File:Controlling field rodents in California (1953) (20665643396).jpg

Title: Controlling field rodents in California
Identifier: controllingfield434stor (find matches)
Year: 1953 (1950s)
Authors: Storer, Tracy I. (Tracy Irwin), 1889-1973
Subjects: Mammals; Rodents
Publisher: (Berkeley, Calif. ) : Division of Agricultural Sciences, University of California
Contributing Library: University of California, Davis Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: University of California, Davis Libraries

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III. Pocket Gophers and Moles These burrowing rodents are harmful to agriculture throughout California, especially in fertile areas intensively cultivated. Pocket gophers (genus Thomomys; fig. 3) 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 long 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 con- fused. The mole (fig. 16) differs from the pocket gopher in the shape of the head, the color of the coat, and especially in having large front feet with stout claws. The illustrations (figures 9, 10, 11, 16, and 17) show important dif- ferences between their methods of work and in the appearance of the tunnel open- ings and the earth piles around the tun- nels. Differences between the surface workings of the two are described on page 35. Pocket gophers are distributed over most of California and inhabit practically 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 habits and the methods for their control are essen- tially the same. The population varies from place to place; large numbers may be present in alfalfa fields where no con- trol has been practiced, while lands with sparse plant cover have few gophers. Habits Burrows. The pocket gopher is strictly an inhabitant of the soil, living in burrows of its own construction, never climbing,
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 8. 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. 16. 24

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