118 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 



in the far West they burrow in the banks of 

 irrigation ditches and thus cause extensive 

 breaks, the repair of which results in the ex- 

 penditure of much time and money." (Lantz.) 



An enemy to orchard and forest. Re- 

 cently, attention has been especially called to 

 the injury done to orchards and nursery stock, 

 often before the owner becomes aware of the 

 presence of the animal, and it is evident that 

 great watchfulness should be maintained by 

 tree planters in gopher-infested country. This 

 watchfulness should be especially alert where 

 the orchardist, in order to prepare the soil, first 

 raises and turns down crops of alfalfa, clover 

 or cowpeas, sweet potatoes or sugar-beets. 

 Any of these attract the rodents, and make 

 their attacks more than likely upon the newly 

 planted saplings. 



A gopher which in tunneling comes to a tree 

 root attacks and eats through it. If the root 

 is relished, it is followed and eaten close up to 

 the tree trunk. Then another root is destroyed, 

 and so on until the entire root system is gnawed 

 away, wood and bark alike, leaving the trunk 

 loose in the ground. 



