Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents recognized by their large, external cheek pouches. They spend most of their lives underground, making their presence known through horseshoe-shaped mounds of dirt pushed to the surface. While not inherently aggressive toward humans or pets, the danger they pose is significant, primarily through indirect threats to property and the potential for disease transmission.
Direct Physical Threat to Humans and Pets
Pocket gophers are shy, solitary creatures that avoid confrontation. Due to their burrowing lifestyle, they rarely venture above ground, minimizing contact with people and pets. Physical encounters are almost always a defensive reaction when the gopher feels trapped or is being handled.
If cornered, a gopher will bite. These defensive bites can be serious and may require medical attention due to the potential for bacterial infection.
Dogs, especially those that dig, are at the highest risk if they manage to dig a gopher out of its tunnel system.
Health Risks: Diseases and Parasites
The primary health risk comes from pathogens gophers carry, which can be transferred to humans or pets. Gophers host external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, that act as disease vectors. Fleas are the primary transmitter of the bacterium responsible for the plague.
Gophers also carry several bacterial and viral infections. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals, contaminating soil and water sources. Exposure to contaminated water or soil can transmit the bacteria, potentially leading to kidney damage or liver failure in humans and pets.
Another threat is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory disease spread through contact with dried rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. Gophers also carry Tularemia and Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM). These diseases are generally transmitted through environmental contamination or secondary vectors like biting flies, not by a direct bite.
Indirect Dangers: Landscape and Structural Damage
The most common danger posed by pocket gophers is the damage they inflict on property and infrastructure. A single gopher can create hundreds of feet of tunnels that destabilize the soil structure. Their fan-shaped soil mounds are unsightly and create tripping hazards across a lawn or field.
Below the surface, tunnel systems compromise the integrity of man-made structures. Tunnels running under concrete slabs, driveways, or foundations can lead to uneven settling, cracking, or structural failure. Gophers also frequently chew through underground utility lines. This damage can result in water leaks, expensive repairs, and interruptions to utility services.
Safe Management and Exclusion
Mitigating the risks posed by gophers focuses on exclusion and professional control. The most effective non-lethal method is creating physical barriers. Before planting, installing a gopher basket, typically made of galvanized wire mesh, can protect the roots of shrubs and trees.
To protect an entire area, a wire mesh fence must be buried 18 to 24 inches deep, with six inches extending above ground. For existing utility lines, surrounding them with a six-inch layer of coarse gravel can discourage gnawing. Repellents, particularly those based on castor oil, can encourage gophers to relocate.
If a gopher infestation is present, consulting a professional wildlife control service is the most reliable solution. Professionals can safely utilize trapping, carbon monoxide application, or restricted-use baits within the closed tunnel system. When working in active areas, wearing gloves is a sensible precaution to avoid direct contact with contaminated soil or droppings.