Gophers
POCKET GOPHERS (Thomomys spp.)
Description:
Pocket Gophers are burrowing rodents with fine short, dark to
light brown fur. Adults are approximately 6 to 12 inches long,
depending on the species. They get their name from the fur
lines external cheek pouches, or pockets, that they use for
carrying food and nesting materials. Pocket Gophers have
powerful forequarters and large-clawed front paws making them
well suited to digging and tunneling underground. Pocket
Gophers have small eyes, small external ears, and highly
sensitive facial whiskers.
Biology:
The most common species of Pocket Gopher found in Southern
California is the Botta’s Pocket Gopher (Thomomys Bottae).
Although they can be seen feeding at the edge of an open
burrow, gophers remain mostly underground in their system of
tunnels. Mounds of fresh soil are the #1 sign of gopher
activity. Typically mounds are crescent or horseshoe-shaped.
There can be up to 20 gophers per acre and a single Pocket
Gopher burrow system can cover an area of 200 to 2,000 square
feet. One gopher can create several mounds in a day and are
most active during spring and fall when the soil is moist and
easy to dig. However, in irrigated properties such as lawns,
flowerbeds, and gardens, digging conditions are usually
optimal year-round and mounds can appear any time of year.
Did You Know?
As you might expect, certain occupational hazards come with using your face as a shovel. Gophers are prepared for it though, their small eyes help avoid injury and they have special lips that can close behind their front teeth allowing them to use their teeth to dig without getting a mouthful of dirt!
Impact:
Gophers invade landscapes, lawns, and gardens. They feed on
crops, ornamental plants, vines, shrubs, and trees often
killing or seriously damaging the plants. A single gopher
moving through a flower bed can cause considerable damage in a
very short time. Gopher tunnels can divert and carry off
irrigation water, leading to soil erosion. Mounds on lawns can
interfere with mowing equipment and ruin the aesthetics of
well-kept turf grass. Slopes and embankments are vulnerable to
serious winter erosion when gophers are allowed to burrow
unchecked. Gophers are an economic hazard to any landscaped
property.
Solutions:
Regular inspection and early detection is the key to managing
gophers. Pestgon is very successful in using a variety of
elimination measures to control and protect your property.
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