File:Control of field rodents in California (1949) (20069535044).jpg

Title: Control of field rodents in California
Identifier: controloffieldro139stor (find matches)
Year: 1949 (1940s)
Authors: Storer, Tracy I. (Tracy Irwin), 1889-1973
Subjects: Rodents; Mammals; Rodents
Publisher: Berkeley, Calif. : College of Agriculture, University of California
Contributing Library: University of California, Davis Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: University of California, Davis Libraries

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POCKET GOPHERS These burrowing rodents are harmful to agriculture throughout California, being most troublesome in the more fertile soils and on areas intensively cultivated. Pocket gophers (genus Thomomys; fig. 9) are stout-bodied and short-legged, with blunt heads, conspicuous incisor teeth, and external, fur-lined cheek pouches for carrying food. They have brownish coats, small eyes and ears, short, nearly naked tails, and somewhat heavy claws on the front feet. The head and body usually measure 6 to 8 inches; the tail is 3 to 4 inches long. Although pocket gophers and moles differ in both structure and mode of work, their workings are sometimes confused. The mole (fig. 17; pages 36-38) differs from the pocket gopher in the shape of the head, the color of the coat, and espe- cially in having large front feet with stout claws. The illustrations (figs. 10, 11, and 18) show important differences between their methods of work and in the appear- ance of the tunnel openings and the earth piles around the tunnels. Differences be- tween the surface workings of the two are described on page 36. Pocket gophers are distributed over almost all of California and inhabit prac- tically all but very rocky areas; they are most abundant in the better soils. More than 40 species and varieties of pocket gophers live in California, but their hab- its and the methods for their control are essentially the same. The population varies from place to place; large num- bers may be present in alfalfa fields where no control has been practiced, while lands with sparse plant cover have few gophers.
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 9. Pocket gopher. Important features are the blunt head, small eyes and ears, fur-lined cheek pouch at each side of mouth, long slender claws on forefeet, and scantily haired tail. Head- and-body, 6 to 8 inches, tail 3 to 4 inches. Compare fig. 17. (25

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