_Specimens examined_ (8).--2 mi. N, 5 mi. W Ludlow, 5; 12 mi. N Buffalo,
1 (USNM); 7 mi. N, 2-1/2 mi. W Camp Crook, 3300 ft., 1; 2 mi. S, 5 mi. E
Harding, 1.
This woodrat is relatively uncommon, yet widely distributed, in
northwestern South Dakota. The species probably occurs throughout the
rocky areas in the hills and buttes of Harding County, and also
frequents abandoned or little-used buildings and feed stations for
livestock. All of our specimens were trapped in rocky habitats, but in
many such places we trapped unsuccessfully for _Neotoma cinerea_, even
though some sign of its presence frequently was evident. Five of our
seven specimens (all taken late in June or early in July) are young of
the year in grayish pelage. An adult male trapped on July 14 had testes
that measured 14.
Over and Churchill (1945:40) mentioned a specimen, which they referred
to the subspecies _N. c. cinerea_, that "probably came from the Slim
Butte area of Harding County." Visher (1914:89) recorded the species as
"plentiful and general" in the county.
~Microtus ochrogaster haydenii~ (Baird, 1858)