CHAPTER XL 
POCKET GOPHERS 
Pocket gophers are among the most destructive rodents 
or gnawing animals that we have. They look somewhat 
like rats. They are about the same length, but are much 
thicker and more squatty, and they have uglier faces, more 
prominent teeth, and longer claws. With these claws they 
tunnel through the ground like expert miners, living the life 
of a hermit and venturing forth from their burrows very 
rarely and very cautiously, usually at night. They throw 
up little piles of earth all over the fields and prairies which 
they inhabit, and many persons who are quite familiar with 
these have never seen one of the culprits, either dead or alive, 
often laying the blame for this mischief upon the ground 
squirrels. 
These mounds of loose earth interfere seriously with the 
harvesting of crops; and the animals also devour quantities 
of farm produce and often kill young trees, shrubs, and other 
plants by eating the roots. Some years ago it was estimated 
that the red pocket gopher caused an annual loss of $800,000 
on a single crop, alfalfa, in the state of Kansas. These crea- 
tures should be exterminated on every farm, and the best 
way to do that is by means of poisoned grain, corn being 
especially recommended. When there are only a few of the 
animals they may also be trapped. The weasel is their 
natural enemy and will follow through their burrows in search 
for them. 
402 
