in the mid '70s i worked for a summer on a ranch outside of klammath falls, oregon. field irrigation for alfalfa and wheat and barley was provided via levees/canals. one of the hands would drive the embankments daily to look for the beginnings of washouts caused by ground squirrels. somewhat larger than gophers, but burrowers just the same. i learned how to work a backhoe while fixing their damage.
real varmints, they are.
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“Everyone should have a horse. It is a great way to store meat without refrigeration. Just don’t ever get on one.”
- ponder's dad