# Plains Pocket Gopher (*Geomys bursarius*) The Plains Pocket Gopher is a small, burrowing animal that loves to dig in the ground. It has big cheek pouches to store food and is known for making tunnels underground! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Plains Pocket Gopher](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Geomys_bursarius.jpg&width=800) Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geomys_bursarius.jpg) ## Appearance The Plains Pocket Gopher has short, brownish-gray to reddish-brown fur, small eyes, and a short, nearly hairless tail. Its most distinctive features are the large, fur-lined cheek pouches on each side of its head, used for carrying food. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Geomyidae - **Genus:** Geomys ## Interesting facts - Plains Pocket Gophers can dig over 100 feet of tunnels in just one day! - Their entire underground home can stretch longer than a football field! - These tiny engineers push excavated dirt behind them using their powerful hind legs! - They can close their lips behind their teeth to chew roots without getting dirt in their mouths! ## Special abilities - **Super Digger:** Plains Pocket Gopher can dig incredibly fast using its powerful claws and strong front teeth that helps them create extensive burrow systems. - **Food Carrier:** Plains Pocket Gopher has large, fur-lined cheek pouches that helps them carry lots of food back to their underground pantries. - **Tunnel Sealer:** Plains Pocket Gopher can seal its burrow entrances quickly with soil that helps them hide from predators and regulate tunnel temperature. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-22 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 10 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-8 - **Gestation:** 18-19 days ## Diet & Feeding They mostly eat plant roots, tubers, and grasses from their underground tunnels. - **Primary Foods:** Roots, Tubers, Grasses, Alfalfa, Dandelions - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [American Badger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-badger) (*Taxidea taxus*) — A key predator that digs into gopher tunnels. - **Eats:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Preys on gophers when they venture above ground. - **Eats:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Hunts gophers, especially at dawn or dusk. - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — A common plant whose roots and stems are eaten. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a gopher hole, don't stick your hands in! They are shy and like to stay underground. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Plains Pocket Gopher? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Plains Pocket Gopher? 15-22 cm ### How much does Plains Pocket Gopher weigh? 0.2-0.5 kg ### How long does Plains Pocket Gopher live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Plains Pocket Gopher move? 10 km/h ### What does Plains Pocket Gopher eat? They mostly eat plant roots, tubers, and grasses from their underground tunnels. ### Where is Plains Pocket Gopher usually found? Grasslands ### How does Plains Pocket Gopher hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Plains Pocket Gopher: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plains-pocket-gopher)