Jerome L. Gifford 1951

Student field notes from zoology classes in 1951

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ——————_@—_____ Report Cover Subject of Report FIELD NOTES Cisicne Vertebrate Zoology 199 Submitted by Jerome L. Gifford Date GENERAL SECTION Jerome L. Gifford Springdsle, Washington County, Uteh May 2, 1951 Lete in the afternoon I hunted Citell us lecureus on Moquitch Hill, 3/4 mile south of the south entrence of Zio n Netionel Park, On the north slon e of the hill, which is dotted with Artemi sie and Juniperus utehensis, five ground squirrels wer e seen, Two others were feeding on the withered, yesr-old fru it of Opuntie teniusnine, in the adjacent floor of Blsck's Cenyon. On the south slo ne of the hill, slthough it was covered with the seme types of vegetstion, there were no squirrels seen, One snecimen wes eollected, Three traps were nleced in = burrow of Thomomys bottee in an elfalfa Park. field 1/2 mile south of the south entrance of Zion National May 3, 1951 One female Thomomys bottse was found in one of the trans set last night. Ano egeinst it. ther tran hed been sprung by loose dir t thet hed been nushed This trep wes renlaced in the burrow, while the other two were placed in snother burrow neerby. May 4, 1951 All of the trans set for Thomomys bottse last nicht were emnty Late in the efternoon I returned to Moquitch Hill snd collected one Citellus lecureus, The sun hed begun to set by the time I resched the area, and only one squirrel wes seen, They seem to retire to their nésts for the night as soon ss the sun begins to cet low in the sky end the air starts to cool off. . May 7, 1951 In Snake Hollow, neer the south entrance of ion National Park, I noticed the tracks of a Basssriscus in 9» sandy bottom of a wesh, One set, baited with spnle, wes placed in a culvert through which the animal hed gone, Another set, with two number three steel trans baited with chicken entreils, wes msd e in = cove nesr the enimel's trail, May 8, 1951 There were no fresh tracks nesr the Basssriscus sets in Sneke Hollow, May 9, 1951 There were no fresh trecks of Basser iscus nesr the trens in Sneke Hollow, The tra p baited with snnle was undisturbed, but 9 house est had been caught in the set baited with chicken entrsils, Both sets were removed, ss I will be unsble to attend them for several days, May 18, 1951 About 5:30 p.m. I collected one Citellus lecureus on Moquitch Hil l. This was a female, which head been nur sing young. None of the youne ones was . seen. The snecimen was collected with en Erodium cicuterium plant in its mouth, and its stomach was ext remely full of creen vegetal matter , Jepome L. Gifford May 19, 1951 Hill. Collected one Citellus lecureus in the sfternoon on Moauitech Three trans were placed in 2 burrow of Thomomys bottse in en élfalfa field 1/4 mile south of Zion Nationel Perk, May 20, 1951 One Thomomys bottae was caught in the trans placed lest night, Kolob Terrace, Wash. Co., Utah June 8, 1951 Three govher traps were set near Blue Svrings, on Kolob Terra ce, 18 miles north of Virgin City. The trans were plseced in a burro w by the edge of a stream in 5 meadow of native snd domestic grasses, Although the meadow covers several acres, gopher diggings were found only slong the stream end et the edge of the meedow, near en sspen grove, June 9, 1951 Two of the gopher traps set by Blue Springs were untou ched, while the third hed been sprung by loose dirt being pushed throu gh the burrow, June 10, 1951 One female Thomomys talnoides was caught in the burrow by Blue Springs. The specimen had been nursing young. The trans were reset in the meadow near the edge of © grove of asnen, June 11, 1951 One of the trans set last night conteined the bett ered remains of 6n animel, probably Thomomys talnoides, which hed been mutilsted beyond recognition. The other trans were sprung, but were empty, June 13, 1951 Early in the morning two traps were placed in 4 burrow near Blue Springs. In the afternoon one male Thomomys talpnoides was found in one of the traps, June 14, 1951 In Potato Hollow, Horse Pasture Platesu, Zion Nationel Park, I set three traps for Thomomys talpoides, The traps were pleced in 8 valley floor covered with Lupinus and allium, in sn srea surrounded by Populus tremuloides, Elevation of the valley sverages about 6800 Pte June 15, 1951 All three of the trans pleced in Poteto Hollow yielded Thomomys talpoides, The one female snecimen (number 11) hed six peirs of mammae, Two traps were set in burrows at the base of Goose Creek Knoll, Horse Pasture Plateau, Zion National Monument. Lupinus end domesticeted grasses grow in the clearing, which is surrounded by thickets of Quercus utshensis, On nearby Lava Point, at tn elevation of 7390 ft., 2 third trap was set in a burrow located in 9» clesring among the aspens end douglas fir which covers the plateau, . Jerome L. Gifford June 16, 1951 The trap on Leva Point contsined one Thomomys talvoides, and another was found in one of the trans at the bese of Goose Creek Knoll, Both specimens were females, and both hed five vairs of mamnse. The one ceught by Goose Creek Knoll was carrying three stems of Lupinus in its cheek pouches, one inch in length, The stems were 3/32 inch in diemeter end averaged June 23, 1951 In the afternoon three traps were placed st the forks of a burrow at the base of Goose Creek Knoll, June 24, 1951 One of the traps at Goose Creek Knoll contained a Thomomys talpoides, This was a female, with six mammse on one side and five on the other, specimen had five wood ticks imbedded on its right cheek end neck, and The three others were wandering through its fur, July 10, 1951 About noon I hunted Citellus lateralis at Blue Springs. Several specimens were sunning themselves ond feeding in the branc hes of Prunus mélanocarpa, One specimen was collected nesr its hole at the base of one of these shrubs, A second one, shot while it wes perched on a rock in a clearing covered with Lupinus, was carrying the head of a grass plant in its mouth, and its pouches contsi ned several smell black seeds (enclosed with collection), July 12, 1951 One Citellus lateralis was collected in the clearing near Blue Springs. The enimal was climbing in the branches of a Ribes montigenum when it was collected, July 13, 1951 A Citellus lateralis, collected while esting the berries of Ribes montigenum near Blue Springs, had an extra-heavy layer of fat under its Skin. The teil of this specimen (number 19) had been broken off and had healed completely. July 14, 1951 While repairing the telephone line between Potato Hollow and the West Rim Trail on Horse Pasture Plateau, Zion Nationel Perk, I notic ed humerous tracks of Felis concolor, The tracks of an adult snd a kitten were found in the treil leading from Potato Hollow to Sleeny Hollow, These tracks w ere mede during the previous 24 hours, Along 2 ridge at the heed of Sleepy Hollow a beaten trail had been formed by cougars passing over it. At least three individuals had been plong the trail, as there were the tracks of the kitten and adult which head been in Potato Hollow, and the track of a much larger edult. On the West Rim Treil, about 200 yards east of the lookout, I heard an snimel crash into the brush, but could not see it. I readily found the tracks and some feces left by the animel, This animel, unlike most cougers, had not stopped to scratch leaves or brush over the feces, probably because Jerome L. Gifford I had surprised it before it hed time to do so. The numerous tracks along 211 of the trails indicate » greater sbundence of these animals then in former years, when only an occasional track coul d be seen, Kolob Terrace, Iron Co., Utah July 15, 1951 In the morning I drove to the head of Crystsl Cree k; just inside of the south boundery of Iron County, on Kolob Terrace, A tnlus lava Slope at the head of a smill drew, at 9075 ft, elevation, wes one of the places from which Ochotona princeps had been reported. Hure boulders form a semi-circular rock pile sround the head of the draw, and beaten trails were found between nearby patches of Prunus melanocarpa, ¥rom about 9 8.m. until noon I sat motionless on the rock pile, hoping to collect some pikes, However, only one was seen, snd it was out of gunshot range, although the peculiar chirping-bark of the sanimsls frequently was heard, One-fourth of a mile north from the place I first stovped, I foud another talus leva slope with smaller boulders, This slope, at san elev ation of 9100 ft., was surrounded by espens snd Elde rberry, Pikas seemed especially sbundant in this area, ss their bark s were heard over the entirestalus slope, end one was seen while I was climbing to the center of the rock pile, Five specimens were collected in about én hour, but the skulls of ell of them were somewhat damaged. This was due to the Close range at which theyalcilled, even though numb er 12 shot was used in a e410 bore shotgun. One small male pika which was not mounted, becsuse its skull had been crushed, measured 150=- -25-19. Another specimen (number 20) had a wood tick imbedded in the fur benesth its lower jaw. Springdsle, Wash. Co., Utah July 15, 1951 Threea traps were placed in burrows of Thomomys bott se in an alfalfe field 1/4 mile south of Zion National Park, July 16, 1951 One Thomomys botteé was caught in the tran s placed in the elfalfe field last night, | : Kolob Terrece, Wash. Co., Uteh July 17, 1951 Upon returning to Lava Point today, I discovered that seven skulls of Thomomys talpoides, left outside to dry, were missin g. The skulls ha been been suspended from s four-foot wire strung between two branches of & tree, Some animal had evidently worked the skulls to the edge of the wire, then hadignewed through the str ings of the skull tags by which the y were suspended, No trace of the skulls could be fou nd, although several of the tags were found on the ground nearby, Although there was no evidence of whet snimsl hed teken the sku lls, some spyecies of Neotoma seemed to be the most likely suspec t, The remaining skulls were thresded on the wire and were placed in the center of the wire, with at least two feet clearance between them end the nes rest branches, Three traps were plsced in burrows of Thomomys telnoides st the lower part of Potato Hollow, Horse Pastur e Platesu, at 6700 ft. elevation, Jerome L. Gifford July 18, 1951 The three traps in Potato Hollow hed °11 caught Thomomys talpoides, but two of the traps had been dragged from the burrows and the enimels were helf-enten, Feather merks on the ground, snd two owl feathers leying nearby, indicated that en owl hed made the raid on the trans, The thin gopher wes untouched, As I approsched the tree in which the skulls hed been hung to dry, I noticed an Eutemius minimus attempting to trawl out slong the wire on which the skulls were henging. He would get out from six to eight incles along the wire before losing his balence, He would then heng by his front or hind feet, while with the other two he would swing back to the limb from which he had started, Three sttemnts were mede before he noticed my presence and became alarmed, These sctions indicate thet a chipm unk mey ave been responsible for the missing skulls. July 20, 1951 In the morning I hunted Tamissciurus fremonti on Lave Point snd in the area beneath the point. No sign of these squirrels were found on top of the pleteau, but several were heard in the trees beneath the ledge, Although I spent seversl hours creeping slowly through the brush and standing motionless, I did catch sight of one of these animals. Aug. 1, 1951 At 5:30 a.m. I heard two Tamiasciurus fremonti in a dougles fir grove below Lava Point. I attempted to collect them, but could not get within shotgun range of them. They did not leave the grove, however, so it may be possible to collect one at 2 lster date, Auge 2, 1951 Agsin the chickerees were chirping in the douglas fir grove below Lava Point soon efter sunrise. By stationing myself in the center of the grove, I msnaged to collect one femele snecimen after they hed becom e become .eccustomed to my presence, Large beads of pitch were found on the whiskers end along the sides of the mouth of the snecimen collected, Aug. 10, 1951 While working in Potato Hollow I noticed a Temiesciurus fremonti carrying cones of Pinus pondeross into s grove of aspens,. We watched it intermittently for 4 couple of hours, but could not find its nést, Aug. 11, 1951 Another Tamiasciurus fremonti was seen in Poteto Hollow today. This oné was not so shy as the one seen yesterday, I approached within ten feet of the animal wtthout alarming it. Aug. 15, 1951 In the morning I set two smell can traps on Lava Point for Euteami us minimus, Oatmesl, mixed with peanut butter, wes used for bait, and the traps were pleced under the branches of Arctostenhylos platy nhylla A long the upper edge of s cliff, traps. At noon two snecimens were found in the The traps were rebsited and reset sround the esbin on Lava Point , In the afternoon I collected one Citellus Isterslis in the chokecle rry- lupine flat near Blue Springs, The berries of Ribes montigenum still sre Jerome L. Gifford hanging on the bushes, end seemed to be the msin food of these animels, Three traps were placed in burrows of Thomomys talpoides in:s clearing among the aspens on Lava Point. Augs 16, 1951 The smsll traps plsced around the cabin yesterday contained one Peromyscus maniculatus, These trans were rebsited and set along the edge of a cliff on Lava Point. Pesnut butter end oatmesl were used as bait, One of the traps in the burrows contained a Thomomys talpoides; 9 female with six psirs of memmae, In the burrow in whic the gopher wes caught, « freshly-cut stem of Astragalus was found. This stem wes 9 1/2 inches long, and evidently wes bessie dragged by the animal when it was caught. One Eutesmius minimus was caught in 4 trap slong the ledge on Leva Point. Aug. 18, 1951 Under the branches of an Arctostaphylos platyvhylla e partly-gnawed cone of Abies concolor wes found. A large can trap, beited with osatmes] and peanut butter, was placed where the cone had been found. Two small can traps were pleced near a corral on Leva Point. Polished rice was used es bait in one trap, while the other wes baited with ostmesl] and peanut butter, Auge 19, 1951 A female Neotoma cinerea had been caught in the lerge can trap under the manzanite bush on Leva Point. Although the animal was too large to get inside of the trap, its head snd shoulders had been pinned inside of the trap by the powerful spring... A cone of Abies concolor, with the top portion gnawed away, was found in the trap. The trap baited with polished rice wes untouched, but two Peromyscus maniculatus were caught in the trap beited with oatmeal, Springdale, Wash. Co., Uteah Auge 19, 1951 Three traps were set in burrows of Thomomys bottse in sn alfalfa field 1/4 mile south of Zion National Parki Aug. 20, 1951 One of the traps set in the alfalfa field last night contsined a Thomomys bottae, The other two were untouched, All three traps were reset in different burrows, Auge 21, 1951 All of the traps set for Thomomys bottae last night were empty, although one had been sprung. Kolob Terrece, Iron Co., Utah Aug. 23, 1951 3:30 I arrived et the talus slope at the head of Crystal Creek at sbout me The sun was shining through a layer of li ght cirrus clouds, and the temperature was dowm to about 60 degrees; 15 or 20 degrees below Jerome L. Gifford the normal sfternoon temperature for this time of yesr, For neerly an hour I waited in the center of the slope without seeing 2 pike. Only occasionally did I hear one bark. fFinelly the sun csme out and the air became warmer. This seemed to draw the pikes out of hiding, for within 30 minutes I had collected four snecimens. One specimen (number 37) which I had prepsred the skinnof before examining the skull, had the skull too badly crushed to save, Agsin all of the skulls were damaged due to the short range at which they were killed. Jerome L. Gifford Map of WASHINGTON COUNTY, UTAH Iron County Weshington County nn r N _ Crystal o= Creek \ + BE G4. } Zion | V HNet1, \ ! . B Blue Springs —~—shave Point m Gopse Creek! | Mone got Knol} "f “ZI A Potato Hollow | NATIONAL PAN RK Hurricane ® St. George Weshington County Z 0 0.6 | me L. Gifford Springdale, Wash. Co., Utah Map of Section 28 T, 41 S., R. 10 W. 8 Selt Lake Meridian Black's “ Ss a“ Canyqn, Fea \ ~ WS hy ROOO N\ Moqu ah a > alain 18959 eed icon _— State Highway B \ tien, Sea WOR «a. National Park Boundary % ‘ ; ~~... Intermittent streams \ X 3900 Sec. nd 2 ’ Sec. /29 Sec, 23 See / 52 (v) il 5) |Sec.% Virgin Seale: t 0 ] 1/8 l cf 1/4 6 inches enual one mile 1/2 1 mile CATALOG SECTION Jerome L. Gifford Springdale, Wash. Co., Utah May 2, 1951 No. 1. Citellus leucurus, Male, Taken on Moquitch Hill, 3/4 mile south of the south entrance of Zion National Perk, Elevation 3950 ft, North slope of a sagebrush-juniper hillside, 234-64-37-l1, May 3, 1951 No. 2. Thomomys bottae, Zion National Park. Female, 3900 ft. Alfalfa field 1/2 mile south of 219-70-34-9, Skull only. May 4, 1951 No. 3, Citellus leucurus. Zion National Park, Female. 4000 ft. Moouitch Hill, 3/4 mile south of North slope of sagebrush-juniper hillside, 153-51-34-12, | May 18, 1951 No. 4 Citellus leucurus, Zion National Park, Femsle, 3925 ft. Monuitch Hill, 3/4 mile south of Sagebrush-juniver flat at base of hill, 210-63-40—11, May 19, 1951 No. 5. Citellus leucurus, Zion National Perk. hillside, Female, 4050 ft. 214-65-40-11. Moouitch Hill, 3/4 mile south of Northeast slope of sagebrush-juniper Contents of cheek pouches included, May 20, 1951 No. 6. Thomomys bottse, National Park, 3930 ft. Male, Alfalfa field 1/4 mile south of Zion 192-62-28-8, Kolob Terrace, Wash. Co., Utah June 10, 1951 NOe 7. Thomomys talpoides, Female, Blue Springs; 18 miles north of Virgin City. 7950 ft. Meadow, 191-56-30-8. Skin only. June 13, 1951 No. 8. Thomomys talpoides. Virgin City. 7950 ft. Male, Meadow, Blue Springs; 18 miles north of 180-51-28-9, Skin only. June 15, 1951 : Noe 9. Thomomys talpoides, Plateau, Zion National Park. 204-59-31-9. No. 10. Potato Hollow, Horse Pasture 6800 ft. Lupine-aspen valley. Skin only. Thomomys talpoides, Plateau, Zion Netional Park. 147-44—-11-6. Male, Skin only. Male. Potato Hollow, Horse Pasture 6800 ft. Lupine-aspen valley, No. lle Thomomys talpoides, Platesu, Zion National Park. 181-56-30-8, Female, Potato Hollow, Horse Pasture 6800 ft. Lupine-aspen valley floor. Skin only. June 16, 1951 Moe 12. Thomomys talpoides, Plateau, Zion National Monument. 214-56-28-8,. Skin only. hill. No. 13. Thomomys talpoides. Monument. 7890 ft. Goose Creek Knoll, Horse Pasture Femsle. 7500 ft. Lupine-o#k flat at base of Lava Point, Zion Nationel Female, Douglss fir-aspen pletesu. 199=-46=-27~10, June 24, 1951 No. 14. Thomomys telpoides. Goose Creek Knoll ;-Horse’ Pasture Female, Plateau;.Zion National Monument, hill. 194-62=27-7, 7500 ft. Lupine~-oak flat at base of July 7, 1951 No. 15. Thomomys talpoides. Female. Lava Point, Zion National 172-54-28-8, Monument. 7890 ft. Douglas fir-aspen plateau. July 10, 1951 No. 16. Citellus lsteralis. Virgin City. No. 17. 7975 ft. 7975 ft. Blue Springs; 18 miles north of Male. Blue Springs; 18 miles north of Chokecherry-lupine flat. Citellus leteralis. Virgin City. Male. Chokecherry-lupine flat. 248-39-38-20. 244-97~34-20. July 12, 1951 No. 18. Gitellus lsterelis. Virgin City. 7975 ft. Male. Blue Springs; 18 miles north of Chokecherry-lupine flet. 27 6-90—-45-24, July 13, 1951 No. 19. Virgin City. 7950 ft. Blue Springs; Female. Citellus lsteralis. Meadow. 18 miles north of 221-55-42=22,. Kolob Terrace, Iron Co., Utah July 15, 1951 No. 20. Ochotona princeps. Female, Talus lava slope. 210=— -32-26, Head of Crystal Creek. 9100 ft, Female, Head of Crystal Creek, 9100 ft. Head of Crystal Creek. 9100 ft. No. 21. Ochotons princeps. Talus lava slope. 163-_-27-22, No. 22. Ochotona princens. Female. Talus lava slope. 209= -30-235, Noe 23. Ochotona vrincens. Mele, Talus lava slope. 217- -30-23, Head of Crystal Creek, 9100 ft. Springdale, Wash. Co., Uteh July 16, 1951 24. Thomomys bottsae. Female. Alfalfa field 1/4 mile south of No. 215-83-31-6. Zion Nationel Park. 3930 ft. Kolob Terrace, Wash. Co., Utah July. 18,1953 No. 25. Lupine-sspen valley floor. 6700 ft. Plateau, Zion National Park, 194-63-29-8,. Potato Hollow, Horse Pasture Fem=le. Thomomys telnoides, Skin only. Auge 2, 1951 No. 26. Tamiasciurus fremonti. National Monument. Underneath Lava Point, Zion Female. Douglas fir grove. 7500 ft. 352-142=-50-29. Aug. 15, 1951 No. 2%. 7890 ft. Monument. No. 28. No. 29. Douglas fir-aspen plateau, Citellus leteralis. of Virgin City. 7890 ft. 195-91-32-19, Blue Springs; 18 miles north Female, Chokecherry-lupine flet. 7950 ft. Femele, Eutemius minimus, Monument. Lava Point, Zion Nationel Male. Eutamius minimus. 248-76-43-21, Lave Point, Zion Netional Dougles fir-aspen pleteau, 204-86-32-20,. Auge 16, 1951 Thomomys tealpoides. No. 30. 7890 ft. Monument. 7890 ft. Monument. No. 32. Dougles fir-aspen platesu. Peromyscus maniculatus. No. 31. 7890 ft. Mele, Female. 188-61-25-9, Lava Point, Zion National Douglses fir-aspen platesu. Eutamius minimus. Monument. Lava Point, Zion Netionel Female, 144-735-2018, Lava Point, Zion National Douglas fir-aspen pletesu. 205-87-31-18. Aug. 19, 1951 No. 33. Neotoma cinerea, Female. Lava Point, Zion National Monument. 7890 ft. Douglas fir-aspen plateau, 322-149-38-335, No. 34. Peromyscus msniculatus. Mele. Leva Point, Zion National 146-70-22-16. Monument. 7890 ft. Dougles fir-aspen platesu., No. 35. Monument. Peromyscus meniculstus, 7890 ft. Femsle, Lava Point, Zion National Douglas fir-sspnen plateau, 161-78-30-21. Springdale, Wash. Co., Utah Aug. 20, 1951 No. 36. Thomomys bottae. National Park, 3930 ft. Male, Alfalfa field 1/4 mile south of Zion 236-86-31-8, Kolob Terrace, Iron Co., Uteh Auge 23, 1951 Female. Heed of Crystal Creek, No. 37. Ochotona princeps, 2ll= -31-24, Skin only. Talus leva slope, Tslus lava Noe 39. slove. Ochotona Talus lava slope. princeps. Male. princeps. Female, 239--34-23, 217—_=30=23, Male. No. 40, Ochotona princeps. 234— —29=825. Talus leve slone. Head of Crystal Creek, Hesd of Crystel Creek, Head of Crystel Creek. 9100 ft, 9100 ft. 9100 ft. 9190 ft. SPECIES ACCOUNTS CITELLUS LATSRALIS Blue Springs, Kolob Terrace, Wesh, Co., Uteh July. 10, T9521 In trying to collect Citellus laterslis tod-sy I found that these snimols prefer oven meadows rether than the wooded erees which most of were the other smaller rodents in this sres inhabit. Although chipmunks elis in numerous 511 slong the rosd, I did not see any Citellus leter the driving from Leva Point to Blue Springs until I hsd come out into meadows surrounding Blue Springs. of The holes of these snimels generally were located st the bases rocks Prunus melenocerpsa, which in this sree sttains tree size, or under seattered throughout the flets. 50 yerds of their holes, All of the svecimens seen were within They do not seem to renge so fer from their ed , holes as do the Citellus leucurus. The Citellus lsteralis, when elerm would race to the entrance to their burrow, then would pause to look sround before ducking out of sight. Several individuels were seen entering one burrow. One specimen, collected as it paused on top of a rock above its hole, menaged to crewl into the burrow before it died. A grass head wes being carried in the snimal's mouth, end several small, bleck seeds were fount in its cheek vouches. The animal wes in good condition, with » lseyer of fat under its skin. Blue Syrings, Kolob Terrace. July 18, 1951 A Citellus lateralis collected was climbing in the branches of 4 Ribes montigenum. Although the berries were ripe, I did not see the animal eat any of them. July 13, 1951 Blue Springs, Kolob Terrace. A specimen collected todsy was esting the berries of Ribes montigenum. This specimen was the fattest one that I have seen in this sree, Its teil hed been broken off at one time snd the stub had hesled over completely, Aug. 15, 1951 Blue Springs, Kolob Terrace. Ribes montigenum still seems to be the msin food of the Citellus leterslis around Blue Springs, especially since the berries have begun to wither and become dry. Some of the animals, however, were seen sitting on rocks eating the seeds of Lupinus, One individusl hed csrried 9 smal) stem with several of the seed-nods on it to the rock on which it sat. Others seemed to heve gathered the seeds individuslly before cerrying them to the rocks to eat. ?wed 1? Jerome L. Gifford Jerome L. Gifford CITELLUS LEUCURUS Springdale, Wash. Co., Utah Mey 2, 1951 Seven Citellus leucurus were seen in the afternoon while hunting m Moquitch Hill and in Black's Canyon slong the foot of the hill. Although all of them were first seen slong the bottom of the hill or out in the canyon, every one retreated to its den on the north slope of the hill, Some of the animals were found at about 300 yards from their holes, while 211 of them were at least 100 yards swey. Some of the burrows were located sbout hslf way up the slope, but others were nearer the top of the hill. The animels were very wild, and would retreat to their dens as soon es I approached within two or three hundred yards of them, Two of the squirrels were feeding on the withered fruit of Opuntia teniuspine, which remained on the cactus from last year. May 4, 1951 . Springdale, Wash. Co., Utah The Citellus leucurus seem to be very diurnsl in their habits, Although the sun had barely begun to set, most of them had disapneared from their feeding grounds in Black's Canyon by the time I reached there late in the sfternoon, although the air head only begun to cool 9 little, May 18, 1951 Springdale, Wash. Co., Utah One femsle Citellus leucurus collected today hed a fillsree (Erodium cicutsrium) plant in its mouth, This plant, the earliest blooming one in Zion Canyon, may provide much of the early spring food for these animals, as it begins blooming in February and early Merch. The stomach of the specimen collected wes filled with green vegetal matter which probably w-s composed of the leaves and stems of the fillsree, Jerome L, Gifford EUTAMIUS MINIMUS Lava Point, Zion Netionsal Monument, June 24, 1951 Wash. Co., Uteh Eutemius minimus seem to be thicker on Lava Point this yesr than at any other time during the past five years. Before, there had been only Now, about six or eight individuals living on the point of this vlateau, however, there are an estimated 40 of these animals in the srea, which covers about an acre. Of the number vresent, fully helf of them sre immeture. There hes been no change in the amount or type of foods available. The vast winter was exceedingly dry for this area, and although the precipitation for the summer has been about average, the various shrubs on Lave Point have smaller crops of fruit on them then Some factor other then food supply must they have hed in other years. be considered responsible for the incresse in the numbers of these animls, Although Eutemius minimus seems to be nocturnal, the enimels are out almost as soon ss it becomes light in the morning. SEsrly in the morning they may be seen racing up and down the trunk of an Abies Concolor back of the cabin on Lava Point. The immature animsls are very playful, although even the edults chase each other over the rocks and through the brush. One animal, after being chesed for several yards, will turn on its pursuer, who will then flee into the brush. This game sometimes will continue for sometimes as long es ten or 20 minutes. Leva Point, ZionNational Monument, July 13, 1951 The ability of Eutamius minimus to climb on smell limbs is amazing. They will creep to the very tip of a supple twig, which will bend down with their weight so that they can reach out with their forepsws to reach berries on the limb below. In going from one branch to another, they are capable of grasping the limb with either their back or front legs and swinging to the next branch, The smell, apvle-like fruit of Arctostephylos platyphylla seems to be the favorite fruit of these snimls at this time of year, Around the cabin on Leva Point the chipmunks sre rather shy, but near the ledges of the point they will not flee so readily. Whenever anyone steps outside of the cabin, 211 chinmunks pleying around the cabin will flee from the clearing into the bushes surrounding it. However, if we walk upon them while they sre frisking smong the rocks of the ledge, they will stand watching us, and will not flee until a sudden movement alarms them. Lava Point, Zion Nationsl Monument. July 18, 1951 An Eutamius minimus todsy demonstrated its climbing ability as it attempted to reach the skulls of specimens of Thomomys talpnoides which I hed hung in a tree to dry. The skulls were strung on 9 wire between two branches, with et least two feet clearance between them snd the nesrest limb. The chipmunk would crawl carefully out elong the wire for six or eight inches, but finslly would lose his balance, The animal then would swing under the wire snd would release its grip with either its front or hind feet, and would swing back to the limb with its free legs, swinging itself back to solid footing. After feiling to reach its objective, it would run snd dow the tree, as if sesrching for a better route, then would make another attempt to reach the skulls, Whether or not the animal wes attempting to use the skulls for food is not ‘movn, but it may have been responsible for the seven skulls which were taken from the wire yesterday, Eutemius minimus Lava Point, Zion National Monument. Aug. 5, 1951 has been Heavy rains have fallen from Auge 1 to Aug. 4, and there Only during the times when very little activity from Eutemius minimus. moments would the snimals the sun would break through the clouds for 6 few be seen out. However, today the sun has been shining and the chipmunks have been extremely active. A fairly heavy crop of Amelanchier oalnifolis the chipmunks has been ripening slowly during the last few weeks, end have kept ell of the ripe fruit cleaned un. However, during the four days of rain, most of the remaining fruit has become ripe. Todsy the by sundown all chipmunks have been busily gathering the berries, until bf the fruit hed been stripned from the shrubs. Even the few remaining ls. green berries were taken from the limbs by these snime Lava Point, Zion National Monument. Auge 15, 1951 d under Two can traps, baited with oatmeal and peanut butter snd place mius minimus. the branches of Arctostaphylos:platyphylla, yielded two Euta them They seem to have no fear of man-made objects, and will approach without feer if they sre not disturbed. While attempting to shoot some still-life pictures of Eytamius minimus, I had a good opportunity to observe their actions, One chinmnk head would : hid in a pile of sticks as I anproached it. Ocesasionslly its some small nop out from the sticks and it would watch me until I msde movement, when it would dive beck into the sticks egein. Other chipmunks Lava did not seem so cautious when I approached them on the ledge around They would stand motionless, except for the constant movement of Point. from side their tails. Generelly they switch their tails back and forth ed in unison with to side, with occasionelly s geries of chirps being utter each switch of the tail. Jerome L. Gifford NEOTOMA CINEREA £8 July 21, 1951 Leaves Point, Zion Netional Monument. The nocturnsl habits of Neotoma cinerea make its nresence difficult Todsy I noticed s pile of gnawings from the cones of to determine. Abies concolor which I suspected had been carried there by Neotoms cinerea. As no trap was svailable, I attempted to surprise the animel by flashing a light over the area at about 1/2 hour intervals. About 11 p.m. I saw one of these snimsls gnawing on something directly in front of the ecebin on Lava Point. He did not seem to be frightened by the light, but sat poised for a few minutes before retreating into some brush, Aug. 18, 1951 Lava Point, Zion National Monurent. A vartly-gnawed cone of Abies conmlor was found under the branches of an Arctostaphylos platyphylle on Lava Point. The animal had gnawed off the besal one-third of the cone, leaving © pile of gnawed remants of the cone where he had worked, Auge 19, 1951 Lava Point, Zion Nationel Monument. A Neotoma cinerea, caught in the trap placed under the branches of the Arctostavhylos vleatynhylla where the gnawed cone was found yesterday, was carrying another cone of Abies concolor. eaten, Almost half of the cone ves Confinement in the tran did not seem to bother the snimal, as it had continued gnawing on the cone efter it was caught. Jerome L. Gifford OCHOTONA PRINCEPS July 15, 1951 Head of Crystal Creek, Kolob Terrace, Iron Co., Utah Although meny versons hed heard the berk of Ochotons princeps in the piles of leve rocks slong the road neer Crystel Creek, so effective is their protective coloration that few people even had susnected their existence in this sres. Most of the ranchers in the srea had sunnosed thet the noises they beard when pascing the niles of boulders were made by squirrels or marmots. In one small draw nesr Crystel Creek, I sat for three hours in the center of e nile of boulders, Although pikes frequently were heard barking emong the boulders, only one wes seen during this entire time. between the rock pile end the patches of Prunus melsnocerne nerrby, besten trails were clesrly evident. "nder some of ‘tthe boulders piles of the cut twigs of these plents were found. Most of them were niled with the stems pointing in one direction. There were also many piles of chokecherry leaves under the boulders, but I could not determine with certsinty thet they hed been carried there by pikas rather then being blown by the wim. All of the leaves were fully dried. Although grasses grew along one side of the rock pile, no dried grass was found smong the boulders. At another nile of boulders 1/4 mile north of the nlsace I had first stopped, I found much sign of these snimels. Trails led from the rock pile for almost 100 yards into a meadow adjoining the rocks. Under one Most of the stems were rock there was a large pile of Sambucus stems, still green, although those on the bottom of the pile were nesrly dried, The stems ranged from six inches to two feet in length, snd 911 of them | still had the leaves on them. Within a few minutes sfter I had seated myself in the center of tie rock pile several barks were heerd from the rocks sround me, At first they sounded rather muffled, as if the snimsls were under the rocks. Soon, they began to show themselves. A pike would nop out of a pile of rocks and would sit silently watching for seversl minutes, Most of them were seen only after their barks were heard, Often only the snimel's head could be seen as it peeped from beneath the rocks. Within en hour five specimens easily were collected, Head of Crystel Creek, Aug. 23, 1951 The pikas seemed more quiet today than they had been the last time I was here. This may have been due to the cooler sir, es the sun was partly obscured by 6 layer of cirrus clouds, For the first hour I snent in the rock pile, the pikas only barked occasionally. A little later in the afternoon the sun came out and the sir became warmer. The pikes then sterted moving around smong the rocks. One would emerge froma pile of rocks and would sit silently watching me. As soon as I turned my head in its direction, it would disappear under es rock and would reanpeer several minutes later two or three yards distant. Generally the pikss would sit hunched on a rock, with their forefeet extended, When running, they leap onto boulders six snd eight inches in They height, then jump dowm off the opposite side snd continue running, seem to prefer to crawl under rocks, however, snd can get through an amazingly small opening. One pike would perch on © log until I made some small movement, then it would dive under the log and reanpear in about five minutes, Aug. 25, 1951 | | I questioned Adrian Dennett, , acti , acting renger in cher i harge of Li4ion Nationa Monument, ebout his observations of the pikes at the head of Crystal Crees v —_ e Ochotons vrincens He revorted that he hed visited the srea several times after dark end had not heard the barks of the enimals, From his observations, he reported that his belief that the animals were diurnsl only end not nocturnal, Jerome L. Gifford PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS Aug. 16, 1951 Lave Point, Zion National Monument, Weshe. Co., Utah The population of Peromyscus meniculatus seems to be on a downward swing from the peak in this area reached about 1948. At thet time, when I was setting up a camp on Lava Point, it was almost imnossible to trap them fast enough to keen up with the naturel increase. Three end four traps were baited each night, snd sometimes 911 of them were emptied several times during the night. As many es four hsd been caught in one trap, even though the traps were of the type thet snrung the door ss soon as the first enimal reached the back of the trap. In contrast, this year only one esnimsl was caught in this same area, slthough two treps were set with the same bsit»used during 1948. Auge 19, 1951 . Lava Point, Zion National Monument, Two Peromyscus meniculatus, ceught in 4 tren baited with oatmeal md peanut butter, show the food preferences of this snecies, One trap had been baited with polished rice and placed in an enually advantageous snot, but the rice had not been touched. Another nile of rice had been placed in the center of a driveway, and although trecks indicated thst some small rodent had visited the pile, none of the kernels wés missing. 1 Jerome L. Gifford TAMIASCIURUS FREMONTI Lava Point, Kolob Terrace, July 20, 1951 Wash. Co., Uteh For several dsys the sharp, piercing chirp of the chitkeree has been heard during the early hours of the morning below Lava Point, Several individuals have been present in the lower vegetation beneath the ledge around this plateau, but none has been seen or heard on top, even though the vegetation is essentially the ssme on ton and beneath the ledge, Lava Point, Kolob Terrace August I, 1951 At 5:30 a.m. two chicksrees were heard in a douglas fir grove below Leva Point. These snimels seemed to be very shy, for when approsched they would cease chirping. After I had remained motionless for several minutes they would again begin frisking about the trees and chattering cm stantly. Although these two remained in the grove of douglas fir, others have been seen and hesrd in this vicinity in white oak, white fir, aspen and yellow pine trees, The chickarees generally are heard only on sunny days, ond usually only during the early hours of the morning or lete in the afternoon. Aug. 2, 1951 Lava Point, Kolob Terrace A specimen observed at about 6:45 a.m. in | douglas fir grove below Lava Point would creep cautiously dowm a tree until st or nesr the ground, then would become alarmed and would quickly retreat to the ton of the tree, So rapid would be its ascent of the tree that it would seem to be accom lished in one leap, although sctuslly helf a dozen jumps would be taken during the ascent, Flattened out slong the upper edge of a limb, the chicksree would be almost invisible, but its restless nsture soon would give its presmce -away. After remaining motionless for only 2 few minutes, its teil would begin to wave, and the chickaree would again be noticeable, A specimen collected in this grove hed beads of pitch from the coniferous trees in its whiskérs and slong the sides of its mouth. Aug. 10, 1951 Potato Hollow, Horse Pesture Plateeu, Wash. Co,, Utah One chickeree was busily carrying cones of the Pinus ponderosa fran beneath e tree by the spring in Potato Hollow to a grove of aspens, Tie animal didinot seem to be afraid of us, but would not anvprosech its nest while we were within the vicinity. As soon as we withdrew a short distance, however, it:would again begin carrying cones, Auge 11, 1951 Potato Hollow, Horse Pasture Plateau The conflicting nature of the chickaree was illustrated todsy when one sst on a limb of a yellow pine and let me snvroach within ten feet of where it sauetted before it moved to a higher limb. At other times this snimal will be so shy that one hardly can approach within seeing distance of it, but this one did not show eny fear as I annroached, Jerome L. Gifford THOMOMYS BOTTAE May 2, 1951 Springdale, Wash. Co,, Utah About 5 p.m., while watching an opening to a burrow of Thomomys bottae, I noticed one of these snimals emerging from the entrance to the burrow. The enimal would reise its head to the surface of the ground, end would watch carefully for several minutes before venturing out. After determining that it was safe to leave its burrow, it would desh out of the hole and would run for one or two feet before becoming alarmed end returning to the burrow. No movement wes made to cause the alarm; rather the animal seemed to fear remaining in the oven. The entrance to the burrow had been dug through the packed earth of a trail along the edge of an alfalfa field. All of the loose dirt had been taken inside of the burrow for disposal through another opening. Only a hole about an inch end s half in diameter showed the activity of the animal, After a trap hed been placed in the burrow, the animal had become so alarmed that by the time darimess fell, three hours later, it had not returned to theti opening. | Jerome L,. Gifford qaQn1 THOMOMYS TALPOIDES June 8, 1951 Blue Springs, Kolob Terrace, Wash, Co., Utah Burrows of Thomomys talpoides in s mesdow neer Blue Synrings were found only slong the stream edge and nesr an aspen grove at the edge of the meadow. Most of the diggings were among Lupinus vines, slthough some extended out into the grasses of the meadow, June 10, 1951 Blue Springs, Kolob Terrace, The femele Thomomys talpoides ceught in the tran lest night hed been nursing young. Another tran, set in the same burrow, hed been sprung by loose dirt being pushed through the burrow, indicating that more than one snimal hed been using the burrow, ss the traps were facing away from each other in the same section of runwsy. June 14, 1951 Potato Hollow, Horse Pesture Platesu, Wash. Co., Uteh Diggings of Thomomys talnoides in Potato Hollow resemble those of moles more than they do those of gonhers. Meny ridges of turned earth may be seen on the valley floor, elthough most of them ere old. Local ranchers report that this tyne of digging is the result of the esnimsals burrowing near the surface beneath the heavy snows present during the winter, but this mybe a guess rether than the observation of true facts. Conventional burrows, with loosely-piled heaps of earth also sre present, and sere more fresh then the other tyne of diggings. June 16, 1951 Goose Creek Knoll, Kolob Terrace, A Thomomys talpoides caught by the base of Goose Creek Knoll today had been carrying three stems of some species of Lupinus in its cheek pouches, The stems were from the above-ground portion of the plent. June 24, 1951 Goose Creek Knoll, Kolob Terrace, Eight wood ticks were found in the fur of = Thomonys talpnoides caught by Goose Creek Knoll todsy. Five of the ticks were imbedded in the right cheek and neck of the snimsl, while the other three were crawling through its fur, All of the specimens of this svecies collected so far have had fleas crawling on them. This seems strange, 2s there have been no vermin found on any of the Thomomys bottae so far collected, This may be due to some difference in the species, the climatic differences in the sreas inhabited by the two species, or other factors. While the temperature in the area occupied by Thomomys bottse frecuently exceeds 110 degrees F., at Leva Point the maximum temperature seldom reaches 85 degrees, and at Potato Hollow probably does not go more then ten degrees higher, The difference in the smount of vermin found on the two species mey, of course, be only e coincidence, noticesble only because of the smell number of specimens so fer collected, . Aug. 16, 1951 Leva Point, Zion Netionsl Monument. A freshly-cut stem of Astragelus was found in the burrow of a Thomomys talpoides caught this morning. Fresh dirt clinging to the leaves of the plant, os well as its position directly behind the anim1 in the burrow, indicate thet the stem wes being dragged through the burrow. The stem was 9 1/2 inches long.