12 Gritty Facts about Gophers

First published 14th February 2024 Samantha Khu

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When we think of rodents, we all get certain images in our heads. Furry little creatures with small hands, big teeth, and long tails. And, to be fair, that perfectly describes gophers! These independent little creatures can be found all over the countryside and, believe it or not, play an important role in the ecology of the areas. Here are some fun facts about gophers.

1. Gophers are famously burrowing rodents.

If you live in the US, you will likely have come across gophers before in your life, but in case you haven’t, these little animals are small, burrowing rodents belonging to the family Geomyidae. They are often confused with groundhogs or squirrels, but they are a distinct group of rodents.

2. They are native to North America.

Gophers are native to both North and Central America. However, today, the majority of species are found in the United States.

3. They create entire tunnel systems on their own.

Gophers are experts at burrowing! They create complex tunnel systems underground. These burrows serve as their homes, providing shelter from predators as well as extreme weather.

4. They have huge cheeks!

One of the cutest things about gophers is the way that they eat. They have large, fur-lined cheek pouches that they use to carry food to their burrows. This allows them to store and transport food efficiently.

5. They are herbivores and live off of the unseen parts of plants.

Gophers thrive on a vegetable diet, typically munching away at tubers, roots, bulbs, and other bits of plants we can’t see above the ground. They’re usually pretty destructive in pursuit of food, and are therefore not particularly adored by farmers.

They can cause serious damage to crops due to their feeding habits, which makes them targets of poisoning. And, while gophers are not typically considered endangered, some species do face threats due to habitat loss, agriculture, and pest control measures.

6. They have very strong teeth!

Gophers have very big, strong, chisel-like incisors that continuously grow throughout their lives! They use these teeth for digging and gnawing on plant material. Don’t worry, though, they’re not big fans of biting us!

7. There are multiple species of gophers

There are indeed several species of gophers. These include the plains pocket gopher, northern pocket gopher, and Botta’s pocket gopher, each with its own specific characteristics and habitat preferences. For example, some gopher species hibernate during the winter months, while others remain active throughout the year.

8. A gopher’s life is pretty short.

Gophers sadly don’t live for very long. Their lifespan typically ranges from one to three years in the wild, meaning they really make the most of their vegetable thievery while they can!

9. Gophers are extremely independent.

Generally speaking, gophers are solitary animals and prefer to live alone in their burrow systems. They are territorial and can even be aggressive towards other gophers, meaning it’s unlikely they get together very often!

10. Gophers tend to have children in the warm months.

Female gophers give birth to litters of several pups, usually in the spring or early summer. The gestation period is relatively short, lasting only around three weeks.

11. Gophers are at risk of multiple different predators.

Gophers have to face predation from various animals. Some of their most fearsome predators include snakes, mammals such as coyotes and foxes, and birds of prey.

12. They’re very important for their environments!

As mentioned above, gophers play a role as ecosystem engineers. They help to aerate the soil and even influence plant distribution. Their burrowing activities have both positive and negative impacts on the environment.

FAQs about Gophers

Why is Minnesota the gopher state?

Minnesota is known as the gopher state due to a political cartoon depicting railroad barons in the areas as striped gophers!

Why is it called a gopher?

While no one knows why exactly gophers are called “gophers”, it is believed that the name could relate to the French “gauffre”, or that it is of Muskogean descent.