Gophers

Almost every day we walk a few blocks to a little park in a valley with a seasonal brook and oak trees.

This park (we call it a "parkito") may be there because it is in a rather abrupt and fairly deep valley--too steep for housing development though there are house lots all around it. There are no restrooms, playground or picnic tables--it is just a bit of common ground for dog walking and such urban activities.

What we like is that there is no traffic and usually no people or anything but natural features and inhabitants.

We have seen a land turtle, a family of deer, lots of birds including five or six wild ducks which stay the winter until the brook drys up  There are pollywogs in the spring and some minnows--though we don't see how they can survive since the brook is dry most of the year and a long way from any flowing water and there are several "towns" of gophers.

The gopher towns are very lively probably because there are few predators. The parkito is surrounded by busy streets and residences so we think no coyotes have made it into the animal mix and don't ask me how the deer managed to get in! Now and then a hawk flies around hopefully, but the gophers seem pretty wary of attack from the sky.

It is amusing to think that these little animals seem to enjoy life very much without grocery stores, schools or police. They are really on their own.

Tanya put her video of "our" gophers on the web for you

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