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Skull Valley Pocket Gopher
Thomomys bottae robustus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5T3
State (S-rank): S2
External links
Species range
Range includes the vicinity of the Skull Valley, Lakeside Mountains, Cedar Mountains, Camels Back Ridge, and Granite Peak area, primarily in Tooele County, Utah (Durrant 1946, 1953; Flinders 1968; Murray 1973; Pritchett 2001). Reported elevational range is approximately 1,310-1,710 meters (Murray 1973).
Habitat
Thomomys bottae occurs in various soils that allow establishment of burrows. Often they inhabit loamy or sandy soils in grass-forb associations, but also occur in gravelly soils and in other vegetation types. In the Cedar Mountains, T. b. robustus occurs in natural grassland, gravelly canyon floors, and in alluvial soils at the mouths of canyons (Flinders 1968). This subspecies does not occur in highly alkaline soils (Fliners 1968, Murray 1973).
Threats or limiting factors
No large threats have been identified (e.g., see Pritchett 2001), but changes in fire regime, soil moisture, and food availability resulting from cheatgrass invasion may be having a negative effect on these pocket gophers. Most of the range of this subspecies has already converted to cheatgrass monoculture, and that which has not yet converted will do so soon (G. Oliver, pers. comm., 2013). Additionally, rodent control (e.g., poisoning) is a potential threat.A spent nuclear fuel storage facility covering approximately 3.3 square kilometers has been proposed to be established in the Skull Valley but if constructed probably would not have a major impact of the pocket gopher (e.g., see Pritchett 2001).
