The Farmland: Minnesota Gopher Traditional Cache

The Minnesota Gopher, officially named "Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel," really do have 13 stripes - seven dark stripes separated by six lighter ones. The "13 liner" is very familiar to Minnesotans because this little animal is the mascot for the University of Minnesota's "Golden Gophers!"

Identification

General Description: Small rodents, buff colored with light and dark stripes down its back.
Length: About 11 inches, including the 4-inch long black-striped tail.
Weight: Males and females weigh from 5 to 9 ounces, respectively.
Color: Golden to yellow body with distinct dark stripes. The stripes have yellowish squares or dots.

Food

Mainly seeds, leaves, and grass, along with a good mix of insects, small birds, and lizards.

Habitat and Range

Originally occurring in the native prairies of the central U. S., the Minnesota gopher's range has moved to the northeast, and they now live anywhere some grassland exists.

Population and Management

Minnesota gophers are unprotected in Minnesota. They are not hunted or trapped, and have no fur value. Their main value is an important prey species in the grassland ecosystem.

The Cache

The container is a camouflaged gummy vitamin jar. It is located in a tree about 1 ft. off the ground. It contains a log, a pencil with an add-on eraser, a sharpener, some kid's swag, and a handmade polymer-clay gummybear.