In the wild, gophers live in burrows they dig underground. These burrows can be up to 15 feet deep and may have several chambers.
Gophers are expert diggers, using their sharp claws and teeth to break through soil and rocks with ease.
Gophers are quite adaptable and can be found in a variety of climates. They prefer warm, moist climates with plenty of vegetation which makes for ideal tunneling and burrowing conditions.
They can be found in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa as well as some islands.
What states do gophers live in?
Gophers can be found in many states across the United States, most commonly in the west and Midwest. States with large populations of gophers include Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska and Iowa. They can also be found in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Gophers in Michigan
Yes, gophers can be found in Michigan.
Michigan Gophers are most common in the lower half of the state, especially in oak and hickory woodlots in the south-central part of Michigan. Gophers thrive in grassy areas, meadows and fields and can also be found in pastures, lawns, and gardens.
They are also well-adapted to urban areas and can often be seen popping up in backyards and parks.
Gophers in Montana
Gophers are quite common in Montana. They can be found in grassy meadows, fields and pastures throughout the state.
Gophers prefer habitats that provide plenty of vegetation as well as moist soil and shelter. They are often seen in agricultural areas, parks and backyards.
Montana gophers are known for their prolific tunneling and burrowing activities. They also have a reputation for being quite troublesome to farmers, gardeners and landowners.
With their powerful digging skills, gophers can cause a lot of damage to crops, lawns and gardens in Montana.
Gophers in Wyoming
Wyoming gophers are quite active and can often be found in grassy meadows, fields and pastures throughout the state.
They are most common in the western and southeastern parts of Wyoming, where they thrive in areas with plenty of vegetation and moist soil. Gophers are known to cause damage to crops and gardens, but they also play an important role in the ecosystem.
They are a food source for snakes, coyotes, foxes and birds, helping to keep the balance of Wyoming’s wildlife population.
Gophers in Colorado
Gophers are quite common in Colorado, where they can be found in meadows, fields and pastures across the state. They thrive in areas with plenty of vegetation and moist soil, making Colorado’s climate a perfect gopher habitat.
Colorado gophers are known for their prolific tunneling and burrowing activities, though they can also be a nuisance to farmers, gardeners and landowners.
They are also an important food source for many of Colorado’s predatory animals, helping to keep the balance of wildlife in the state.
Gophers in California
California gophers can be found in grassy meadows, fields and pastures throughout the state. They are especially common in the Central Valley, where they thrive in areas with plenty of vegetation and moist soil.
California gophers are known for their expert digging skills, often causing damage to crops, lawns and gardens. However, gophers also play an important role in the ecosystem.
They are a food source for snakes, coyotes, foxes and birds, helping to keep the balance of California’s wildlife population.
Gophers in Nevada
Gophers are quite common in Nevada, where they can be found in meadows, fields and pastures across the state. They thrive in areas with plenty of vegetation and moist soil, making Nevada a perfect gopher habitat.
Nevada Gophers are known for their prolific tunneling and burrowing activities, as well as their ability to cause a lot of damage to crops, lawns and gardens.
Gophers in Utah
Utah is home to a variety of gophers, ranging from Gopherus agassizii (the Desert Gopher) to Thomson’s Gopher. Gophers are a burrowing mammal and they dig deep tunnels to make their homes, forming intricate mazes that can be confusing to navigate.
Gophers in Utah can be found in a variety of habitats, including open prairies and dry areas that have plenty of loose soil for them to dig.
Gophers are known for their industrious nature and are considered to be beneficial in the environment, as they help aerate the soil, turn over organic matter, and create food sources for other animals.
Gophers in Utah are a unique part of the state’s animal life and should be respected.
Gophers in Arizona
Arizona is home to the Colorado pocket gopher, also known as Arizona gophers. These small burrowing animals make their homes in Arizona cottonwood and willow forests, mesquite scrublands and other areas with moist soils.
Arizona gophers are true to their name, as they dig burrows that are usually no larger than a pocket. Arizona gophers may be small, but they can cause big problems for Arizona’s farmers and ranchers.
Arizona gophers can wreak havoc on crops and pastureland as they tunnel through root systems, damage sprinkler systems, and even cause erosion.
Gophers in New Mexico
New Mexico is home to several gopher species, including the New Mexican gopher. These gophers are found in a variety of habitats, from open woodlands to arid grasslands.
New Mexico gophers can be identified by their long, pointed snouts and their dark brown fur.
Like gophers in other parts of the country, New Mexico gophers can cause problems for agricultural production by burrowing through root systems and damaging irrigation systems.
Gophers in Nebraska
Nebraska gophers are a species of their own and can be identified by their brown or reddish-brown fur and white stripes.
Like gophers in other states, Nebraska gophers are industrious and hard-working creatures that dig deep tunnels through the soil to make their homes.
They can be found in a variety of habitats, from grasslands to woodlands. Nebraska gophers are beneficial to the environment as they turn over organic matter, aerate the soil, and help create a diverse ecosystem.
Gophers in Iowa
Iowa is home to a large Gopher population. Gophers in Iowa are medium-sized burrowing rodents that can be identified by their brown or gray fur, short ears, and long tails.
Gophers in Iowa are most commonly found in prairie habitats, where they dig deep burrows to make their homes.
Gophers in Iowa are important members of the environment as they turn over soil, aerate the soil, and create food sources for other animals.
Gopher Holes and Gopher Tunnels – Where Gophers Live
Gophers make extensive tunnel networks within their burrows. These tunnels can measure up to 20 feet long and are often equipped with multiple entrances.
Gophers use their powerful claws and teeth to dig these holes which can sometimes measure up to four inches wide. To create the perfect tunnel, gophers make sure to pack down the sides and line the bottom with grass and leaves for insulation.
These tunnels can help gophers escape predators as well as provide them with a safe and comfortable environment.
To keep their burrows clean, gophers use the tunnels to collect dirt and debris from digging and then discard it outside of the burrow.
This helps keep their home free from any debris that may attract predators. Gophers also use their tunnels to store food and find new places to forage.
With their expert tunnel-digging skills, gophers are able to create a safe and comfortable environment where they can live, feed, and sleep.
