Did you know that gophers date back more than 30,000 years? Evolution has created fascinating animals that we study! Through research and applied studies, we have found that gophers are swift learners. They can retain memories for up to one year. Their life span is anywhere from 5 years to 7 years. 

 

Did you know there are many different types of gopher mounds? It’s true! Each mound serves a purpose. These purposes include excavating, aeration, and purging. Depending on what the gopher is doing, they can shift doors around in their burrows for fast escape. That’s right; they can route water and gas in any direction for their safety.

 

According to a study conducted by W.F. Andelt with Colorado State University, “Four species of pocket gophers are found in Colorado and distributed almost entirely in different areas, possibly because of different ecological requirements or competition. Plains pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) are abundant in sandy and silty soils of the plains but are not abundant in compacted soils. The northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides) occurs in deep, sandy soils of the plains to shallow gravel in mountainous areas” (Andelt, 1995, para 1). In California though, specifically Southern California we have the Botta’s pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae). Botta’s pocket gopher is strictly herbivorous, feeding on a variety of plant matter. Shoots and grasses are particularly important, supplemented by roots, tubers, and bulbs during the winter. An individual often pulls plants into the ground by the roots to consume them in the safety of its burrow, where it spends 90% of its life.

 

Did you know that gophers communicate with their teeth, as well as other sounds? They click their teeth together to create an interesting form of communication. If you ever see a gopher, listen carefully; it may be clicking at you.