striped gopher

[Strix]

The gray coloured bush gopher you refer to is called Franklin Ground Squirrel.
I haven't seen one for years. They are not as plentiful as they used to be.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by Strix

The gray coloured bush gopher you refer to is called Franklin Ground Squirrel.
I haven't seen one for years. They are not as plentiful as they used to be.

Isn't that the Arctic version?

Grizz

[chain2]

I have witnessed the 13 liners rise here first hand and they have taken over my hay fields past 8 years. they are fantastic...I have no moles anymore whether they predated them [predatory evidence googled] or move them out their tunnels i care not. as seen in the op's pic their entry holes are not mounded and small in size. They seem a lil scatter brained if they get off the trails and takes em a while to find their escape holes. Also the hay crop around these burrows is noticeably lusher green so they must fertilize their canopy...I wont be shootin em, i quite enjoy them actually... chain

[parfleche]

shot many of them in Manitoba as a boy with an air rifle .

[Strix]

The Franklin's Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii) is not the Arctic species. In Alberta they inhabit much of the aspen parkland region. I would often hear them more often than seeing them. Their call is often mistaken for some type of a bird. They used to be quite common locally around Beaverhill Lake but I have not seen one there in years.

[countrykid]

We see them every so often out by Viking. As other members have mentioned, we don't shoot them out here. They are much more modest than the Richardson's in my opinion. They don't dig luxury basement suites and 14 car garages. Just a simple, 2 bedroom bungalow. Hardly any dirt for me to find with the swather.

[pintailslammer]

I thought I heard that this particular gopher was protected in Alberta.
This came from a wildlife biologist.

Not trying to stir the pot just wondering


Pin

[Big Sky]

Originally Posted by pintailslammer

I thought I heard that this particular gopher was protected in Alberta.
This came from a wildlife biologist.

Non licence species in Alberta.

http://esrd.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife...s-Sep2014A.pdf

[BPman]

The most I have seen were in sandy areas NE of Vegreville. I would not shoot them for the meat either..... maybe for the pelts LOL

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by Strix

The Franklin's Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii) is not the Arctic species. In Alberta they inhabit much of the aspen parkland region. I would often hear them more often than seeing them. Their call is often mistaken for some type of a bird. They used to be quite common locally around Beaverhill Lake but I have not seen one there in years.

I thought Franklin's were a Mountain species but my book agree with you.

It also says they are the only Ground Squirrel with a bushy tail like a tree squirrel.

[Strix]

It also says they are the only Ground Squirrel with a bushy tail like a tree squirrel.[/QUOTE]


Yup, here is a photo of one I found in the Lac La Biche area a few years ago.
It shows the bushy tail well. You might be thinking of the Columbian Ground squirrel
that is the mountain species.

Strix

[marlin1]

I have only seen about 4 in southern Alberta in 25 + years of roaming gopher areas .

[6.5swedeforelk]

Originally Posted by Smason

got a striped gopher today

So did I.

Much prefer using a few handfulls of seeds & 3 days of hunter patience.

Speaking only for myself, I see no need to snuff the life of these little creatures.

Richardsons... now that's another thing!

[Supergrit]

They we're in my grandmas yard at Bruce Alberta. For years I remember seeing them.

[ganderblaster]

I see three or four per year around the Camrose area every year. They are hard to hit with a .22 as they are quite low to the ground. Aim lower then you do for gophers.

[antlercarver]

Sometimes I just cant understand people

[albertabighorn]

Hope you skinned him, beautiful animal.