SANTA CLARITA TARGETS GOPHERS, SQUIRRELS AT PARKS.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

Tunnel vision will be the downfall of certain rodents whose habitual burrowing has loosened hillsides at city parks and made them susceptible to landslides.

The Santa Clarita Parks and Recreation Department has contracted with the Los Angeles Department of Agriculture to rid gophers and ground squirrels from Bouquet and Canyon Country parks, after the hillsides became overrun with the animals, park Supervisor Dale Sargent said.

The city's biggest worry is that the animals' underground tunnels could worsen natural erosion, destabilize the land and prompt landslides at the two parks during the rainy season. City officials have not received complaints from park visitors, officials said.

``These animals have an extensive burrowing system, with tunnels I've seen as deep as 30-40 feet,'' said Sargent. ``We're most concerned about heavy rains hitting those hillsides. I've seen water rushing down one hole and coming out another one 30 feet away.''

The elusive gophers also have challenged park maintenance crews by feeding off flowers, and root systems of trees and other vegetation at the public parks - further destabilizing the land.

The animals are known to carry certain diseases, but Sargent said there have been no incidents reported in the area and that has not yet been a big concern.

The gophers, which normally inhabit flatlands, are believed to have migrated to hillsides as residential development increased and open space decreased near those parks, city officials said.

``Anytime you have hillsides and development, the habitat will have to find someplace to go,'' said Debby Rolland, superintendent of recreation.

The city will receive the county's rodent control services on an as-needed basis. Crews will use bait and traps to destroy the animals, rather than relocate, Sargent said.

``We don't want to relocate one nuisance to another area.''