144 CALIFORNIA MAMMALS. 



closing the openings, and, if you have many traps out, stakes to 

 mark the places where the traps are set. 



The rounds should be made twice a day, early in the morn- 

 ing and at night, as the Gophers are then actively at work. Look 

 for fresh mounds. If an open hole is found widen it sufficient- 

 ly to insert a "C V" its full length. Leave that hole open as 

 the Gopher will be back in a few minutes to close it. If a fresh 

 mound is found with the exit closed use the shovel carefully. 

 If the run is not readily found it may perhaps be found by feeling 

 with the end of the hoop iron or the finger, as the earth in the 

 side run should be softer than its surroundings. Try to find the 

 side run without breaking into the main run. If you find it, set 

 a "C V" in it if there is room out side of the main run, and nearly 

 close the run with a piece of board, leaving a little light to 

 tempt the Gopher tO' close the hole. If there is not room enough 

 in the side run to use a "C V" set a steel trap in the main run 

 with the pan and jaws level with the floor of the run. See that 

 no lumps of dirt are left in the run to give the Gopher warning. 

 Close the side run thoroughly in this case as you are trying tO' 

 get the Gopher as he makes the rounds of his run as usual. 

 If you chance to open the main run at a "C V" in each branch 

 and close the openings tight behind them. The Gophers will 

 fill a considerable proportion of the traps with earth and fail to 

 spring them. Reset the traps and close the hole. When traps 

 are set in the main run the Gophers are more likely to fill them 

 and make a new run a few inches behind the old run. Now and 

 then a Gopher will prove to be cunning and difficult to catch. After 

 trying such an animal a few times change to somei other form 

 of trap. It is seldom that a Gopher is too smart to be caught, 

 but I have been baffled a few times ; commonly they are careless 

 and easily caught. 



A good cat that will hunt Gophers is valuable, but the most 

 efficient helper that a farmer can have is a pair of the much 

 persecuted barn owls. These birds live principally on Gophers, 

 and during the breeding season a pair will catch a dozen each 



