This subspecies was widely distributed along the coastal slope of the
mountains from the coastal sage belt, at roughly 1600 feet, up to 6500
feet at the lower edge of the yellow pine forest and was most common in
the chaparral association.
In the coastal sage belt these woodrats are restricted to wash areas
where large chaparral plants such as lemonadeberry and laurel sumac are
used as nesting sites. In San Antonio Wash the occasional large juniper
trees almost invariably harbor the nests of _fuscipes_. The general
absence of suitable nesting sites in the sage belt probably limits the
spread of _fuscipes_ in this area.
In the upper part of the chaparral belt in talus these woodrats live
beneath the angular boulders and build no visible houses. Several areas
of talus occupied by woodrats were examined carefully and no sign of
houses was noted.
Two juveniles were found in the stomach of a rattlesnake (_Crotalus
viridis helleri_) killed in May, 1948, at the mouth of Evey Canyon.
Remains of woodrats were found in feces of the coyote and gray fox.
Lactating females of this species were taken on March 16, and October 2,
1951.
_Specimens examined._--Total, 4, distributed as follows: San
Bernardino County: Icehouse Canyon, 5500 ft., 2. Los Angeles
County: San Antonio Canyon, 2800 ft., 2.
=Neotoma fuscipes simplex= True