92 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE 



In the lower portion of the Yosemite region skunks make extensive 

 use of ground squirrel burrows as dens, appropriating those which are 

 deserted or possibly, even, holes from which the rightful owners have been 

 evicted. It likewise uses deserted badger holes to a considerable extent. 

 On the mesa-prairie near Snelling, Striped Skunks were trapped fully 

 three-fourths of a mile from the nearest bluff of the foothills ; and it seemed 

 as though the animals must have been foraging abroad fully this distance, 

 as no burrows were found short of the bluffs. 



Relatively large numbers of Striped Skunks are trapped by the resi- 

 dents of the region both for their fur and because of the depredations 

 which they commit about poultry houses. But despite this draft on the 

 population the species has maintained itself in goodly numbers. The 

 tracks are to be seen commonly in the morning along dusty roads through 

 the foothills. 



As one of us was motoring up the Coulterville Road not far above 

 Lagrange one moonless night in August, a Striped Skunk was sighted in 

 the road ahead. The beast was traveling up-grade in the right-hand wheel 

 rut, ambling along at the regulation matter-of-fact rate characteristic of 

 the species. As the machine approached, going in 'low,' the skunk 

 accelerated its pace in no perceptible degree; neither did it leave the rut. 

 In order to avoid the consequences of a rear-end collision, the driver, the 

 last instant it was yet possible, simply had to turn out to the left, leaving 

 the skunk still pursing its own course when the shadow-limit from the 

 lights cut it from view. 



California Badger. Taxidea taxus neglecta Mearns 



Field characters. — Up to twice size of domestic cat; body flat, depressed (pi. 24b 

 and c) ; legs short; tail short, one-fourth head and body; feet large and claws stout and 

 long. Head and body 20y2-24 inches (520-610 mm.), tail 5-6% inches (125-170 mm.), 

 ear l%-2 inches (30-50 mm.) ; weight 9%-17 pounds (4.3-7.7 kg.) [extralimital speci- 

 mens included in these measurements]. General coloration yellowish brown, grizzled 

 with white; feet and top of head black; a prominent streak of white from nose over 

 middle of crown to between shoulders (pi. 24c) ; side of head white with a large patch 

 of black on cheek. Voice: Low grunting and puffing noises. 



Occurrence. — Resident in certain parts of the Yosemite region, irrespective of altitude. 

 Recorded from Snelling, Lagrange, Pleasant Valley, Smith Creek (6 miles east of 

 Coulterville), Vogelsang Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, Lyell Canon, and near Williams 

 Butte. Lives in open country ; makes burrows in ground. Sometimes abroad in daytime. 

 Usually solitary. 



The California Badger is found at numerous localities in the Yosemite 

 region, from the San Joaquin Valley on the west to Mono Valley on the 

 east, and it ranges upward to an altitude of 10,350 feet. Yet it does not 

 occur continuously over our Yosemite section as do several other wide- 



