Sagebrush Sparrow Artemisiospiza nevadensis SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive

Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinators SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes

No

White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes Unlikely Marshes, ponds, mudflats, swamps; emergent vegetation. 1) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 2) WYNDD Species Distribution Model

Whooping Crane Grus americana

ESA Endangered No Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive No

Likelihood of Occurrence in Study Area Brief Range/Habitat Description Summary of Habitat Modeling Methods

Confirmed (Field) Open and mountainous shrub/scrub and woodlands Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

Confirmed (Field) Open and mountainous shrub/scrub and cliffs/canyons 1) Nest density model (Dunk et al. 2019); 2) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 3) Terrain Roughness Index (TRI)

Confirmed (Field) See Greater Sage-grouse Lek and Habitat Study Report NA

Does not occur Platte River Species; see Section 3.7.1.7 NA

Confirmed (Field) Open shrub/scrub and meadows, woodlands, edge habitat Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

Does Not Occur Platte River Species; see Section 3.7.1.7 NA Confirmed (Field) Sagebrush obligate; desert shrublands, grasslands, and juniper woodlands Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

Confirmed (Field) Sagebrush obligate; desert tall shrublands, steppe, and grasslands. Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

Does Not Occur Study area located in historic but not current range. NA

Does Not Occur Platte River Species; see Section 3.7.1.7 NA Does Not Occur Study area located outside known range and suitable habitat does not exist in the study area. NA

Common Name Scientific Name Status

Mammals Study Area Located within Known Range of Species

Bighorn Sheep Ovis canadensis SGCN Tier II Yes

Black-footed Ferret Mustela nigripes ESA Experimental Population, NonEssential/SGCN Tier I Yes

Black-tailed Prairie Dog Elk Cynomys ludovicianus SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive No

Cervus canadensis Big Game Yes

Fringed Myotis Myotis thysanodes SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes Confirmed (Data) Roosts in caves, mines, buildings, bridges, rock crevices, ponderosa pines and other trees in forests with low canopy closure in proximity to water; forages in woodlands near wetlands and riparian areas. WYNDD Species Distribution Model

Idaho Pocket Gopher Thomomys idahoensis SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive

Long-eared Myotis Myotis evotis SGCN Tier III/BLM Sensitive Yes Confirmed (Data) Roosts in caves, mines, buildings, bridges, rock crevices, forests of all types; forages in wooded riparian, ponds and lakes and rivers near forests. Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

No

Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus Big Game Yes

Northern River Otter Lontra canadensis SGCN Tier II Yes

Pallid Bat Antrozous pallidus SGCN Tier II Yes

Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonius preblei SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive No

Pronghorn Antelope Antilocapra americana Big Game Yes

Pygmy Rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive

Spotted Bat Euderma maculatum SGCN Tier III/BLM Sensitive

Swift Fox Vulpes velox SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive Yes Confirmed (Data) Shortgrass and mid-grass prairies with shrubs; flat and rolling terrain. Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

Yes

No

Likelihood of Occurrence in Study Area Brief Range/Habitat Description Summary of Habitat Modeling Methods

Confirmed (Field) Steep, rocky terrain of desert, alpine, and forested areas.

Potentially Prairie dog colonies. Study area located in Shirley Basin-Medicine Bow Management Area 10J boundary. WYNDD Species Distribution Model

WGFD Wyoming Black-footed Ferret Management Plan Mapping

Does Not Occur Species occurs in the plains of eastern Wyoming, not found in study area. Confirmed (Field) Alpine and subalpine grasslands, woodlands, and meadows

Does Not Occur Range limited to southeast Wyoming; species not found in study area.

Confirmed (Field) Habitat generalist, prefers meadows, woodlands, and forests

Unlikely Rivers, streams, marshes, etc. with vegetated and stable shorelines and structural complexity. Confirmed (Data) Cliffs and rock outcrops in desert grasslands, shrublands and rarely in forests. Does Not Occur Range limited to southeast Wyoming; species not found in study area. Confirmed (Field) Open, rolling terrain; sagebrush, steppe, and deserts

Unlikely Sagebrush obligate; tall dense sagebrush with deep soils.

Does Not Occur Range limited to southwest and north-central Wyoming; species not found in study area. NA

WGFD Seasonal and Crucial Range Mapping

NA

WGFD Seasonal and Crucial Range Mapping

1) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 2) WYNDD Species Distribution Model 1) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 2) Terrain Roughness Index (TRI) NA

WGFD Seasonal and Crucial Range Mapping

WYNDD Species Distribution Model

NA

Common Name Scientific Name Status

Townsend's Big Eared Bat Corynorhinus townsendii SGCN Tier II/BLM Sensitive

Study Area Located within Known Range of Species

Yes

Likelihood of

Occurrence in

Study Area

Likely

Brief Range/Habitat Description

Roosts in caves and abandoned mines; forages at forest edges and riparian corridors, less often in shrublands and montane forests.

Summary of Habitat Modeling Methods

WYNDD Species Distribution Model

Western Small-footed Myotis Myotis ciliolabrum SGCN Tier II Yes

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Big Game Yes

White-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys leucurus SGCN Tier II Yes Confirmed (Data) Roosts in cliffs, canyons, rock-outcrops or badlands; forages in forested riparian areas, shrublands, and grasslands. WYNDD Species Distribution Model

Confirmed (Data) Habitat generalist, prefers riparian zones and agricultural fields Confirmed (Field) Shrub-steppe, shortgrass prairie, meadow, mountain valleys, and low-relief transitional areas with mixed stands of shrubs and grasses. WGFD Seasonal and Crucial Range Mapping

1) Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G) 2) WYNDD Species Distribution Model 3) USGS GAP Species Analysis Model 4) Terrain Roughness Index (TRI; inverted to select flat terrain)

Wyoming Pocket Gopher Thomomys clusius SGCN Tier I/BLM Sensitive Yes Unlikely Study area at edge of known range, dependent on Gardner's saltbush which is found in shrublands, greasewood flats, and badland landcover types in study area. Ranking of GAP Landcover Types (see Appendix G)

Species list compiled from USFWS 2021, BLM 2010, and WGFD 2019a; range and habitat descriptions compiled from literature cited in Section 3.2 of the 2021 Habitat Assessment and Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Evaluation Study Report (see Appendix G) Likelihood of Occurrence: confirmed (field) = observed during 2021 wildlife field surveys; confirmed (data) = observations recorded by BLM, WGFD, WYNDD, or another third-party. ESA = Endangered Species Act; WGFD = Wyoming Game & Fish Department; WYNDD = Wyoming Natural Diversity Database; USGS = U.S. Geological Survey; SGCN = WGFD Species of Greatest Conservation Need; BLM = Bureau of Land

Management; NWI = National Wetlands Inventory Source: HDR 2022c.