-- Pest Library --
Gopher
Gopher Description
Pocket gophers are gray and can be over 7 in long, much larger than mice or voles. They are master diggers, and leave small dirt piles around yards, fields, and pastures.
Diet
Gophers eat roots and other plant matter, often destroying parts of the plant. This can cause lots of damage to farm fields and residential lawns.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
Pocket gophers reach sexual maturity in the spring following their birth. In the northern part of their range they have 1 litter per year. In the southern portion they may have 2 litters per year.
Habitat
Idaho gophers are found in lawns, pastures, and crop fields throughout the state.
Threat
The parts of plants that pocket gophers consume vary with the seasons. Pocket gophers consume aboveground vegetation during the growing season, when the vegetation is green and succulent. Height and density of vegetation at this time of year may offer protection from predators and reduce the risk of short surface trips.
Pocket gophers are not known to be a significant threat to the safety of humans or animals. Pocket gophers have very strong jaws and sharp incisors (front teeth), so avoid getting bitten when handling pocket gophers that are trapped. Always wear gloves when controlling gophers. Pocket gophers carry parasites, but the potential threat to humans is thought to be low.
