The Great Mouse Invasion of 1926–1927

In Taft, California, The Great Mouse Invasion of 1926–1927 was one of the worst rodent infestations in U.S. history. An estimated 50---100 million mice swarmed the town, creating a staggering ratio of 20,000 mice per human resident. The situation was caused by a Predator Eradication program. Beginning around 1924, a federal project wiped out natural predators like coyotes, hawks, and foxes in Kern County. Without predators, the local mouse population living in the dry Buena Vista Lakebed multiplied out of control. Finally, A freak rainstorm in November 1926 flooded the lakebed, forcing millions of mice to migrate en masse toward higher ground in Taft.

Roads became impassable. Millions of mice were crushed on local highways, making roads slick and difficult to cross. Nature's Intervention: The plague broke in early 1927 when large flocks of predatory birds returned for an enormous feeding frenzy, followed by heavy winter rains that drowned the remaining mice.

The event is remembered today with a dedicated display featuring rubber mice at the West Kern Oil Museum in Taft.

Lakeview Gusher No. 1

A massive temporary lake of crude oil was created by the Lakeview Gusher No. 1, which erupted on March 15, 1910, in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field between Taft and Maricopa, California. It is recognized as the largest accidental land-based oil spill in U.S. history.

The well blew uncontrolled for 544 days (18 months), finally sealing itself naturally on September 9, 1911.

An estimated 9 million barrels (1.4 billion liters) of crude oil spewed from the ground. At its peak, the geyser shot up to 200 feet and flowed at a rate of 90,000 barrels a day.

Workers and local teams rushed to build earthen berms and sandbag barricades across the desert to keep the torrent of oil from reaching the nearby Buena Vista Lake and local farms. This containment formed a giant artificial surface lake of oil that workers occasionally traversed in small rowboats.

About 4 million barrels of the pooled oil were successfully recovered and pumped out, but the massive oversupply crashed West Coast oil prices by 50%.

The location is designated as California Historical Landmark No. 485.

Visitors can view a bronze historical plaque and marker located off Petroleum Club Road, roughly a half-mile east of State Route 33 between Taft and Maricopa. Traces of congealed, stratified crude oil and old sand berms remain visible in the soil around the original crater.