An additional Idaho mole record

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Yensen, Eric; Stephens, Daniel A.; Post, Mary

Source:

Murrelet, Pacific Northwest Bird and Mammal Society, Volume 67, Issue 3, p.96 (1986)

Call Number:

A86YEN01IDUS

URL:

http://www.jstor.org/stable/3536468

Keywords:

coast mole, Northern Pocket Gopher, Scapanus orarius, Thomomys talpoides

Abstract:

Caswell (1953,Murrelet 34:9) reported two specimens of the Coast mole, Scapanus orarius, from Cambridge, Washington Co., Idaho. This is the only previous record of Recent moles in Idaho. On 3 June 1983, we found a road-killed adult female Scapanus orarius on the Cuprum-Council road, 35 km NW of Council, Adams Co., Idaho (T18N, R3W, S1, NW¼,1335 m elev.). The road at this point parallels the Crooked River, and the grassy meadow between the road and the river had several systems of mole burrows. With additional searching, we found scattered mole burrow systems along about 5 km of the Crooked River, as well as numerous northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides) burrow systems. The surrounding habitat is Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest. This locality is approximately 40 km N of Cambridge and across the intervening Cuddy Mountains. The specimen (E. Yensen #493) is deposited in The College of Idaho Museum of Natural History (#246).