Rodents of the Kern River Valley and Environs

KERN AUDUBON SOCIETY - information on birding and conservation in Kern County. Working to conserve air, water, wildlife, and open space in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California

Buena Vista Group of Sierra Club - the Bakersfield group of the Kern Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club

by Alison Sheehey

Several species and subspecies of rodents are endemic to the Kern River Valley. This unique region's varied habitats lead to genetic isolation that creates an environment ripe for evolutionary changes in populations. Most of the Kern Valley's rodents are small, although the introduced beaver and muskrat can be quite large. Rodents are for the most part extremely adaptable and many benefit from the presence of man.


Family Sciuridae	White-tailed antelope squirrel Ammospermophilus leucurus
	California ground squirrel Spermophilus beecheyi
	Western gray squirrel Sciurus griseus
	Merriam's chipmunk Tamias merriami
	Lodgepole chipmunk Tamias speciosus
	Douglas' squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasii
	Northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus
Family Castoridae	Beaver (I) Castor canadensis
Family Geomyidae	Botta's pocket gopher Thomomys bottae
Family Heteromyidae	Yellow-eared Pocket mouse Perognathus parvus Tehachapi pocket mouse Perognathus alticola Little pocket mouse Perognathus longimembris California pocket mouse Chaetodipus californicus Panamint kangaroo rat Dipodomys panamintinus Pacific kangaroo rat Dipodomys agilis Merriam's kangaroo rat Dipodomys merriami
Family Muridae	Desert woodrat Neotoma lepida Dusky-footed woodrat Neotoma fuscipes Southern grasshopper mouse Onychomys torridus Parasitic mouse Peromyscus californicus Canyon mouse Peromyscus crinitus Deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus Brush mouse Peromyscus boylii Pinyon mouse Peromyscus truei Western harvest mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis California vole Microtus californicus Muskrat (I) Ondatra zibethicus Black rat (I) Rattus rattus House mouse (I) Mus musculus

Nature Alley is dedicated to protecting natural communities wherever they exist. She is involved in many scientific and educational programs, promoting environmental appreciation and ethics.