Shhhhh. We're stalking Geomys pinetus.
Aka, around here at least ... "gopher" or "salamander".
Southeastern Pocket Gopher is the common name for ol' Geomys pinetus.
So, it seems pretty natural for folks to shorten that to just "gopher".
"Salamander" takes more imagination.
That one is a corruption of two words, "Sandy Mounder". Say 'em together fast with a sweet Southern drawl and you come pretty close to "salamander".
If not, you may be lacking in sweetness.
Work on that, okay?
Pocket gophers truly are "sandy mounders". They move A LOT of earth as they burrow beneath the surface of PFHQ.
See those mounds in the picture above ?
The gopher has to remove soil from his tunnels as he creates them.
Every so often, the gopher tunnels up to the surface and kicks out the excess soil, thus producing a chain of mounds that trace the the general path of the tunnel below.
Remember this post?
My "stalkee" was not as cooperative this time, but you do get to see a gopher nose in the last video.
I love it when a plan comes together.
Gee whiz, aren't you glad I narrate these videos with exciting statements like, "That's dirt ..."
You were probably confused until I said that.
18 comments:
I'm the first commenter!
I just wanted to give you guys an update on Mom since so many of you left kind wishes for her quick recovery.
She is still sore and is going back to the Doc today.
No word yet.
Thanks again for the kind words.
Happy new year FC,
Sorry, I missed what happened your mother, nonetheless all the best to her for a speedy recovery.
Regarding the gopher, where's Bill Murray when you need him.
hope the doc can help mom.
how big are those gophers? we seem to have a number of their cousins out here -- our soil is closer to clay than sand, but the little boogers keep busy.
I, for one, am glad you identified the dirt. Me being a city girl, you know?
The part that confuses me is that your pocket gopher is a rodent and a salamander is a reptile. And yes, I read your previous post about gopher and salamander terminology, but it still makes no sense that you'd call a rodent a salamander.
Clarification on my comment to your vulture post - since I believe Heaven is run by old people and critters, and since you are kind to your elders and critters, you are probably guaranteed admission. Any news about the vulture?
I can just imagine what the little gopher was thinking. "Oh man! There's that @#$%*& FC messing with my tunnels again!"
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year FC!
Sorry I sort of dropped out on you after Thanksgiving, but things got a bit busy prepping for our Chistmas visitors (I'm going to try to post some pics tonight after work, I'll also try to give you a call)!
Nice to see an actual gohper, gopher, insted of a tortoise nmaed gopher. ;-)
Hope your Mom is feeling better too!
Ok, in defense of my spelling issues: I have not used a computer keyboard for almost 3 weeks while on vacation for the holidays! Hell I even fogot my passwords to get back on when I came back to work this morning, now that's a sign of a good vacation! ;-)
Love that gopher's nose. They are industrious little creatures, aren't they? I did not know that they don't like light in their spaces, and I will remember that when we find their mounds in our garden.
Hope the doc had good news for your mom. Sending best wishes her way!
I just now read about your Mom. :( Hope it's nothing but good news today.
Yeah....I needed clarification. I am just a dumb math teacher!
Karl,
I thought about tucking a photo of Bill in this tunnel when I had it open.
Kathy A,
Guinea pig size!
Wren,
Well, I aim to be helpful.
Marge,
No news on the Stinky.
Thanks for the clarification.
Miz S,
You don't know how true that must be! I opened this tunnel up about a half dozen times after the video trying to get some new still pics.
Dave,
Sorry about your spelling issues, but glad you had a good vacation!
See you soon.
Robin,
Light means a flaw in their defenses, I suppose. Any light means a pine or bullsnake is liable to enter for a gopher snack.
Dani,
Thanks! It wasn't great news, but we can get her through it. It will take longer to get back to normal than we had hoped for.
Cindy,
You can just call me the "Clarifier".
I'm sorry the news wasn't better, fc. Your mom has a loving family, and that really does wonders for healing. Please send her our best wishes for her full recovery.
WOw - I've seen those mounds all my Florida-living life...I lived in FL until age 22, (I'm in GA now,) but this was the first time I ever actually got a peek at the critter.
Cool video...thanks for sharing!
Donna Mc
GA
Dani,
I know. Damn.
Robin,
Thanks for the kindness. We are working out a family schedule to rotate in and take care of her so she can be still and heal.
Donna,
Hey! Welcome to Pure Florida!
I love comments like yours where I manage to show somebody something new!
You must have been in my yard!!!! The videos were great ;)
Thanks Danielle!
aw, FC, so sorry the news is not so great for mom. but she raised good kids. xoxo
guinea pig sized? hmm. whatever underground rodent we have is closer to a rat-length body, a tad more filled-out, but built for underground construction. destruction. whatever. bigger than a hamster; smaller than a guinea pig. i'm so not a biologist.
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