IDENTIFICATION OF NORTHERN POCKET GOPHER, THOMOMYS-TALPOIDES, REMAINSIN LONG-TAILED WEASEL, MUSTELA-FRENATA-LONGICAUDA, SCATS

Nine Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata longicauda) seats were collec ted on Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides) mounds in an alfalf a field in Gwynne, Alberta, from 21 to 29 September 1995. Northern Poc ket Gopher remains were found exclusively in six (67%) seats. Deer Mou se (Peromyscus maniculatus) remains were identified in the three (33%) other seats. The pocket gopher mounds had been built between late Jul y and September and thus our findings are a snapshot of Long-tailed We asel feeding activities that occurred in late summer. However, they ar e the first confirmed cases of Northern Pocket Gopher remains in Long- tailed Weasel seats.