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suitable open space for hunting. However, there is sufficient pasture land in the general <br /> vicinity for these birds to continue to persist in the area. Moreover, nesting sites for <br /> Swainson's hawks should continue to function at Buckeye Ranch (Appendix F). <br /> Larger mammals, such as deer and coyotes, generally require larger territories and will be <br /> 1 <br /> more impacted by development of the golf course and residential complex than will the <br /> smaller animals. However, since the site currently suffers from frequent poaching, the <br /> deer herd is now virtually non-existent. Since the area will be protected, the deer <br /> r <br /> population will actually increase on the ranch. Coyotes will also thrive in the proposed <br /> land use for Buckeye Ranch,provided that adjacent lands continue under the current land <br /> use. <br /> 4.5 Diminished Wildlife Value Due to Ongoing Human Activities <br /> After the construction phase is over, human activities will unavoidably diminish wildlife <br /> values of some species, yet have a negligible impact on most. Certain species are more <br /> easily disturbed than others. Some birds will make more limited use of the project site as <br /> human presence increases. Most mammals on the site are nocturnal and should not greatly <br /> suffer. Control measures on the golf course of subterranean mammals will impact these <br /> species. The potential human impact will be mitigated, as described below, through <br /> strategic planting of trees and other vegetation. <br /> For many species of wildlife, golfing activities can be considered as "wildlife friendly". <br /> Compared to other potential human uses of this site, golf is a low impact activity at <br /> Buckeye Ranch, with use intensity approximating 20 golfers per day. This is comparable <br /> to various other activities, such as fishing, hunting, and backpacking on well-defined park <br /> trail systems. Furthermore, golfing, from a wildlife perspective, is predictable: humans <br /> tend to be concentrated along certain pathways and their movements are similar. The <br /> J <br /> Buckeye Ranch Resource Plan (November, 1993) <br /> 101 <br />