Q: I recently visited Vasona park in Los Gatos and saw this little rodent. Can you tell me what it was, please? Picture attached. — Phil Hasell, UK
A: Hi Phil,
Thanks for sharing this great closeup of what appears to be a western pocket gopher, considered the bane of many a gardener’s existence.
Surprisingly, the gopher‘s constant burrowing provides valuable services to our ecosystem, like providing shelter for our local lizards and reducing flooding. Read all about these misunderstood herbivores here:
http://baynature.org/articles/
Thanks for sharing your find with Bay Nature, and I hope you enjoyed your trip to Vasona Park! — Bay Nature staff