Koford 37 Cynomys ludovicianus Feb. 1, 1955 Custer, South Dakota Talked with Walter Hanson of U.S.F.S. who had done study on mt. goats in Black Hills. He told me of C.L. colonies near Pierre (on Missouri River). He also knew of some near Denver, in S.W. S.Dak., near Ellis Mtn. (old town too that area). In Custer area few left because of long poisoning. Local cattle men of F & W. Service were George Barnes and Archie Hower of Custer. The U.S.F.S. attitude toward C.L. seemed to lie to get rid of them. // I visited "Hart" Keldson, county agent, to find location of Barnes. Keldson knew little of rodent + pocket gopher. He received complaints + sent them to Barnes & Hower. Keldson thought pocket gophers an especially great problem now. // I found Barnes at his home W. of Custer near westrick. He was about to go out trapping, but took about an hour to talk to me. I think he was truthful tho not too observant. Barnes had worked in Nebraska panhandle & W. North Dakota for years. He said that all through White River drainage there had been many C.L. This in- cluded Pine Ridge Indian Res., where 40,000 A. poisoned are summer. One town 5,000 A. In W.P.A. days (30's) much poisoning a division some recreation. Indians objects to poisoning as they eat C.L. // Barnes sends reports central operator to officer at Mitchell, S. Dakota. He formerly made maps of towns known. These showed small town radiating out from large central town "like spokes on a wheel." Eastern boundary of C.L. range near Pierre, he thought. // In Weird Cave N.P., Shuttail town old & rotten seem to have ground, with few C.L., or oldest part in bottom. Buffalos Flats town started about 4 yrs. ago. // Old towns always re- invaded. Barnes does not think even move out completely from one colony - very old burnours them, for generations. Barnes