Townsend's pocket gopher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Townsend's pocket gopher |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thomomys
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| Species: |
townsendii
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The Townsend's pocket gopher (Thomomys townsendii) is a special type of pocket gopher. It lives only in the northwestern United States. These small mammals are known for their amazing digging skills and the handy fur-lined pouches in their cheeks.
What They Look Like
Townsend's pocket gophers are quite big for gophers. They are about 22 to 29 centimeters (9 to 11 inches) long, including their tail. Their tails are usually 6 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. Adult gophers weigh between 190 and 380 grams (about 7 to 13 ounces). Male gophers are usually bigger than females.
Like other pocket gophers, they have a large head and a strong, short neck. Their eyes and ears are small. Their legs are short, but their front paws are very big. These front paws have powerful claws, perfect for digging. Their back feet are strong and flat.
One cool thing about them is their "pockets"! They have special fur-lined pouches on each side of their mouth. This is why they are called "pocket gophers." They use these pouches to carry food.
Their fur is mostly gray. Their bellies are a bit more tan. They have a patch of white fur on their chin. Some gophers might even have white marks on their heads. Their tails have almost no hair. Sometimes, you might see a gopher that is almost completely black. This is called being "melanistic." These black gophers might still have white spots on their chin or feet.
Where They Live and Their Home
Townsend's pocket gophers live in different areas across southern Idaho, northern Nevada, southeastern Oregon, and northeastern California. They like to live in places with deep, wet soil. These areas are often near rivers and lakes.
You can sometimes find them in higher places, up to 1,980 meters (about 6,500 feet) high. But they usually prefer lower valley bottoms. They can also be found in large numbers in farm fields that are watered by people. They might not spread to new areas if there isn't enough saltgrass for them to eat. Also, another type of gopher, Botta's pocket gopher, might compete with them for food and space.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Townsend's pocket gopher:
- T. t. townsendii: This type lives in Idaho and near the Malheur River in Oregon.
- T. t. nevadensis: This type lives in all the other areas mentioned.
Life and Habits
Townsend's pocket gophers mostly eat the roots of saltgrass. But they also enjoy other grasses, alfalfa, and other plants with large roots. They even eat farm crops like potatoes!
Some animals that hunt Townsend's pocket gophers include barn owls. These gophers are also the main home for a tiny insect called the chewing louse Geomydoecus idahoensis. Gophers likely have their babies around January or February. On average, a mother gopher will have about seven young ones at a time.
Like most pocket gophers, Townsend's pocket gophers spend almost all their lives underground. Their tunnels are about 10 to 12 centimeters (4 to 5 inches) wide. You can spot their homes on the surface by the many mounds of dirt they push out. They usually keep the entrances to their tunnels blocked with soil. This helps keep predators from getting in. Outside of the time when they are having babies, these gophers live alone.
