11 Important Types of Gophers You Need To Know in 2026

Have you ever seen mounds of mud in your garden during morning walk, you would be shocked by them. Do not be afraid, all these mud holes are created by gophers who are living in your property as uninvited guests. Gophers are cool-blooded animals with pocket cheeks. Pocket cheeks of gophers are used by them to store food or transfer materials for their nests. 

Gophers are small rodents belonging to family geomydiae commonly found in America and Africa. To handle or manage all these rodents you have to learn about different types of gophers to eliminate a particular gopher from your property according to its weak points and behavior. This article comprises all the possible types of gophers so keep learning to get knowledge about them. 

Main Types of Gophers

Gophers consist of many types based on their living location, characteristics and habits. We will discuss all the types or major divisions of pocket gophers based on their genres and species.

The division of gophers based on their major genera is below:

• Southern Pocket Gophers

The genera of southern pocket gophers is Geomys, commonly found in Mexico and US in deserts, plains or sandy areas. They have very large fore feet for digging and two sharp incisors. Mostly they live in large tunnels for their whole life. Its main species and sub species includes Desert, Plain & Texas pocket gophers.

• Northern Pocket Gophers

These pocket gophers are mainly present in Canada and the northern US commonly in grasslands, pine trees and inhabit mountains. They are medium sized stocky rodents with brownish fur and eight in grams. 

• Western Pocket Gophers

Western pocket gophers are commonly found in Canada, Central Mexico and California. They have Thomomys genera. They have no grooves on their teeth so have smooth teeth and are of large size, forming a large complex round tunnel system. 

• Yellow Faced Pocket Gophers

Yellow faced pocket gophers are under Cratogeomys genera commonly found in Mexico and Southwestern US. They have only one groove on their teeth and are of yellow coloured skin.

• Pappogeomys

This genera of pocket gophers is same as Catogeomys genera and mostly present and Mexico so commonly known as Mexico pocket gophers.

• Tropical Pocket Gophers

These gophers are commonly found in central America and Mexico. They are large in size and mostly live in tropical areas.

The following types of pocket gophers are major species of gophers:

• Botta’s Pocket Gophers

Botta’s pocket gophers have their variable sizes and skin colour but commonly have small eyes and small ears with the soil colour of their body. They have long catlike whiskers to feel the underground tunnels and strong claws for digging. Botta’s pocket gophers are mostly present in California and USA and want to live in agricultural places, deserts and other terrestrial areas.

• Giant Pocket Gophers

Giant pocket gophers are under Orthogeomys genera, commonly found in Mexico and Central America, prefer soft vegetative soil for digging. Particular structural properties of giant pocket gophers are; presence of lined fur pouches, hairless tail and they have big claws for digging. 

• Plains Pocket Gophers

Plain pocket gophers are a large species commonly present in North America grasslands. They have large claws for digging and a medium sized body with white inside pouches. Their habitat includes sandy areas, deserts and plains.  

• Desert Gophers

They are “soil engineers” aiding soil aeration by digging large deep tunnels. These small rodents are commonly present in West Texas and Northern Chihuahua. They have large forelimbs for digging and a short hairless tail. Their common habitat is sandy deserts where their predators also present such as snakes, owls, hawks, and weasels. 

• Mazama Pocket Gophers

Mazama pocket gophers are small burrowing rodents who are native to Northwest prairies. They form nutrient filled mounds with strong digging claws.

Will Gophers Cause Damage to Your Property or Yourself?

Gophers damage your property by making soil mounds. They make dirt mounds in your lawns which can affect the beauty of your lawn. Underground large tunnels created by gophers can damage underground water pipes, cables and wires. Their tunnels and soil mounds make the soil foundation of homes uneven which increases the risk of collapse and tripping risks.

Gophers can carry pathogens and can cause diseases. Their bite also is dangerous for your health.

How You Can Get Rid of Gophers?

Getting rid of gophers becomes difficult when they start making underground tunnels. Following are some methods you can use to eliminate gophers:

• Trapping is the main method to capture gophers, make tunnels with fresh mounds and leave it by inserting traps in both directions and check it daily.
• Place toxic baits or chemicals near tunnels of gophers. Use repellents to keep them away from your property.
• Use large barriers or wire mesh to restrict their entry in your property.
• Flooding is the method of eliminating gophers in which garden hose is flooded in their tunnels.

Many pest control services allow management or elimination of gophers, our service, Pathfinder pest control also provides its services to eliminate gophers from your property or home. 

Summary

If you are a resident of Tulsa and are fed up with gophers, attacking your property or home then we have its solution by giving you our pest control service. We have experience of many years in controlling and eliminating pests including gophers. If you want to take our service then we will be available with no off hours to you and will give satisfactory results by using all our best resources. Let’s talk!

People Also Ask

What is The Lifespan of Gophers?

Mostly gophers have life span of 5-7 years. Their life span is determined by their predator ratio and environmental factors. In some species of gophers, males’ life span is smaller than females with 3-5 years.

What Are The Different Ways to Trap Gophers?

Trapping is the best method to eliminate gophers, many types of trapping involves:

• Cinch trap (wire trap)
• Box trap
• Predator trap
• Cage trap

What Are the Signs of Presence of Gophers?

Common signs of presence of gophers at your property include presence of land mounds at your property, damaged plant roots, shoots or leaves, damaged underground wires, cables or water supply.

More References:

How Often Do You Need Pest Control At Your Home?

What is an Exterminator? 5 Types, Duties & When To Hire

Gophers | Zoology | Research Starters

Is Pest Control Worth It? Cost & When You Need This Service?