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Thomomys bottae
Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) is a pocket gopher native to western North America, from California east to Texas and from southern Utah and Colorado south to Mexico. It is also known in some sources as valley pocket gopher, particularly in California. This species is medium-sized, with males reaching a length of approximately 25–26 centimetres (9.8–10 in) and a weight of 160–250 grams (5.6–8.8 oz), and females averaging about 22 centimetres (8.7 in) in length and a weight of 120–200 grams (4.2–7.1 oz). This species is highly adaptable, burrowing into a very diverse array of soils from loose sands to tightly packed clays, and from arid deserts to high altitude meadows. It is strictly herbivorous, and will often pull plants into the ground by the roots to consume them in the safety of its burrow, where it spends 90% of its life. The burrows of this species may reach lengths of more than 150 m, and only extend above ground in times of snowfall. Traces of these aboveground burrows are sometimes called "gopher eskers." Main predators of this species include American Badgers, Coyotes, Long-tailed Weasels, and Snakes, but other predators include Skunks, Owls, Bobcats, and Hawks. This species is considered a pest in urban and agricultural areas due to its burrowing habit and its predilection for alfalfa; however, it is also considered beneficial as its burrows are a key source of aeration for soils in the region. wikipedia
No problem with the gopher help! Unfortunately I will be of no use in identifying lichen. Vertebrates, especially mammals, are the limit of my expertise, if you could call it that. I have a bunch of "bugs" and "green things" that I cannot id. Lucky for both of us, there are people part of this community that can hopefully help us both.
Thanks Geoffrey!
Bottas Gopher does seem to be right. There are several spottings on Bottas from this area.
This gopher was spotted in a valley ,nestled by Mt Diablo.
Meant to include a link to a range map, here is one for the Mountain Pocket Gopher: http://www.sibr.com/mammals/M085.html
Definitely in the genus Thomomys, and if the location information is precise, this should be Thomomys bottae. This appears to be too far south to be Thomomys monticola, the mountain pocket gopher, leaving you with only Botta's Pocket Gopher as a possibility.