OUR MISSION

Our mission is to save the Mazama Pocket Gopher (Thomomys Mazama) through protecting, enhancing, and enlarging its preferred prairie habitat and through educating the public on important and practical issues that affect both people and gophers. 

Because habitat loss appears to be the single most factor of population decline, our primary goal is to obtain property for the preservation & restoration of gopher habitat.  Populations of Mazama pocket gopher that occur in urbanizing areas are prone to further population decline through habitat loss and fragmentation.  As gopher habitat is converted to human habitat, gophers are threatened by competition for space with urban adapted moles.  Coyote and other predators adapted to urban and suburban environments also threaten the continued existence of this prairie-adapted species.  In urban environments, gophers cling onto survival in patches of dirt between buildings, sidewalks, and streets. 

Agencies have favored a mitigation practice allowing large developments to set aside a fragmented patchwork of small grassy islands in an ocean of buildings, concrete, and pavement. We urge agencies to allow the rescue of fragmented populations of Mazama pocket gopher through the assisted colonization of these rescued individuals to large tracts of preserved & restored prairie habitat.  We believe that abandoned agricultural land can be restored to prairie habitat, providing a refuge to recover this declining species. 

We need your help and the cooperation of agencies and other organizations to make this happen. 

Help Save the Mazama Pocket Gopher---Cute picture

ABOUT US

The Mazama Pocket Gopher Foundation has been founded in 2008 by Curtis Wambach, M.S., principal of PE Consultants LLC, who has dedicated his life to finding the balance between people and nature.  This has been his pursuit since studying population biology as a graduate student.  Since college, Curtis has taught mathematics, statistics, ecology, and environmental science at various colleges and universities.  He worked for the Nature Conservancy and other non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving natural places.  He had even established a non-profit organization in Bellingham, WA dedicated to the restoration of streams and wetlands and the enhancement of salmon habitat.  Working for various consulting firms has given him the knowledge and experience to aid land owners in finding that balance with nature. 

His years as the consultant for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has given him the extensive knowledge of environmental engineering, permitting, and science in the public sector, working on boat launch sites, wildlife preserves, bridge projects, hatcheries, fish traps, marine and aquatic habitat restoration, salmon habitat restoration, levee projects, and much more throughout the State of Washington. 

Since WDFW, Curtis has established PE Consultants LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to finding innovative solutions in the balance between people and nature.  The Mazama Pocket Gopher Foundation is his way to use the years of attaining knowledge and experience in his career to save one remarkable species.  This volunteer non-profit organization has been established with the primary goal of protecting, enhancing, and enlarging Mazama pocket gopher habitat in the preservation of this species. 

BECOME A MEMBER

Becoming a member is easy.  Just mail us the completed Membership Application (see right) and a tax deductible donation of $150 or more.  Student membership is $50 with proof of enrolment in an accredited college or university.

You will be placed on our membership raster, making you eligible for news and information on how gophers may affect you, your property, and your world. 

We are offering one free gopher survey included in your tax deductible general membership fee of $150.  The gopher survey includes a map of gopher mounds on a property up to one acre in size.   Add $100 per additional acre.  Limited to one property survey on one parcel per gift. 

Mazama Pocket Gopher Foundation

Membership Application

Name (first and last)__________________________________________

Name of Company or Educational Institution______________________

Address____________________________________________________

Phone Number______________________________________________

Email Address_______________________________________________

General Membership $150             Student Membership $50 

I would like a gopher survey on my property 

Mail to:

Mazama Pocket Gopher Foundation

4333 30th Avenue SE

Lacey, WA 98503

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION

Making a contribution is easy.  Just stuff a carefully place a check for any mount into an envelope and send it to the address below.  Your contribution is tax deductible.  Just ask us for a receipt.  Your gift will contribute to our mission.  It will enable us to preserve, enhance, and enlarge prairie habitat preferred by the Mazama pocket gopher. 

MPG Foundation

4333 30th Avenue SE

Lacey, WA 98503