PCA VERTEBRATES’ EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026 | PEST CONTROL ADVISER (PCA) | ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | UPDATED VERSION!
Question 1
Which of the following vertebrate pests is specifically known for girdling trees above the ground
level?
A) Pocket gopher
B) Meadow vole
C) Roof rat
D) Mole
E) California tiger salamander
Correct Answer: C) Roof rat
Rationale: According to the study material, roof rats and jackrabbits are the primary
vertebrate pests that girdle trees above the ground. While meadow voles can girdle above
ground in snow-covered regions by burrowing through snow, the roof rat is the standard
answer for typical above-ground girdling.
Question 2
Which vertebrate pest is primarily responsible for girdling tree trunks and large roots below the
ground surface?
A) House finch
B) Meadow vole
C) Horned lark
D) Roof rat
E) Domestic pigeon
Correct Answer: B) Meadow vole
Rationale: Meadow voles are the main culprits for below-ground girdling. While ground
squirrels and pocket gophers also contribute to below-ground damage, the meadow vole is
noted as the most frequent cause of bark removal on the lower trunk and root crown.
Question 3
In the seedling stage, which vertebrate pest is most likely to cause significant damage to
vegetable crops such as sugar beets and cotton?
A) Ground squirrel
B) House finch
C) Mole
D) Western gray tree squirrel
E) Muskrat
Correct Answer: A) Ground squirrel
Rationale: Ground squirrels are documented to take certain vegetables and field crops,
specifically naming sugar beets, alfalfa, and cotton, at the seedling stage. Horned larks and
, 2
roof rats also do seedling damage, but ground squirrels are the major field crop threat
listed.
Question 4
A grower notices "disbudding" on deciduous fruit trees. Which vertebrate pest should be the
primary suspect?
A) Jackrabbit
B) Pocket gopher
C) House finch
D) Starling
E) Norway rat
Correct Answer: C) House finch
Rationale: The house finch is the vertebrate pest specifically associated with the disbudding
of deciduous fruit trees, which can significantly impact the following season's fruit
production.
Question 5
Which of the following pests causes damage to ripening fruit and may also be a nuisance due to
its odor?
A) Meadow vole
B) Skunk
C) Pocket gopher
D) Kangaroo rat
E) Mole
Correct Answer: B) Skunk
Rationale: The study text lists house finches and skunks as pests that damage ripening fruit.
While finches are birds, the skunk is the mammal listed for this specific type of damage.
Question 6
Which group of vertebrate pests is most commonly associated with damaging plastic drip
irrigation lines and sprinkler boxes?
A) Domestic pigeons and starlings
B) Pocket gophers, ground squirrels, and meadow voles
C) Moles and horned larks
D) Bats and chipmunks
E) Turkeys and wild pigs
Correct Answer: B) Pocket gophers, ground squirrels, and meadow voles
Rationale: Pocket gophers, ground squirrels, jackrabbits, and meadow voles are all known
to gnaw on flexible plastic water lines and irrigation components. Their burrowing and
gnawing can lead to soil erosion and the loss of irrigation water.
, 3
Question 7
How can an investigator distinguish a mole hill from a pocket gopher mound in turfgrass?
A) Mole hills are crescent-shaped; gopher mounds are volcano-shaped.
B) Mole hills are volcano-shaped clods of soil; gopher mounds are crescent-shaped.
C) Moles do not leave mounds; they only leave bare runways.
D) Gopher mounds have a 4-inch diameter open hole at the top.
E) Moles only create mounds in the summer; gophers only in the winter.
Correct Answer: B) Mole hills are volcano-shaped clods of soil; gopher mounds are crescent-
shaped.
Rationale: Moles create volcano-shaped hills by pushing soil up from deep tunnels. In
contrast, pocket gopher mounds are crescent or heart-shaped because they push soil out of
a lateral tunnel and plug the entrance.
Question 8
Which vertebrate pest creates "runways" of trampled vegetation or bare ground, roughly 1 to 2
inches wide, connecting burrow openings?
A) Pocket gopher
B) Kangaroo rat
C) Meadow vole
D) Ground squirrel
E) Norway rat
Correct Answer: C) Meadow vole
Rationale: Meadow voles are well known for creating visible runways in tall grass or turf.
These runways connect their shallow burrow systems and are used for safe travel between
feeding areas.
Question 9
Which vertebrate pests are associated with causing structural damage to levees and earthen dams
through their burrowing activities?
A) House finch, horned lark, and starling
B) Beaver, ground squirrel, muskrat, and pocket gopher
C) Mole, meadow vole, and roof rat
D) Jackrabbit, kangaroo rat, and opossum
E) Deer mouse, bat, and turkey
Correct Answer: B) Beaver, ground squirrel, muskrat, and pocket gopher
Rationale: These four pests are specifically listed as threats to the integrity of levees and
dams. Their deep or extensive burrow systems can lead to water seepage, which eventually
causes the earthen structures to collapse.
Question 10
Which of the following vertebrate pests is considered native to California?
, 4
A) Norway rat
B) Roof rat
C) California ground squirrel
D) European starling
E) Wild pig
Correct Answer: C) California ground squirrel
Rationale: The California ground squirrel is native. The other options (Norway rat, roof rat,
starling, and wild pig) are all introduced species that have become pests in the state.
Question 11
Individual burrows of the California ground squirrel typically average what diameter?
A) 1.5 to 2 inches
B) 4 inches
C) 8 to 10 inches
D) 12 inches
E) 24 inches
Correct Answer: B) 4 inches
Rationale: Ground squirrel burrows average about 4 inches in diameter and can be 5 to 30
feet long. This distinguishes them from the smaller 1.5 to 2-inch holes made by meadow
voles.
Question 12
Kangaroo rat burrows can be distinguished from other rodents by which of the following
behaviors?
A) They never plug their holes.
B) They create volcano-shaped mounds only.
C) Burrow entrances are usually closed with earth during the day.
D) They only burrow in snowy regions.
E) Their burrows are always at least 10 feet deep.
Correct Answer: C) Burrow entrances are usually closed with earth during the day.
Rationale: Kangaroo rats are nocturnal and often close their burrow entrances with soil
during the daylight hours to regulate temperature and avoid predators.
Question 13
When assessing a ground squirrel burrow, the presence of "white wash" (fecal matter) near the
entrance suggests the burrow is being used by:
A) A San Joaquin kit fox
B) A burrowing owl
C) A pocket gopher
D) A Norway rat
E) A rattlesnake
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | UPDATED VERSION!
Question 1
Which of the following vertebrate pests is specifically known for girdling trees above the ground
level?
A) Pocket gopher
B) Meadow vole
C) Roof rat
D) Mole
E) California tiger salamander
Correct Answer: C) Roof rat
Rationale: According to the study material, roof rats and jackrabbits are the primary
vertebrate pests that girdle trees above the ground. While meadow voles can girdle above
ground in snow-covered regions by burrowing through snow, the roof rat is the standard
answer for typical above-ground girdling.
Question 2
Which vertebrate pest is primarily responsible for girdling tree trunks and large roots below the
ground surface?
A) House finch
B) Meadow vole
C) Horned lark
D) Roof rat
E) Domestic pigeon
Correct Answer: B) Meadow vole
Rationale: Meadow voles are the main culprits for below-ground girdling. While ground
squirrels and pocket gophers also contribute to below-ground damage, the meadow vole is
noted as the most frequent cause of bark removal on the lower trunk and root crown.
Question 3
In the seedling stage, which vertebrate pest is most likely to cause significant damage to
vegetable crops such as sugar beets and cotton?
A) Ground squirrel
B) House finch
C) Mole
D) Western gray tree squirrel
E) Muskrat
Correct Answer: A) Ground squirrel
Rationale: Ground squirrels are documented to take certain vegetables and field crops,
specifically naming sugar beets, alfalfa, and cotton, at the seedling stage. Horned larks and
, 2
roof rats also do seedling damage, but ground squirrels are the major field crop threat
listed.
Question 4
A grower notices "disbudding" on deciduous fruit trees. Which vertebrate pest should be the
primary suspect?
A) Jackrabbit
B) Pocket gopher
C) House finch
D) Starling
E) Norway rat
Correct Answer: C) House finch
Rationale: The house finch is the vertebrate pest specifically associated with the disbudding
of deciduous fruit trees, which can significantly impact the following season's fruit
production.
Question 5
Which of the following pests causes damage to ripening fruit and may also be a nuisance due to
its odor?
A) Meadow vole
B) Skunk
C) Pocket gopher
D) Kangaroo rat
E) Mole
Correct Answer: B) Skunk
Rationale: The study text lists house finches and skunks as pests that damage ripening fruit.
While finches are birds, the skunk is the mammal listed for this specific type of damage.
Question 6
Which group of vertebrate pests is most commonly associated with damaging plastic drip
irrigation lines and sprinkler boxes?
A) Domestic pigeons and starlings
B) Pocket gophers, ground squirrels, and meadow voles
C) Moles and horned larks
D) Bats and chipmunks
E) Turkeys and wild pigs
Correct Answer: B) Pocket gophers, ground squirrels, and meadow voles
Rationale: Pocket gophers, ground squirrels, jackrabbits, and meadow voles are all known
to gnaw on flexible plastic water lines and irrigation components. Their burrowing and
gnawing can lead to soil erosion and the loss of irrigation water.
, 3
Question 7
How can an investigator distinguish a mole hill from a pocket gopher mound in turfgrass?
A) Mole hills are crescent-shaped; gopher mounds are volcano-shaped.
B) Mole hills are volcano-shaped clods of soil; gopher mounds are crescent-shaped.
C) Moles do not leave mounds; they only leave bare runways.
D) Gopher mounds have a 4-inch diameter open hole at the top.
E) Moles only create mounds in the summer; gophers only in the winter.
Correct Answer: B) Mole hills are volcano-shaped clods of soil; gopher mounds are crescent-
shaped.
Rationale: Moles create volcano-shaped hills by pushing soil up from deep tunnels. In
contrast, pocket gopher mounds are crescent or heart-shaped because they push soil out of
a lateral tunnel and plug the entrance.
Question 8
Which vertebrate pest creates "runways" of trampled vegetation or bare ground, roughly 1 to 2
inches wide, connecting burrow openings?
A) Pocket gopher
B) Kangaroo rat
C) Meadow vole
D) Ground squirrel
E) Norway rat
Correct Answer: C) Meadow vole
Rationale: Meadow voles are well known for creating visible runways in tall grass or turf.
These runways connect their shallow burrow systems and are used for safe travel between
feeding areas.
Question 9
Which vertebrate pests are associated with causing structural damage to levees and earthen dams
through their burrowing activities?
A) House finch, horned lark, and starling
B) Beaver, ground squirrel, muskrat, and pocket gopher
C) Mole, meadow vole, and roof rat
D) Jackrabbit, kangaroo rat, and opossum
E) Deer mouse, bat, and turkey
Correct Answer: B) Beaver, ground squirrel, muskrat, and pocket gopher
Rationale: These four pests are specifically listed as threats to the integrity of levees and
dams. Their deep or extensive burrow systems can lead to water seepage, which eventually
causes the earthen structures to collapse.
Question 10
Which of the following vertebrate pests is considered native to California?
, 4
A) Norway rat
B) Roof rat
C) California ground squirrel
D) European starling
E) Wild pig
Correct Answer: C) California ground squirrel
Rationale: The California ground squirrel is native. The other options (Norway rat, roof rat,
starling, and wild pig) are all introduced species that have become pests in the state.
Question 11
Individual burrows of the California ground squirrel typically average what diameter?
A) 1.5 to 2 inches
B) 4 inches
C) 8 to 10 inches
D) 12 inches
E) 24 inches
Correct Answer: B) 4 inches
Rationale: Ground squirrel burrows average about 4 inches in diameter and can be 5 to 30
feet long. This distinguishes them from the smaller 1.5 to 2-inch holes made by meadow
voles.
Question 12
Kangaroo rat burrows can be distinguished from other rodents by which of the following
behaviors?
A) They never plug their holes.
B) They create volcano-shaped mounds only.
C) Burrow entrances are usually closed with earth during the day.
D) They only burrow in snowy regions.
E) Their burrows are always at least 10 feet deep.
Correct Answer: C) Burrow entrances are usually closed with earth during the day.
Rationale: Kangaroo rats are nocturnal and often close their burrow entrances with soil
during the daylight hours to regulate temperature and avoid predators.
Question 13
When assessing a ground squirrel burrow, the presence of "white wash" (fecal matter) near the
entrance suggests the burrow is being used by:
A) A San Joaquin kit fox
B) A burrowing owl
C) A pocket gopher
D) A Norway rat
E) A rattlesnake
