8-13D-9-16: WILDLIFE RESOURCES:

Wildlife resources exist on or near the project site. Sitings indicate populations of big game on the property are relatively limited compared to the rest of the foothills area, but small game is abundant. A general overview of these resources follows.

Some elk may winter on the upper portions of the property, especially during severe winters. They too could benefit from range rehabilitation efforts. A few pronghorn antelope, approximately six to eight (6-8) animals, exist in the area. They have favored the agricultural land in the valley bottom, but occasionally venture onto the sagebrush hills.

Nongame: Raptors, such as red-tailed hawks, ferruginous hawks, Swainson's hawks, northern harriers, and kestrels, hunt over the property, and nest along Dry, Currant and McFarland Creeks. Several owl species also nest and hunt in the area. Great horned owls are known to nest in McFarland Creek. Prairie falcons are known to nest farther to the east, off the property, but may hunt on the sagebrush/grass slopes and riparian areas on the property. Fox, coyote, and other various small mammals are found throughout the property, as are many species of birds that both nest and migrate through the area. Various reptiles and amphibians are found from the valley bottoms to the grassland and shrub slopes. The amphibians would be most closely associated with the riparian areas, seeps, and springs, whereas the reptiles would generally be found in the drier, rockier areas. These species, along with the small mammals, are an important food source for the raptors and mammalian predators.

The most valuable habitat type in terms of numbers of different wildlife species are the riparian areas along Dry Creek, Currant Creek, and McFarland Creek, and in the small seeps and springs. Not only is the water source important, but the greater variety of plant species occurring in these areas means a greater variety of wildlife species. Many species rely on the abundance of shrubs and trees in riparian areas for escape cover, nesting, and food. Riparian areas also serve as important migration and travel corridors because of the cover they provide.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has identified a list of endangered, threatened, and candidate species which may occur on the project site. Candidate species have no protection under the Endangered Species Act but are included for early planning consideration. Candidate species could be proposed or listed during the project planning period and would then be covered under the Act. The gray wolf and peregrine falcon are the only officially endangered or threatened species included on the FWS list. The gray wolf was included based on "probable sightings in 1978 and 1981 within 10 km" of the property. Because of the rarity of wolves in Idaho, and especially southern Idaho, it is highly unlikely that a wolf would ever be found on the property. The peregrine falcon was included because of the proximity to the Boise urban hack site, and it is conceivable that the peregrines may fly over the property occasionally.

The pygmy rabbit, a C2 candidate species, was included as a "possible" occurrence on the property. Since there is little data on the distribution of the pygmy rabbit, it is not conclusive whether it is a resident species. A C2 species is one for which information indicates that a listing proposal may be appropriate, but for which conclusive data on biological vulnerability and threat are not currently available. Priority for listing is lower for C2 species than for C1 species.

Given the above conditions it is not likely that there are threatened or endangered species on the Hidden Springs property.

   Mammals

   •   California Myotis - Sagebrush; feeds along riparian and water, roosts in mines, caves, and rock crevices.

   •   Fringed Myotis - Dry pine forests; roosts in buildings.

   •   Western Big-Eared Bat - Sagebrush, riparian, open pine forests, mountain shrub; roosts in mines, rock outcroppings, caves, dark buildings.

   •   Western Pipistrelle - Cliffs near water; roosts in rocks. Birds

   •   Long-Billed Curlew - Open grasslands, marshes.

   •   Ferruginous Hawk - Open sagebrush, grassland, cultivated areas, riparian.

   •   Swainson's Hawk - Open sagebrush, grassland, cultivated areas.

   •   Merlin - Urban areas, riparian.

   •   Goshawk - Winters in valley bottoms in riparian zones.

   •   Mountain Quail - Riparian areas, dense shrubs.

   •   Flammulated Owl - Conifer woodlands, riparian.

   •   Northern Pygmy Owl - Dense riparian, mature forest, sometimes in open meadows, swamps, and cultivated areas.

   Reptiles And Amphibians

   •   Western Ground Snake - Sagebrush.

   •   Ringneck Snake - Woodlands, grasslands, shrubby areas, rocky canyons. Since these species are either rare or uncommon, it is difficult to estimate the importance of the subject property to their distribution.

(Ord. 1002, 10-28-2025)