The architecture of burrow systems of kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) vary among species and knowing how these systems are constructed could be useful in the management and conservation of kangaroo rats. We excavated burrow systems of the two kangaroo rat species that occur on the valley floor of the southern San Joaquin Valley in California. Systems of both species were located in fields that had been fallow for about eight years. We excavated 15 burrow systems of Tipton kangaroo rats (D. nitratoides nitratoides) and 10 burrow systems of Heermann's kangaroo rats (D. heermanni tularensis) in areas west of Bakersfield in Kern County. In general, both species constructed shallow systems that are < 25 cm under the surface. Both species also constructed systems that included multiple openings to the surface, although of the systems we excavated, more openings were found in Tipton kangaroo rats systems (mean = 2.5) than in burrows of Heermann's kangaroo rats (mean = 2.0). Some tunnels were unbranched, but often systems included multiple interconnecting tunnels. Mean greatest length of burrows were similar between Tipton (1.82 m) and Heermann's kangaroo rats (1.61 m) and lengths varied between 0.75 - 3.5 m and 0.5 - 2.8 m, respectively.
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