Pocket gophers get their name from the large, furlined cheek. In washington, it is only found west of the cascades. Could a pesky rodent delay building a road to yelm high. Mazama pocket gophers in western washington frequently.
Each adult pocket gopher occupies its own burrow system most of the year, but they can quickly occupy a neighboring burrow if a resident disappears. Their presence is beneficial for plant diversity, with one study showing 548% higher as a result. Thurston geodata center mazama pocket gopher soils. Pocket gophers will also eat the vegetation that grows around their mounds. The phs shows the mazama pocket gophers in the vicinity of the site and within 600 feet. Puget sound basin biodiversity assessment friends of the san. It is a smallish pocket gopher that appears to occupy dry and gravelly ridges, as opposed to the valley bottoms with deeper soils that are typically associated with other species. Gophers found in thurston and pierce counties to be added to. Habitat conservation plan possible solution to gopher problem.
Their fur is variable in color but is often yellowish brown with pale underparts. The burrow openings to ground squirrel burrows are always open. The site has low to medium preferred soils for pocket gopher. Harbor porpoise, western pocket gopher, yelm pocket gopher, olympia. The map should not be used as a final indicator that gophers are present, or that gopher habitat exists on a specific property. Bottas or valley pocket gophers thomomys bottae are extremely variable in size and color. The city of yelm is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Olympia, roy, tenino and yelm are all home to genetically independent subspecies, and all are protected see map. Mazama pocket gophers in western washington frequently asked. Nine subspecies of pocket gopher reside across washington, but only those in pierce, thurston, clark and mason county are protected. Billing code 4333 15 department of the interior fish. They are signs of the mazama pocket gopher, and three of the four local subspecies are found in thurston county. Olympia, tenino, and yelm pocket gophers are only found in thurston county and the roy prairie pocket gopher is only found in pierce county. Pocket gophers northern pocket gopher shown here are stoutbodied rodents with small ears and eyes and large clawed front paws.
Date number of front paws number of gophers amount total due claimant declaration by signing this application, i am certifying that the gophers trapped or otherwise taken were taken within. The taxonomy of the camas pocket gopher and its genus, thomomys, have a convoluted history. Pocket gophers create more mounds in spring and fall than in winter or summer. Mazama pocket gopher protected under esa local news. Thurston county has a big problem caused by one small critter. Three other subspecies were determined not to need.
Fish and wildlife service as threatened in april 2014. Indicator soils 2016 in thurston county jurisdiction. Burrow fumigation versus trapping for pocket gopher thomomys spp. The application includes a habitat conservation plan hcp with measures to minimize and mitigate the. Habitat conservation plan for the yelm subspecies of the. Yelm lacey olympia tumwater joint base lewis mcchord nisqually reservation chehalis reservation 12 507 510 8 101 5 5 thurston geodata center, fugro earthdata inc. Simply by observing the burrow mounds of pocket gophers and ground squirrels, the occupant can be identified. In 2014, four subspecies of pocket gopher became listed as threatened under the endangered species act. Northern pocket gophers thomomys talpoides are typically from 6 12 to 10 inches 17 to 25 cm long. The mazama pocket gopher thomomys mazama is a wdfw and federally. Thompson disagrees that the mazama pocket gopher has become more important than local youth.
Sep 23, 2019 habitat conservation plan for the yelm pocket gopher. Be sure to include a photo of the species for verification and location latitude. The southeastern pocket gopher is tan to brown, compared to the darker gray of the plaines pocket gopher. Mazama pocket gopher working group annual meeting summary. The critters, known as the olympia, the roy prairie, the tenino and yelm pocket gophers, are found only in pierce and thurston counties. Dechaux habitat conservation plan for the yelm subspecies of the mazama pocket gopher, thurston county, washington. Thomomys mazama ouchi, glacialis, louiei, melanops. First published as frc35, controlling pocket gophers, may 1991. One such species is the mazama western pocket gopher thomomys mazama.
Front paws from each pocket gopher to be submitted. Bottas pocket gophers are 5 inches to about 12 inches. Much of the ongoing research is guided by the mazama pocket gopher working group, which has. Olympia, roy, tenino and yelm are all home to genetically independent. The mazama pocket gopher is one of the smallest of 35 species in the pocket gopher family. Federal register habitat conservation plan for the yelm. Format note this is in msword, the font is times new roman. First described in 1829, it is endemic to the willamette valley of northwestern oregon in the united states. Four washington pocket gophers proposed for endangered. Olympia pocket gopher, tenino pocket gopher, yelm pocket gopher, taylors. Uncategorized are pocket gophers protected in florida. Pocket gopher and designation of critical habitat identification pacific legal foundation plf appreciates the oppmiunity to comment on the proposed rule, listing four subspecies of mazama pocket gopher and designation of critical habitat.
Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents which live almost entirely underground. Mazama pocket gopher peninsula environmental group, inc. Nov 25, 2015 in april 2014, four subspecies of the pocket gopher known as the olympia, roy prairie, tenino and yelm pocket gophers were listed as threatened under the endangered species act. Species fact sheet for us fish and wildlife service. The herbivorous gopher forages for vegetable and plant matter, which it collects in large, furlined. Gophers found in thurston and pierce counties to be added. It should be noted that a service area for roy pocket gopher has not been identified at. The four subspecies protected today include the olympia, roy prairie, tenino and yelm pocket gophers, all of which are threatened by urban and agricultural sprawl that plows under their prairie habitats, as well as invasion of prairies by trees that thrive in the absence of regular fire.
United states government department of energy memorandum. The service declared a fifth subspecies, the tacoma pocket gopher, as extinct. This multiplier is applied to the debitside formula only. In 2014, they were listed as threatened under the federal endangered species act. The application includes a habitat conservation plan hcp with measures to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking on the covered species. Mgopher habitat conservation plan for the threatened yelm. It differs from the similarsized northern pocket gopher t.
Visit the mazama pocket gopher page for more information. The little critters, found only in thurston and pierce counties, are listed as a threatened species. In 2016, washington department of fish and wildlife wdfw completed a genetic study of pocket gophers in the south puget sound are. The service declared a fifth subspecies, the tacoma pocket go. The mazama pocket gopher has been listed as a threatened species by the washington department of fish and wildlife since at least 2008. These pockets, which can be turned inside out, are used to carry food. Yelm pocket gopher service areas and reserve priority areas. If you see this species, please share your observation using the wdfw wildlife reporting tool or email us at wildlife. Dec 10, 2012 mazama pocket gophers only live in glacial outwash prairies and alpine and subalpine meadows. The influence of trap type and cover status on capture rates of pocket gophers in california. There are a total of 8 subspecies of the mazama pocket gopher in washington, including the 4 threatened subspecies. In contrast, the pocket gopher burrow opening is plugged with soil.
The gopher burrows are utilized by many frogs, toads, small mammals and lizards. Thurston county is working with the department of fish and wildlife on the permitting process. Yelm pocket gopher mazama washington department of fish. Pocket gophers leave mounds of soil on the surface of the ground. Roughead pdf, the united states district court for the district of. Founded 40 years ago, plf is the nations oldest and most.
Billing code 4333 15 department of the interior fish and. Fish and wildlife commission to consider pocket gopher status. Yelm pocket gopher mazama is a subspecies of mazama pocket gopher. The four subspecies proposed for listing are the olympia, roy prairie, tenino and yelm pocket gophers. Salado salamander, sheepnose mussel, shelton pocket gopher, slabside pearlymussel, snuffbox, spectaclecase pearly mussel, tacoma pocket gopher, taylors checkerspot butterfly, tenino pocket gopher, umtanum desertbuckwheat, wekiu bug, white bluffs bladderpod, yelm pocket gopher, and 21 species from the big island and 29 species from maui, hawaii. Photo from wec241, edis, department of wildlife ecology and conservation, institute of food and agricultural sciences, university of florida. Pocket gophers and ground squirrels are quite different in behavior, diets and burrow construction. When a development occurs on property suspected to be occupied by the mazama pocket gopher, the community. Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents, so named because they have furlined cheek pouches outside of the mouth, one on each side of the face. Pocket gopher mounds can be distinguished from mole mounds by their shape figures 5 and 6.
A researcher holds a mazama pocket gopher after trapping it in the mima mounds of west rocky nature preserve near maytown. Along with the listing rule, fish and wildlife officials. Lawsuit filed against thurston county over pocket gopher. Habitat conservation plan for the yelm pocket gopher. This document is wec67, one of a series of the department of wildlife ecology and conservation, ed gilman, ufifas extension. The map shows associated soils the soils are spanaway gravelly sandy loam which are preferred by the mpg.
The distribution of the southeastern pocket gopher. Fish and wildlife commission to consider pocket gopher. Mazama pocket gopher recovery plan and periodic status. The mazama pocket gopher has been listed as a threatened species by the. A determination was made that the project would have no effect for esalisted species under. The mazama pocket gopher thomomys mazama is a wdfw and federally protected species of rodent native to the southern puget sound. M gopher, llc the applicant, requests a 7year permit term that would authorize take of the yelm subspecies of the mazama pocket gopher thomomys mazama yelmensis, hereafter referred to as yelm pocket gopher, incidental to construction of one singlefamily home on land in thurston county, washington. A pocket gopher s burrow system may cover 1 to 2 acres. Yelms urban sprawl may finally be slowed mazama pocket.
Pocket gophers are powerfully built in the forequarters and have a short neck. On or within 300 feet of a soil type known to be associated with mpg occupancy. The olympia pocket gopher is found in the prairie areas in and around olympia regional airport. Controlling pocket gophers oklahoma state university. A, excavation showing nest of the yelm pocket gopher thomomys dottglasi yetmensis in. The subspecies now protected exists in the areas of olympia, roy prairie, tenino and yelm. Habitat conservation plan possible solution to gopher. City of yelm is not responsible for implementation or enforcement of the endangered species act, it consults with the service and provides notice to applicants that the pocket gopher is a federally protected species and a permit from the u. Each gopher is capable of turning over 37 tons of soil per acre per year. The itp would authorize take of the yelm pocket gopher, incidental to otherwise lawful activities during construction of a singlefamily home and agricultural shop in thurston county, washington. Mazama pocket gopher update grant beck updated the council on recent discussion regarding the pocket gopher and its possible status on the endangered species list and the procedures for permitting in the areas they have known to live. Pocket gopher, tacoma pocket gopher, washington southern, redbacked vole. Construction buried under piles of gopher regulations in. Yelm pocket gopher, incidental to construction of one singlefamily home on land the applicant owns in thurston county, washington.
Pocket gophers are herbivores and feed on a variety of vegetation, including plant bulbs and roots. Mazama pocket gophers are ecosystem engineers that can impact soil. In snowy areas, pocket gophers which dont hibernate may venture a short way out of their burrows to eat the bark from branches or shrubs. Five subspecies may eventually be renamed as one species. Habitat conservation plan for the yelm subspecies of the mazama pocket gopher, thurston county, washington, 4078340784 201817668 download as pdf. Mazama pocket gopher indicator soils thurston county. Gophers are well adapted to their underground existence, with stout forelegs and strong curved claws for digging.
The gopher has was listed as protected under the endangered species act on tuesday. Mazama pocket gopher indicator soils soils excluded from future screening gopher indicator soils 2016 map created by geodata on 372016. The yelm pocket gopher, along with the olympia pocket gopher, the roy prairie pocket gopher and tenino pocket gopher, were officially federally classified as threatened species april 9, 2014. Yelm pocket gopher mazama washington department of. Saving endangered pocket gophers in thurston county. The olympia, roy prairie, tenino, and yelm pocket gophers are regionally endemic subspecies of the mazama pocket gopher found only in the state of. Yelm pocket gopher mazama annual report status report recovery plan thomomys mazama yelmensis mammal st ft. Incidental take permit application in thurston county, washington.
They have prominent, yellow incisor teeth and large, furlined external cheek pouches in which food is carried. The olympia, roy prairie, tenino, and yelm pocket gophers are 4 subspecies of mazama pocket gopher that are protected by the endangered species act after these populations were found to be declining and at risk of extinction. He called the traffic issue at yelm high school horrible and said the usfws will help the school district develop a mitigation plan if gophers are found where the access road is planned. Prairie pocket gopher, tenino pocket gopher, and yelm pocket gopher thomomys mazama ssp. The wyoming pocket gopher is sympatric with other species of pocket gophers that look very similar notably. The camas pocket gopher thomomys bulbivorus, also known as the camas rat or willamette valley gopher, is a rodent, the largest member in the genus thomomys, of the family geomyidae. The mazama pocket gopher is important to the prairie ecosystem in which it inhabits. Fish and wildlife service listed the yelm subspecies of the mazama pocket gopher as threatened. Olympia, tenino, and yelm pocket gophers, while still allowing for development. Jun 11, 2020 fish and wildlife commission to decide whether to retain pocket gopher status friday. The four subspecies proposed for protection today are the olympia, roy prairie, tenino and yelm pocket gophers. Categorical exclusion, 4975749758 201920544 download as pdf. For plains pocket gophers, a population of six to eight.
Unlike in other areas of the country where the rodent is considered a. Mazama pocket gophers can be found in other locations outside of the mapped areas. Yelm has protected this species through the implementation of the critical areas code. These are all subspecies of the mazama pocket gophers. Olympia pocket gopher, tenino pocket gopher, and the yelm pocket.
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