Wildlife Antelope frequent the sagebrush and grassy flatlands below the House Range escarpment as well as the gentler countryside to the east. While the animals commonly live in the playas between mountain ranges, little of this habitat is currently protected from mining, ORV use, road construction, and the increased hunting pressure that accompanies human use. As use increases, protection of antelope habitat will become increasingly important. Wild horses, deer, cougar, coyote, both American eagles, and the peregrine falcon are also among the inhabitants of the Howell Peak unit. Recreation Spelunking, fossil collecting, hiking, and hunting are the most significant recreational uses of this area.
Military overflights are infrequent.
Access into the Howell Peak area is possible from Marjum Canyon or from the roads on either side of the range. But the BLM's wilderness study regulations do not allow the agency to drop areas because they lack one characteristic of wilderness. Furthermore, the BLM's claim neglects the importance of protecting wildlife habitat as a component of wilderness management and advances the prejudice that flat or gently rolling land cannot be wild. These nearly 10,000 acres are appropriately part of the House Range wilderness, adding a poorly represented biotype to the National Wilderness Preservation System and protecting important antelope habitat from ORV damage. Coalition proposal We propose 25,000 acres for wilderness designation.