Gopher (disambiguation) facts for kids

Gopher can mean a few different things! It might refer to a small, burrowing animal with big cheek pouches, an old way to find information on the internet, or even the sports teams of a big university. Let's explore each one!

Pocket Gophers: Nature's Diggers

Pocket gophers are amazing rodents known for their digging skills. They are small mammals that live underground in a network of tunnels. These animals are often called "gophers" because of their unique cheek pouches, which look like pockets.

What Are Pocket Gophers?

Pocket gophers are a type of rodent. They are usually about 6 to 14 inches (15 to 35 cm) long, not including their tails. They have small ears, tiny eyes, and strong front teeth that stick out, even when their mouths are closed. Their fur is usually brown or gray, helping them blend in with the soil.

Where Do Pocket Gophers Live?

These busy diggers live in North and Central America. You can find them in many different habitats, from grasslands and forests to deserts. They prefer areas with soft soil that is easy to dig through. Each gopher usually lives alone in its own tunnel system.

Their Amazing Pouches

The most special thing about pocket gophers is their fur-lined cheek pouches. These pouches are on the outside of their mouths and can be turned inside out! Gophers use these "pockets" to carry food, like roots, seeds, and plants, back to their underground homes. They can also use them to carry nesting materials.

What Do Pocket Gophers Eat?

Pocket gophers are mostly herbivores, meaning they eat plants. Their diet mainly consists of roots, tubers, and bulbs that they find underground. They also pull plants from the surface into their tunnels. Sometimes, they store extra food in their burrows for later.

How Pocket Gophers Live Underground

Pocket gophers spend most of their lives underground. They dig complex tunnel systems that include living chambers, food storage areas, and escape routes. They use their strong claws and front teeth to dig. The mounds of dirt you see on the surface are from the soil they push out of their tunnels.

Gopher: The Early Internet Guide

Before the World Wide Web became popular, there was something called Gopher. It was an important system that helped people find and share information on the internet. Think of it as an early way to browse through digital libraries.

What Was Gopher?

Gopher was a protocol, which is a set of rules for how computers talk to each other. It was created in 1991 at the University of Minnesota. Its main goal was to make it easy to find documents and files on different computers connected to the internet.

How Did Gopher Work?

When you used Gopher, you would see menus. Each menu item could be a document, a file, or another menu. You would click on a menu item, and it would take you to the next menu or show you the information. It was like navigating a tree of folders and files. It was simple and text-based, meaning it didn't have fancy pictures or videos.

Why We Don't Use Gopher Today

Gopher was very popular in the early 1990s. However, it was soon replaced by the World Wide Web. The Web offered a more flexible way to link information (hyperlinks) and could display graphics and multimedia much better. Also, the Web was free for everyone to use, while Gopher had some licensing issues at one point. Today, Gopher is rarely used, but it was a big step in the history of the internet!

Minnesota Golden Gophers: University Sports

The term "Minnesota Golden Gophers" refers to the sports teams of the University of Minnesota. This university is located in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Their teams are famous for competing in many different sports at a high level.

Who Are the Golden Gophers?

The Golden Gophers are the athletic teams that represent the University of Minnesota. They compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, which is the highest level of college sports in the United States. They are part of the Big Ten Conference, one of the oldest and most respected college sports conferences.

What Sports Do They Play?

The University of Minnesota has many sports teams for both men and women. Some of their most well-known teams include:

• Football
• Men's and Women's Basketball
• Men's and Women's Hockey
• Baseball
• Softball
• Track and Field
• Swimming and Diving
• Gymnastics

Why "Golden Gophers"?

The nickname "Golden Gophers" comes from the state of Minnesota itself. Minnesota is often called the "Gopher State." This nickname became popular in the late 1800s. The "Golden" part refers to the school colors of the University of Minnesota, which are maroon and gold. The mascot for the teams is Goldy Gopher, a friendly, energetic gopher character.