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pocket gopher (Thomonys bottae) burrows and black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) were <br />also present on the site. Other small mammals likely to occur on the site include the ornate shrew <br />(Sorex ornatus), western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis), Norway rat (Rattus <br />norvegicus), and California meadow vole (Microtus californicus). Small mammals often attract <br />predators, including reptiles and birds previously discussed. The occurrence of small mammals <br />may also attract larger mammalian predators known to occur in the region, including raccoon <br />(Procyon lotor), whose prints where seen during the Apri12008 site visit, coyotes (Canis latrans) <br />and bobcat (Lynx rufus). Other large mammals that occur on the site from time to time include <br />the black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus), which was observed onsite during the February <br />2008 site visit. <br />It is likely that many of the species which utilize the site occur more frequently in habitat <br />features that aze adjacent to the site. Just to the north of the project site, a row of aging walnut <br />(Juglans sp.) trees was observed, providing habitat for a variety of common reptilian, avian, and <br />small mammalian species. A hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus) was observed foraging at <br />these trees during the Februazy 2008 survey, and a western fence lizard and several California <br />ground squirrels were observed around the base of these resources during the April 2008 survey. <br />Also; large trees associated with pazcels to the south of the project site, provide potentially <br />suitable nesting habitat for avian species, including raptors. <br />2.2 MOVEMENT CORRIDORS <br />Many terrestrial animals need more than one biotic habitat in order to perform all of their <br />biological activities. During the last decade, a proliferation of reseazch has identified increasing <br />encroachment of humans on wildlife habitats as not only resulting in the loss of habitat, but also <br />fragmenting remaining habitat patches by severing natural linkages or wildlife corridors. CEQA <br />has long recognized the need for projects to evaluate whether or not a project would significantly <br />impact movement corridors for fish and wildlife species. In addition, numerous efforts have <br />been recently undertaken to identify and protect important regionally linkages. Important <br />topographic or vegetation features which facilitate linkages or movement comdors include (but <br />Ironwood 55+ Biotic Evaluation Live Oak Associates, Inc. <br />