12 Apr2015
Surprise – Mammal!
I was photographing with ranch guests on the Laguna Seca Ranch last night and Shirley said, “Oh, look! Is that a mouse?” But she knew in her mind that it wasn’t. The little critter with little dark eyes and long whiskers was excavating from below, shoving and tossing dirt with its nose and forehead. It’s a Pocket Gopher, my second one this year! We watched as it cleared a path from its subterranean home. I suspect all the rain we’ve been getting has collapsed many of the burrows and they have a full-time job reopening their paths.
Pocket Gopher on the Laguna Seca Ranch
Tags: Dirt, Laguna Seca Ranch, Mammal, Path, Pocket Gopher, Rodent, Subterranean, Tunnel, Whiskers
Ruth Hoyt
photographer, writer, teacher and more