18 



("lUClLAi: FOIRTKKX 



Kiow a ( 'orxTV 



The striped ground squirrels or gophers are here in great numbers 

 and destroy such crops as corn, milo, and garden seeds. Their method 

 is digging up the seed after being planted, and often, after it is up, they 

 dig down and eat the heart or germ of the seed. Occasionally they eat 

 grasshoppers, but not enough to counterbalance their destructive habits. 



Hugo L. Schmidt, 

 Eads, January 12, 1914. 



W A SH I N GTOX COT^ N T Y 



The striped ground squirrels are exceeding harmful to certain crops, 

 corn especially. They work on it from the time it is planted until it has 

 reached a height of three or four inches, but do the most damage before 

 it comes up. They will follow a planter mark and take every kernel. In 

 some instances an entire field has to be replanted. They will also take 

 pumpkin and squash seed, being especially fond of the latter. They will 

 also gnaw holes in watermelons, and will eat peas. Our pea crop last 

 summer was almost taken by these squirrels. 



C. Li. Brooks, 

 Abbott. January 12. 1914 



Kit Carson County 



The striped ground squirrels are chiefly destructive to young corn 

 As soon as corn appears they begin pulling it up, and may continue to 

 weaken older plants for several weeks by digging down to and eating 

 the kernels. No doubt they prefer grain of all kinds to their natural 

 prairie diet, but I have never noticed serious damage except to corn. 



A. W. McOuAT. 

 Flagler. January 12, 1914 



l.ITTLK STRIPKI) (iROl ND SQUIRREL 

 fCitellus triderrmlineatus parvus) 



The little striped ground squirrel has been recorded from 

 northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming, Moffat, Rio Blanco, 

 and Garfield Counties, and parts of the San Luis Valley in Colo- 

 rado. We have knoAvn little of the habits of this squirrel, 

 but no doubt they are similar to palUdus. I have taken it in 

 Moffat and Costilla Counties. In Moffat County I found it very 

 sin , and secured only one specimen, which was shot on the run 

 among greasewood f ^arcohatus). In fact, all the squirrels seen 

 in this county were among brushes, while in Costilla County all 

 observed and trapped were out in the open as pall i (his. Their 

 burrows were found along the fences and ditch banks. They were 

 fairly common near San Acacio, Costilla County, and all females 

 trapped June 16 and 17 shoAved evidence that the young had been 

 born. 



While the ground squirrels found in the San Luis Valley are 

 not typical par mis, they are still referred to this form. 



