Kangaroo rats abound on millions of acres of desert and semidesert
range and farm lands. On ranges that have been overgrazed, kangaroo
rats must be controlled before reseeding can be accomplished, as they
gather and store practically all of the seed within a radius of 100
yards from their burrows.
[Illustration: Close-up of typical kangaroo rat den.]
[Illustration: Showing plot protected from both livestock and kangaroo
rats.]
[Illustration: Plot showing grazing by kangaroo rats--livestock being
excluded.]
[Illustration: Area on left of fence subject to grazing by both
livestock and kangaroo rats. On right of fence shows protection from
both livestock and rodents.]
[Illustration: Open range--note lack of native grasses.]
[Illustration: Kangaroo rat den around mesquite bush. Note lack of
vegetation.]
[Illustration: Typical kangaroo rat infestation.]
[Illustration: Trail leading from kangaroo rat den to feeding ground.]
[Illustration: Close-up of feeding ground. Note rat pellets and close
cropped grass.]
[Illustration: Kangaroo rat den before excavating,]
[Illustration: Cross section of den, showing storage chambers and
stored grass seeds.]
[Illustration: Seed heads taken from one kangaroo rat den--
A--Burrow grass seed.
B--Indian wheat heads.
C--Weed seeds.
D--Unidentified grass heads.]
[Illustration: Kangaroo rat den before treatment (July 1, 1935), Papago
Indian Reservation, Sells, Arizona.]
[Illustration: Same location as above two months later after
eliminating the kangaroo rats.]