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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-EXPERIMENT STATION 
California Meadow Mouse ( Microtus californicus). —About 5 inches in length; 
relatively short tail; small ears; above brownish; below dark gray. Usually 
seen in grassy fields or meadows where a network of runways, some above 
and some below the surface, are in evidence. Feeds on the stems and leaves 
of grass and other plants; sometimes destructive to alfalfa and other grow¬ 
ing crops. 
California Pocket Gopher ( Thomomys bottae). —Six to nine inches long; body 
stout, blackish brown in color; eyes and ears small; prominent incisor teeth; 
external cheek pouches on each side of mouth. Usually seen poking its 
head out of the entrance of, or pulling weed stalks into, the burrow; a suc¬ 
cession of mounds of earth indicate plugged-up entrances to the burrow. 
Food is composed of succulent roots and stems of plants and trees; destruc¬ 
tive to fruit trees, alfalfa, and vegetables, and other growing crops. 
California Ground Squirrel ( Citellus beecheyi). —About 16 inches in length; 
tail long; ears large; above, grayish brown finely spotted with whitish; a 
whitish patch on the sides of the neck extending backward onto the sides; 
tail brownish. Usually seen running or standing picket-like in open fields; 
lives in colonies; burrows characteristic. Feeds on grain, seeds, nuts, green 
plants, and vegetables; destructive to grain and other growing crops; 
dangerous as a carrier of bubonic plague. 
Chipmunk (Eutamias—various species). —Seven to eight inches long; brownish 
with dark stripes along face and five stripes of dark brown down back 
separated by four light stripes. Usually seen in brushy or.forested areas in 
the mountains. Food largely seeds. 
Gray Squirrel ( Sciurus griseus). —About 22 inches long; gray grizzled with 
white; dull white eye ring; tail flattened, long and bushy. Usually seen in 
trees. Feeds largely on acorns and pine nuts. 
