They are the plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius), which ranges over most of Oklahoma, and the Mexican pocket gopher (Cratogeomys castanops), which is found in the Oklahoma Panhandle. PLAINS POCKET GOPHER. Predators—including owls, snakes, cats, dogs, and coyotes—eat pocket gophers. Plains Pocket Gopher. Plains pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) vary in length from almost 7 1/2 to 14 inches (18 to 36 cm). Owls and hawks may prey upon this gopher if it leaves the security of its burrow system. Foster Although plains pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) are sel- dom seen, they inhabit vast acreages of rangeland.The relation- ship between plains pocket gophers and rangeland productivity has been the source of many unanswered questions. Their gestation period lasts 18 to 19 days, weaning occurs 40 to 44 days after birth, and independence is attained on an average of 51 days later. The lateral tunnels are superficial, and are generally only 150-250 mm below the surface. They reach sexual maturity at one year. The hair is short, dense, and glossy, and the skin is rather loose. The constant burrowing of the Two species of pocket gophers are found in Oklahoma. Hist. Pocket gophers can be killed in large numbers with poisoned bait. The name "pocket gopher" on its own may refer to any of a number of genera within the family Geomyidae. The tunnels are excavated using the large claws of the front feet. Pocket gophers also provide food for predators, such as skunks, foxes, bobcats, weasels, hawks, owls, and gopher snakes (“bull snakes”). Range and Habitat: The plains pocket gopher lives throughout Kansas with the exception of the southeastern corner of the state. Pocket gophers make their burrows in places with deep, sandy, crumbly soil ideal for tunneling, and their distribution often mimics the coverage of such soils (animaldiversity.org). Pocket gophers are specially adapted for subterranean life and they use their poickets for transporting food underground (Reid 236). The tunnels also collect runoff of early melting snows and rain storms. (Their cousin, the Northern pocket gopher can only be found in the very northeast corner of the state.) Badgers, snakes and hawks also make gophers part of their diet. Their burrow system is a form of food storage, protection from predators, and reproduction (Hazard, 1982). Missouri pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius missouriensis). Mississippi Valley pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius bursarius). The front legs are short, strong, and bear heavy claws on all five toes. Predators: American Badger. The local vegetation is less significant than the nature of the soil, and the gophers are found in prairie grasslands, agricultural land, and even urban areas. Copyright 1999. Skin and hairs are arranged so as to permit flexibility when the animal moves forward or backward in its subterranean tunnels. Grain baits, such as corn, oats, wheat, and grain sorghum are readily eaten in some localities and often give better results in fall when pocket gophers are storing much of their food. SOUTHERN POCKET GOPHER. The plains pocket gopher does not hibernate. Moles excavate circular, volcano-shaped mounds of soil. Scientists estimate an average of 4 to 5 gophers per acre of land. in winter or summer. These prepared baits can often be obtained from local garden supply stores or from pest … Two examples include the tropical pocket gopher and the Michoacan pocket gopher. Although they are seldom seen above ground, their presence is easily detected by the mounds of dirt they push out from their tunnels. Badgers and snakes will hunt pocket gophers underground, but most predators wait for them to come to the surface. Plains pocket gophers are larger than eastern moles. By-products of the gopher and unconsumed plant material enhances the fertility of the soil. Strychnine, either alkaloid or sulfate, is quite effective. Pocket gopher sign includes large unsightly mounds in yards and mounds in hay fields. In five weeks the cheek pouches and eyes of the young open and a week later they are weaned. The female has three pairs of nipples. Pocket gophers of all ages fall victim to a variety of predators, but they are especially vulnerable to badgers, which are proficient at digging them out of their tunnels. Publ. It has short fur with brown to black coloration. A pocket gopher’s burrow system may cover 1 to 2 acres. It has a broad flat head, compact body, short snout, and nearly hairless tail that is used as a sensory organ. The upperparts are light to dark brown. Color photo by Robert M. Timm. Their tunnels permit deeper penetration of air and water into the soil. There are many predators that hunt them. Plains pocket gophers build and maintain intricate burrowing trails beneath the surface and live the majority of their lives underground. NORTHERN POCKET GOPHER. Males are larger than females, but they are colored alike. The tunnels are excavated using the large claws of the front feet. When a pocket gopher leaves its burrow, however, it is highly vulnerable, and most … The plains pocket gopher does not hibernate. Young are grayer than adults. The Plains Pocket Gopher lives throughout Kansas with the exception of the southeastern corner of the state. Cascade Red Fox ... Northern Flying Squirrel. The five subspecies in Kansas are: Some county occurrences indicated below may be too imprecise to map above. Disposing of this soil only takes a moment, but surfacing at all is dangerous for pocket gophers. Plains pocket gophers are solitary except during breeding periods and rarely leave the tunnel except for breeding or for foraging near the entrance of a tunnel, where they sometimes can be seen. Root vegetables, such as carrots or sweet potatoes, cut to conveniently small sizes and dusted with strychnine are excellent baits. Abandoned tunnels make excellent retreats for many kinds of small vertebrates and invertebrates. Northern Grasshopper Mouse. Maximum longevity of this mammal is generally less than five years. Some of the predators pursue the gopher in its tunnel system (weasels, perhaps spotted skunks, and several snakes including gopher, bull, … The fur is usually brown but may be black. Plains pocket gophers prefer deep, sandy, friable soils to facilitate their burrowing lifestyle and their herbivorous diet of plant roots. By-products of the gopher and unconsumed plant material enhances the fertility of the soil. South Dakota is home to the plains pocket gopher and the northern pocket gopher. Two types of pocket gophers occur in Washington: the Western and Northern, with the Western pocket gopher having several subspecies. 2 volumespp. Kansas Mus. In addition to the nesting chamber there are special tunnels for food storage and for the deposit of fecal material. The main tunnel is generally deeper in the area of the nest chamber; it is usually below the frost line. Pocket gophers face numerous threats from predators. The plains pocket gopher eats plant material found underground during tunneling, and also collects grasses, roots, and tubers in its cheek pouches and caches them in underground larder chambers. Description: The plains pocket gopher can be distinguished from its only Kansas relative, the yellow-faced pocket gopher, by the presence of two parallel grooves (rather than one) on the front surface of its large protruding orange incisor teeth. 1) is the smallest and most widespread, occupying much of eastern Washington.Adults of this species measure 8 inches in length, including their 2-inch tail. Maximum longevity of this mammal is generally less than five years. The Plains Pocket Gopher breeds from February to April and, after a gestation presumed to be a month or more, one to six (average four) young are born hairless, pink, wrinkled, and with eyes and ears closed. Mexican pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius mexicanus). Illinois Plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius illinoensis). Canines and badgers dig them out of the ground, and if pocket gophers leave their tunnels, owls and hawks are happy to snatch them up. The action of gophers in the soil are beneficial for both plant and animal communities. Although rarely seen, its presence can be determined by piles of fresh dirt pushed to the surface and arranged in a somewhat linear fashion in open fields. They have stocky bodies, small eyes and ears, and sparsely furred tails. Mus. Thriving in sandy and silt soil types, plains pocket gophers are light to dark brown in color on the upper portions of their bodies with buff colored underbellies. Large external cheek pouches, used for carrying food, are lined with fur and extend back to the shoulders. It prefers deep sandy and loamy soil in treeless open lands. Montane Vole. SOUTHEASTERN POCKET GOPHER. The tail is brownish with a white tip. One of two pocket gopher species in Minnesota, plains pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) are chunky rodents, about 10-12 inches long. Males are larger than females, but they are colored alike. TWT © 2021 — Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University. The underparts are dull buffy. Gophers mix and deepen soils just as effectively as if the fields were plowed, although considerably slower than by human methods. Size: Adult females may attain the following dimensions: total length 230-316 mm; tail 63-102 mm; hind foot 30-39 mm; ear 4-9 mm; weight 170-305 grams; males are somewhat larger. Plains Pocket Gopher The Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) is 5-9 inches long and weighs 4-13 pounds. Owls and hawks may prey upon this gopher if it leaves the security of its burrow system. Green plants and grasses are taken from around the entrance of their tunnels and perhaps beyond, at night. Abandoned tunnels make excellent retreats for many kinds of small vertebrates and invertebrates. Each adult pocket gopher occupies its own burrow system most of the year, but they can quickly occupy a neighboring burrow if a resident disappears. Pocket Gopher damage includes chewing of any underground lines including electric, water and septic piping. After sufficient dirt has accumulated the gopher turns around and pushes the dirt with front feet, head, and chest to a surface opening where it piles the dirt. Suite A Beaverton, OR 97005. Plains pocket gophers breed once a year from March through December, giving birth to one to eight pups that weigh 4.9g to 5.4g each. They are approximately 8 to 123⁄4 inches in length, including the tail. 7():1-303. However, a few species of gopher are decreasing due to habitat loss. Adults can weigh up to 1 pound; males are generally larger than females. The tail is brownish with a white tip. Texas pocket gophers (Geomys personatus) are also brown and Experience has shown, however, that by the time gopher populations level off naturally, they've already caused much damage around homes, gardens, parks, or athletic fields. The species wreaking havoc in area producers' pastures and alfalfa stands is the plains pocket gopher, which weighs in at a whopping one pound. These mounds of soil lead to sloping subterranean tunnels that connect to a main tunnel that traverses the entire set of mounds. Nat. The front legs are short, strong, and bear heavy claws on all five toes. Owls and hawks may prey upon this gopher if it leaves the security of its burrow system. Remarks: Predators of the plains pocket gopher are those that can gain entrance to the tunnels such as weasels and snakes, or those capable of digging into the ground like badgers, foxes, and coyotes. Pocket Gophers. The plains pocket gopher is especially fond of alfalfa fields, and can become a nuisance. Their fur is typically brown but may vary to black. The lateral tunnels are superficial, and are generally only 150-250 mm below the surface. The pocket gopher has small eyes and ears and naked or sparsely-haired Coyote and fox, weasels and owls can be significant predators on gophers. The Plains Pocket Gopher can be distinguished from its only Kansas relative, the Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher, by the presence of two parallel grooves (rather than one) on the front surface of its large protruding orange incisor teeth. Villa-R., B., and E. R. Hall Subspeciation in pocket gophers of Kansas. Skin and hairs are arranged so as to permit flexibility when the animal moves forward or backward in its subterranean tunnels. It has a broad flat head, compact body, short snout, and nearly hairless tail that is used as a sensory organ. Nat. Hist., 1:217-236. Kansas Publ. Gopher mounds cover surface vegetation, thus incorporating sometimes over 50 percent of surface plant material into the soil. Subordinate Taxa: Brazos pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius braznesis). For plains pocket gophers, a population of six to eight animals per acre is considered high density. The action of gophers in the soil are beneficial for both plant and animal communities. claws. These mounds of soil lead to sloping subterranean tunnels that connect to a main tunnel that traverses the entire set of mounds. Knowledge of the sex of prey is useful in evaluating predator food habits as well as indicating sex specific differences in prey behavior. The five subspecies in Kansas are: Geomys bursarius lutescens in the northwest; Geomys bursarius bursarius in the northeast; Geomys bursarius jugossicularis in the extreme southwest; Geomys bursarius industrius in the southwest more generally; and Geomys bursarius major in the southcentral part of the state. Ozark pocket gopher (Geomys … Oklahoma pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius dutcheri). The conservation status of the pocket gopher is Least Concern and its population is holding steady. Habitat Modification County Breakdown: County Name (# occurrences): Atchison (6); Barber (186); Barton (12); Brown (2); Butler (5); Chase (2); Cheyenne (28); Clark (49); Clay (3); Cloud (12); Coffey (1); Comanche (54); Cowley (67); Decatur (12); Dickinson (28); Doniphan (3); Douglas (199); Edwards (49); Ellis (154); Ellsworth (1); Finney (124); Ford (61); Geary (6); Gove (6); Graham (49); Grant (8); Gray (32); Greeley (2); Greenwood (267); Hamilton (103); Harper (41); Harvey (9); Haskell (3); Jackson (8); Jefferson (2); Jewell (2); Johnson (4); Kearney (43); Kingman (6); Kiowa (58); Lane (47); Leavenworth (51); Logan (22); Lyon (2); Marion (8); Marshall (25); McPherson (18); Meade (131); Mitchell (42); Morris (3); Morton (88); Nemaha (2); Ness (18); Norton (40); Osage (1); Osborne (194); Pawnee (47); Phillips (34); Pottawatomie (10); Pratt (28); Rawlins (58); Reno (53); Republic (13); Rice (11); Riley (42); Rooks (65); Rush (16); Russell (43); Saline (17); Scott (12); Sedgwick (40); Seward (58); Shawnee (1); Sheridan (8); Sherman (41); Smith (10); Stafford (32); Stanton (14); Stevens (2); Sumner (52); Thomas (58); Trego (52); Wallace (27); Washington (1); Wichita (12); Woodson (1); Wyandotte (6); The Plains Pocket Gopher is more highly specialized for digging than any other North American rodent and lives underground for practically its entire life. Their tunnels permit deeper penetration of air and water into the soil. Their bodies, sporting powerful front legs and large claws for digging, are designed for an underground existence. The hair is short, dense, and glossy, and the skin is rather loose. Their earth mounds can damage the sickle bars of mowing machines. The pocket gopher excavates kidney-shaped mounds of soil. The eyes and ears are small. Habits: The plains pocket gopher is more highly specialized for digging than any other North American rodent and lives underground for practically its entire life. Despite gophers' subterranean habits, they are frequent prey for several predators. The tunnels connecting these mounds are usually 12 – 18 inches underground. As with most predator-prey relationships, predators seem to have only a cropping effect on the prey populations. Black-tailed Prairie Dog ... Montane Shrew. It prefers deep sandy and loamy soil in treeless open lands. Large external cheek pouches, used for carrying food, are lined with fur and extend back to the shoulders. Remarks: Predators of the Plains Pocket Gopher are those that can gain entrance to the tunnels such as weasels and snakes, or those capable of digging into the ground like badgers, foxes, and coyotes. Gopher mounds cover surface vegetation, thus incorporating sometimes over 50 percent of surface plant material into the soil. The tunnels also collect runoff of early melting snows and rain storms. Although four species of pocket gophers are found throughout Colorado, the primary species of concern in the Colorado Springs and Pueblo areas is the plains pocket gopher. The Texas pocket gopher avoids emerging onto the surface to feed by seizing the roots of plants with its jaws and pulling them downwards into its burrow. Numerous predators eat pocket gophers. 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