The La Jara chronicle., 1911-06-02
POCKET GoPHERs

Ten million dollars is a neat
sum to pay each year for the
ravages of one animal, yet this is
the figure given by the United
States Department of Agriculture
rs the damage done by the pocket
gophers.
INJURIES.-Gophers are trou-
blcsome in number of ways. In
alfalfa fields the mounds in
tcrfere with the moving. The
cycle has to be raised continually
and portion of the cutting is
lost. The roots, which furnish
succulent and agreeable food, are
cut off and eaten. The plants so
attacked are injured or killed.
Gophers do not appear to show
much preference in the choice of
their food, which is chiefly roots
and underground tubcrs and
bulbs. In the field they steal po-
tatoes from the hill and eat off
the carrots, parsnips and sugar
b,cts. The most costly depreda-
.ons &C these pests ar in or
chards and nurseries. They fol-
low the roots of the trees to the
crowns, cutting the roots into
ri ces, which are either eaten or
sS1red. Often great damage is
dona during the dormant season,
!. ~ause the work is not discov
cred until the trees grow again.
DESCRIPTION.-This article
has to do with the pocket gopher,
which should not be confused
with the striped, or gray ground
squirrels, which also live in holes
in the ground, but feed chiefly on
substances found above the sur
face. The most common gopher
found in Colorado is about eight
or nine inches long and very stout
ly built. The color is yellowish
brown, the head is provided with
strong jaws and sharp, chisel-
like teeth with which the cutting
and gnawing is done. On either
sid of the head and neck are two
large, fur lined pockets, which
are used to carry food not immed-
lately needed to the storage gal
leries. The fore feet are armed
with strong claws for use in dig
ging.
LIFE Enthusiastically
the entire life of these animals is
spent under the ground. 1t is
seldom that they leave the mouth
of the tunnels farther than is
necessary to throw out the dirt.
The burrows are long tunnels
which wind about in the ground
in whichever direction the sweet
will of the animal dictates. The
main tunnel is about eight or
ten inches below the surface. On
either side at frequent intervals
are short laterals leading up to
the surface where the dirt ac-
cumulated in digging is thrown
out in small mounds. When a
lateral is no longer needed for
this purpose, it is SO tightly pack
ed with earth that it is almost
impossible to follow it while dig
ging. At intervals in the tunnel
will be found chambers which
are used to store food for win
ter. In favorable circumstances
far more material is hidden away
than the animal can use. In some
chambers is found dried grass,
where perhaps the animal rests,
or where the young may be nest
led.
Gophers are not prolific breed
ers. There appears to be but
one litter of young, containing
from two to six, which is brought
forth in the spring of each year.
These are nearly grown in the
fall and leave the parent home at
that time to construct win
ter quarters for themselves. The
most active periods of work are
the best times to apply remedial
measures.
POISONING METHODS.-Po;-
soning is the best method to use
against these pests when they are
encountered in large numbers.
The following formula has been
tried with SUCCESS and is rec