Because pocket gophers liveunderground, their threat usually requires more effort to address. At siteswhere these animals are abundant, tubes of rolled window screen placed inaugured holes have been used successfully to protect blue and valley oaknursery stock. Losses among unprotected seedlings in these plantings wereas high as 95 percent the first season. Observations suggest that youngoaks may be vulnerable to gopher attack until they are at least 2 inchesin diameter at the soil surface. When oaks are planted for restoration and mitigation, consideration mustbe given to all potential threats to success.
Weed control is a primaryrequirement, but protection from herbivores is also important.
Managementand fencing usually are adequate to control large animals. But more intensiveefforts may be required to protect from rodents, other small mammals andinsects. Such protection may represent the difference between success andfailure. The Regents of the University of California. University of California Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program, UC Berkeley.