AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

<< Previous | Table of Contents | Next >>

BIOTIC COMMUNITIES

Wildlife

Crater Lake National Park listed 151 species of birds, 54 species of mammals, 8 species of amphibians, 4 species of reptiles, and 5 species of fish as occurring or potentially occurring within the park (NPS, Crater Lake National Park 2002a).

Birds

Of the 151 species of birds identified in the park, 25 species are considered common or abundant. Seasonally common raptors include the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicencis) and American kestrel (Falco sparverius), and the resident great horned owl (Bubo virginianus). Other bird species present in the park year-round include the blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus), gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis), common raven (Corvus corax), Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), mountain chickadee (Parus gambeli), brown creeper (Certhia americana), red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), and dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis).

Seasonally common or abundant bird species include the rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus), northern flicker (Colaptes auratus), cordilleran flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis), olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus borealis), Stellar’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), American robin (Turdus migratorius), hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus), Swainson’s thrush (Catharus ustulatus), western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides), golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa), yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata), western tananger (Piranga ludoviciana), Cassin’s finch (Carpodacus cassinii), pine siskin (Carduelis pinus), chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina), and white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys).

Mammals

Fifty-four mammal species were identified in the park, of these 19 species are year-round residents that are also considered common or abundant. Large mammals that are considered seasonally common to year-round residents include the Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis rooseveltii), black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and black bear (Ursus americanus). Common small mammals and year-round residents that may be expected to occur along the Highway 62 West corridor include the golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis), Townsend chipmunk (Tamias townsendii), yellow pine chipmunk (Tamias amoenus), Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglassii), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), Sierra pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides), and deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Other common mammals that are likely to be present in the vicinity of the highway include the porcupine (Erithizon dorsatum), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), American marten (Martes americana), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), badger (Taxidea taxus), coyote (Canis latrans), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish

Amphibian species that are common within the park and could occur within the Highway 62 West corridor include the long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum), boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas), and Pacific treefrog (Hyla regilla) (NPS, Crater Lake National Park 2002a). Reptile species are unlikely to be present within this corridor due to elevation and minimal habitat. Four species of trout, e.g., bull (Salvelinus confluentus), eastern brook (S. fontinalis), rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss), German brown (Salmo trutta), and the kokanee salmon (O. nerka) are present within waters of the park; however, no fishery habitat occurs within the Highway 62 West corridor.