Pocket gopher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pocket gophers Temporal range: Early Oligocene – Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Superfamily:	Geomyoidea
Family:	Geomyidae

Pocket gophers are small, burrowing animals. They are a type of rodent, like mice or rats. These animals belong to the family Geomyidae. They are known as "true" gophers. Sometimes, other animals like ground squirrels are also called gophers. But these are not the same as pocket gophers.

The name "pocket gopher" comes from the special pouches they have. These pouches are on the outside of their cheeks. Even though they can be a bit of a nuisance, pocket gophers are a symbol of Minnesota. This U.S. state is even nicknamed "the Gopher State"!

Where Do Pocket Gophers Live?

Pocket gophers live in many places. You can find them across North America. Their homes stretch all the way into Central America.

What Do Pocket Gophers Look Like?

A typical pocket gopher.

Gophers are strong, stocky animals. Most are medium-sized. They usually weigh a few hundred grams. Some types can even weigh up to 1 kg.

Most gophers have brown fur. Their fur often matches the color of the soil where they live. This helps them blend in. Their most unique feature is their large cheek pouches. These are the "pockets" in their name! The pouches are lined with fur. They can even be turned inside out. They stretch from the side of their mouth all the way back to their shoulders.

Pocket gophers have small eyes. They also have a short, hairy tail. They use their tail to feel around in their tunnels. This helps them when they walk backward.

How Do Pocket Gophers Behave?

All pocket gophers are amazing burrowers. They dig many tunnels underground. They are also "larder hoarders." This means they collect and store a lot of food. They use their cheek pouches to carry food back to their burrows. Gophers can gather huge amounts of food!

You can easily tell if gophers are nearby. They leave mounds of fresh dirt on the ground. These dirt piles are usually about 20 cm across. You might see these mounds in vegetable gardens, lawns, or farms. Gophers like moist soil. They also love to eat vegetables. Because of this, some gopher types are seen as pests for farmers. They can also harm trees in forests.

If a gopher feels threatened, it will try to run away. But if it can't escape, it might attack. They can bite other animals, including cats and even humans. Their long, sharp teeth can cause serious bites.

How Are Pocket Gophers Classified?

Scientists who study animals are called taxonomists. They have debated how to classify pocket gophers. There are about 37 different species of pocket gophers. These species are grouped into six different genera.

Images for kids

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  Attwater's pocket gopher (Geomys attwateri) from Colorado County, Texas, US