Ran gelands 1(1), February 1979 - 3 Plains Pocket Gophers More Than A Nuisance J. Stubbendieck, Ronald Case, Kathie J. Kjar, and Michael A. There are many predators that hunt them. Mus. In five weeks the cheek pouches and eyes of the young open and a week later they are weaned. County Breakdown: County Name (# occurrences): Atchison (6); Barber (186); Barton (12); Brown (2); Butler (5); Chase (2); Cheyenne (28); Clark (49); Clay (3); Cloud (12); Coffey (1); Comanche (54); Cowley (67); Decatur (12); Dickinson (28); Doniphan (3); Douglas (199); Edwards (49); Ellis (154); Ellsworth (1); Finney (124); Ford (61); Geary (6); Gove (6); Graham (49); Grant (8); Gray (32); Greeley (2); Greenwood (267); Hamilton (103); Harper (41); Harvey (9); Haskell (3); Jackson (8); Jefferson (2); Jewell (2); Johnson (4); Kearney (43); Kingman (6); Kiowa (58); Lane (47); Leavenworth (51); Logan (22); Lyon (2); Marion (8); Marshall (25); McPherson (18); Meade (131); Mitchell (42); Morris (3); Morton (88); Nemaha (2); Ness (18); Norton (40); Osage (1); Osborne (194); Pawnee (47); Phillips (34); Pottawatomie (10); Pratt (28); Rawlins (58); Reno (53); Republic (13); Rice (11); Riley (42); Rooks (65); Rush (16); Russell (43); Saline (17); Scott (12); Sedgwick (40); Seward (58); Shawnee (1); Sheridan (8); Sherman (41); Smith (10); Stafford (32); Stanton (14); Stevens (2); Sumner (52); Thomas (58); Trego (52); Wallace (27); Washington (1); Wichita (12); Woodson (1); Wyandotte (6); The Plains Pocket Gopher is more highly specialized for digging than any other North American rodent and lives underground for practically its entire life. The tail is brownish with a white tip. Thriving in sandy and silt soil types, plains pocket gophers are light to dark brown in color on the upper portions of their bodies with buff colored underbellies. Remarks: Predators of the Plains Pocket Gopher are those that can gain entrance to the tunnels such as weasels and snakes, or those capable of digging into the ground like badgers, foxes, and coyotes. 1) is the smallest and most widespread, occupying much of eastern Washington.Adults of this species measure 8 inches in length, including their 2-inch tail. Owls and hawks may prey upon this gopher if it leaves the security of its burrow system. Although essentially solitary, they associate with others in loose colonies and are common throughout the state. Plains pocket gophers belong to the Geomyidae family. Young are grayer than adults. Their gestation period lasts 18 to 19 days, weaning occurs 40 to 44 days after birth, and independence is attained on an average of 51 days later. Pocket gophers of all ages fall victim to a variety of predators, but they are especially vulnerable to badgers, which are proficient at digging them out of their tunnels. Plains pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) vary in length from almost 7 1/2 to 14 inches (18 to 36 cm). SOUTHERN POCKET GOPHER. Nat. The name "pocket gopher" on its own may refer to any of a number of genera within the family Geomyidae. Mountain Cottontail. The five subspecies in Kansas are: Some county occurrences indicated below may be too imprecise to map above. For plains pocket gophers, a population of six to eight animals per acre is considered high density. in winter or summer. Subordinate Taxa: Brazos pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius braznesis). When a pocket gopher leaves its burrow, however, it is highly vulnerable, and most … Badgers and snakes will hunt pocket gophers underground, but most predators wait for them to come to the surface. Although rarely seen, its presence can be determined by piles of fresh dirt pushed to the surface and arranged in a somewhat linear fashion in open fields. Whitish hairs cover the tops of the feet. The species wreaking havoc in area producers' pastures and alfalfa stands is the plains pocket gopher, which weighs in at a whopping one pound. It has short fur with brown to black coloration. At White Sands, these include snakes, badgers, coyotes, kit foxes, and owls. Hist., 1:217-236. Texas pocket gophers (Geomys personatus) are also brown and The edges of the toes are fringed with hairs that assist in digging and handling dirt. These are the "true" gophers, but several ground squirrels in the distantly related family Sciuridae are often called "gophers", as well. The tunnels connecting these mounds are usually 12 – 18 inches underground. The plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) also occurs in Illinois and lives a subterranean life similar to the eastern mole. The tunnels are excavated using the large claws of the front feet. Pocket gophers face numerous threats from predators. Mississippi Valley pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius bursarius). Two examples include the tropical pocket gopher and the Michoacan pocket gopher. The action of gophers in the soil are beneficial for both plant and animal communities. It has a broad flat head, compact body, short snout, and nearly hairless tail that is used as a sensory organ. claws. The Plains Pocket Gopher can be distinguished from its only Kansas relative, the Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher, by the presence of two parallel grooves (rather than one) on the front surface of its large protruding orange incisor teeth. Knowledge of the sex of prey is useful in evaluating predator food habits as well as indicating sex specific differences in prey behavior. Badgers, snakes and hawks also make gophers part of their diet. Remarks : Predators of the plains pocket gopher are those that can gain entrance to the tunnels such as weasels and snakes, or those capable of digging into the ground like badgers, foxes, and coyotes. The White salmon pocket gopher-Northern (Thomomys talpoides)(Fig. 7():1-303. The upperparts are light to dark brown. The eyes and ears are small. Habitat Modification Mexican pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius mexicanus). Adults can weigh up to 1 pound; males are generally larger than females. Geomys (Figure 3b) have 2 grooves on each upper incisor and large forefeet and claws.Plains pocket gophers (G. bursarius) are the largest pocket gophers in North America and can weigh up to 1 pound.They are 7½ to 14 inches in length. By-products of the gopher and unconsumed plant material enhances the fertility of the soil. Description:   The plains pocket gopher can be distinguished from its only Kansas relative, the yellow-faced pocket gopher, by the presence of two parallel grooves (rather than one) on the front surface of its large protruding orange incisor teeth. Owls and hawks may prey upon this gopher if it leaves the security of its burrow system. Desert pocket gophers (Geomys arenarius) are always brown and vary from nearly 8 3/4 to 11 inches (22 to 28 cm) long. 2 volumespp. Although four species of pocket gophers are found throughout Colorado, the primary species of concern in the Colorado Springs and Pueblo areas is the plains pocket gopher. Pocket Gophers. Skin and hairs are arranged so as to permit flexibility when the animal moves forward or backward in its subterranean tunnels. They are approximately 8 to 123⁄4 inches in length, including the tail. Montane Vole. Oklahoma pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius dutcheri). The plains pocket gopher does not hibernate. The hair is short, dense, and glossy, and the skin is rather loose. Green plants and grasses are taken from around the entrance of their tunnels and perhaps beyond, at night. (Their cousin, the Northern pocket gopher can only be found in the very northeast corner of the state.) They reach sexual maturity at one year. Canines and badgers dig them out of the ground, and if pocket gophers leave their tunnels, owls and hawks are happy to snatch them up. Two species of pocket gophers are found in Oklahoma. The plains pocket gopher is especially fond of alfalfa fields, and can become a nuisance. They are eaten by animals that are able to follow them into burrows, such as weasels and snakes. In addition to the nesting chamber there are special tunnels for food storage and for the deposit of fecal material. The tail is brownish with a white tip. Range and Habitat:   The plains pocket gopher lives throughout Kansas with the exception of the southeastern corner of the state. Northern Grasshopper Mouse. (): Hall, E. R Handbook of mammals of Kansas Univ. The Texas pocket gopher avoids emerging onto the surface to feed by seizing the roots of plants with its jaws and pulling them downwards into its burrow. Plains Pocket Gopher. Gopher predators include snakes, owls, coyotes, weasels, badgers, bobcats and even herons. Black-tailed Prairie Dog ... Montane Shrew. The plains pocket gopher eats plant material found underground during tunneling, and also collects grasses, roots, and tubers in its cheek pouches and caches them in underground larder chambers. The front legs are short, strong, and bear heavy claws on all five toes. Owls and hawks may prey upon this gopher if it leaves the security of its burrow system. Grain baits, such as corn, oats, wheat, and grain sorghum are readily eaten in some localities and often give better results in fall when pocket gophers are storing much of their food. Plains pocket gophers are larger than eastern moles. However, a few species of gopher are decreasing due to habitat loss. The tunnels also collect runoff of early melting snows and rain storms. Northern Pocket Gopher. Gophers should not be confused with moles although they sometimes construct similar tunnels. Kansas Mus. Bobcat. Their tunnels permit deeper penetration of air and water into the soil. Although rarely seen, its presence can be determined by piles of fresh dirt pushed to the surface and arranged in a somewhat linear fashion in open fields. Kansas Publ. Abandoned tunnels make excellent retreats for many kinds of small vertebrates and invertebrates. Univ. Scientists estimate an average of 4 to 5 gophers per acre of land. Ord's Kangaroo Rat. Maximum longevity of this mammal is generally less than five years. Pocket gopher sign includes large unsightly mounds in yards and mounds in hay fields. Plains pocket gophers build and maintain intricate burrowing trails beneath the surface and live the majority of their lives underground. Food:   The food of plains pocket gophers is entirely vegetable matter consisting of grasses and forbs, roots and underground stems. Each adult pocket gopher occupies its own burrow system most of the year, but they can quickly occupy a neighboring burrow if a resident disappears. The underparts are dull buffy. The pocket gopher has small eyes and ears and naked or sparsely-haired The edges of the toes are fringed with hairs that assist in digging and handling dirt. Numerous predators eat pocket gophers. A pocket gopher’s burrow system may cover 1 to 2 acres. Hall, E. R., and K. R. Kelson Ronald Press, New York. Predators—including owls, snakes, cats, dogs, and coyotes—eat pocket gophers. 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