Pocket Gophers Identification Guide

Pocket Gopher Identification Guide

Physical Characteristics

Pocket gophers are medium-sized burrowing rodents ranging from 6 to 14 inches in length, including their short, sparsely-haired tail. They have stocky bodies with powerful forequarters and large, curved front claws designed for digging. Their most distinctive feature is their fur-lined external cheek pouches that extend from the sides of their mouth to their shoulders.

These rodents have small eyes and ears, which is an adaptation to their underground lifestyle. Their lips close behind their prominent, yellowish-orange front teeth, allowing them to dig without getting dirt in their mouths. Fur color varies by species and habitat, ranging from nearly black to pale brown, often matching the soil color in their range.

Common Species in North America

• Botta’s Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) - Found throughout the western United States and into Mexico, this is the most widespread species with over 180 recognized subspecies.

• Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) - Common in the Great Plains from Canada to Texas, recognizable by its larger size and two grooves on its upper incisors.

• Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides) - Inhabits mountain meadows and prairies from British Columbia to New Mexico.

• Southeastern Pocket Gopher (Geomys pinetis) - Found in sandy soils of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

• Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys castanops) - Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, identifiable by its yellowish face markings.

Pocket Gopher Behavior and Biology

Pocket gophers are solitary, highly territorial animals that spend nearly their entire lives underground. A single gopher may maintain a tunnel system covering 200 to 2,000 square feet, with tunnels typically 6 to 12 inches below the surface for feeding and deeper tunnels (up to 6 feet) for nesting and food storage.

Feeding Habits

These rodents are herbivores that feed primarily on roots, tubers, bulbs, and other underground plant parts. They pull entire plants down into their tunnels from below, which explains why vegetation suddenly disappears without visible above-ground damage. Pocket gophers also emerge briefly to gather surface vegetation near their tunnel openings, cutting plants and dragging them underground.

A single pocket gopher can consume approximately 60% of its body weight in vegetation daily. They store excess food in underground chambers, with some larders containing several pounds of roots and tubers.

Reproduction and Lifecycle

Pocket gophers typically breed once per year in northern regions and up to three times per year in southern areas with mild climates. After a gestation period of about 18 to 19 days, females give birth to litters averaging 3 to 4 young, though litters can range from 1 to 10.

Young gophers remain with their mother for several weeks before dispersing to establish their own territories. They reach sexual maturity at about one year of age. In the wild, pocket gophers typically live 1 to 3 years, though some may survive up to 5 years.

Tunnel Construction

Pocket gophers are exceptional diggers, capable of moving 100 to 300 dirt mounds per year and displacing over one ton of soil annually. Their tunnel systems include:

• Main runways - The primary travel routes connecting various parts of the system
• Feeding tunnels - Shallow tunnels where gophers forage for roots
• Nesting chambers - Deeper chambers lined with dried vegetation
• Food storage areas - Underground pantries for cached food
• Waste chambers - Separate areas used as latrines

Signs of Pocket Gopher Activity

Identifying pocket gopher presence early can help minimize property damage. Look for these telltale signs:

• Fan-shaped soil mounds - Fresh mounds are dark and moist; older mounds are lighter and dried. The distinctive crescent or horseshoe shape distinguishes them from mole mounds.
• Plugged tunnel entrances - Gophers seal their tunnel openings with soil plugs, visible as a circular depression on one side of the mound.
• Dead or dying vegetation - Plants may suddenly wilt or disappear as gophers consume roots from below.
• Soft, sinking areas - Walking across your lawn may reveal spongy spots where tunnels have collapsed.
• Damaged irrigation lines - Gophers frequently gnaw through plastic irrigation tubing and underground cables.

Pocket Gopher vs. Mole: Key Differences

Feature	Pocket Gopher	Mole
Classification	Rodent	Insectivore
Teeth	Large, visible yellow-orange incisors	Small, not visible
Mound shape	Fan or crescent-shaped	Conical, volcano-shaped
Diet	Plant roots and vegetation	Insects, grubs, earthworms
Front feet	Clawed for digging	Paddle-shaped, facing outward
Surface runways	None	Raised ridges visible

Treatment Methods for Pocket Gophers

Managing pocket gopher populations requires a strategic approach, as these persistent rodents can quickly recolonize treated areas. Effective control typically involves multiple methods used in combination.

Trapping

Trapping remains one of the most effective and environmentally responsible methods for pocket gopher control. Common trap types include:

• Box traps - Placed directly in main tunnels, these capture gophers alive or kill them instantly
• Cinch traps - Spring-loaded devices that trigger when gophers push against them
• Black hole traps - Designed to be placed in lateral tunnels leading to mounds

Successful trapping requires locating the main tunnel (usually 6-12 inches from a fresh mound) and placing traps in both directions. Checking traps daily improves success rates.

Exclusion Methods

For protecting specific areas, physical barriers can be effective:

• Underground wire mesh - Galvanized hardware cloth (1/2-inch mesh) buried around garden beds or trees
• Gopher baskets - Wire mesh containers for protecting individual plants during planting
• Raised beds - Elevated planting areas with wire mesh bottoms

Habitat Modification

Reducing food sources and preferred habitat conditions can discourage gopher activity:

• Remove dense vegetation that provides cover near tunnel entrances
• Maintain firm, well-compacted soil where possible
• Flood irrigation may temporarily drive gophers from an area

Professional Wildlife Control

For severe infestations or large properties, professional wildlife control services may employ specialized techniques including fumigation and advanced trapping programs. Licensed operators have access to methods and products not available to homeowners.

Preventing Pocket Gopher Damage

While complete prevention is difficult, several strategies can reduce the likelihood of pocket gopher problems:

• Regular monitoring - Check your property weekly for fresh mounds, especially in spring when activity increases
• Quick response - Address new activity immediately before tunnel systems become established
• Protect vulnerable plants - Use gopher baskets when planting trees, shrubs, and perennials
• Maintain barriers - Inspect and repair any protective wire mesh annually

References

• Pocket Gophers - University of California IPM
• Pocket Gopher Management - Wildlife Damage Management
• Controlling Pocket Gophers - Colorado State University Extension
• Geomyidae - Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan