Many people wonder if gophers are considered an invasive species, often due to the damage they cause in yards and gardens. Their subterranean activities frequently lead to frustration for homeowners and agricultural workers. This article clarifies the distinction between a native pest and an invasive organism, explaining gophers’ actual status and the impacts of their behavior.
Defining an Invasive Species
An invasive species is an organism non-native to an ecosystem whose introduction causes or is likely to cause environmental or economic harm, or harm to human health. Introduced outside their natural range, often through human activities, these species can disrupt the new environment. Those that become invasive typically thrive due to a lack of natural predators or competitors. Their rapid reproduction and growth can lead to significant negative impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem function.
Gophers: Native Status and Pest Behavior
Gophers, specifically pocket gophers, are burrowing rodents native to North and Central America, with around 41 species found across the continent. Their natural range extends from central and southwestern Canada, through the western and southeastern United States, and south to the Panama-Colombia border. Despite their widespread presence, gophers are often mistakenly viewed as invasive due to their destructive tunneling habits. These animals spend nearly their entire lives underground, creating extensive tunnel networks for protection, food collection, and storage. Their powerful claws and large incisors are adapted for digging in various soil types. While a natural part of many ecosystems, their tunneling and feeding behaviors frequently conflict with human landscaping and agriculture, classifying them as pests.
Common Gopher Damage
Gophers cause significant damage to lawns, gardens, and agricultural fields. Their constant digging results in unsightly mounds of dirt on the surface, ruining the appearance of a well-maintained lawn and creating uneven ground. A single gopher can create multiple mounds daily and hundreds of feet of tunnels underground.
Beyond surface disruption, gophers feed extensively on plant roots, bulbs, and tubers, often pulling entire plants into their tunnels from below, leading to sudden wilting or death. They also gnaw on the roots of trees and shrubs, potentially weakening or killing them. Gophers can damage underground utility lines, including irrigation systems and cables, by chewing through them. Their burrows can also compromise the stability of dirt banks and structural foundations, potentially leading to costly repairs.
Effective Gopher Management
Managing gopher populations often requires a combination of strategies, especially when their activities become problematic. Trapping is a widely used and effective method for controlling gophers, particularly for smaller infestations or when new mounds appear. Body-gripping traps, when correctly placed within active tunnels, can be successful.
Exclusion techniques, such as installing physical barriers, can protect vulnerable areas. Burying wire mesh or hardware cloth around gardens or valuable plants, typically 18 to 24 inches deep with an outward-facing skirt, can deter gophers from entering.
Habitat modification, like reducing available food sources or altering irrigation practices, can make an area less appealing to gophers. Flooding tunnels can also be effective by forcing gophers to surface or creating an inhospitable environment. For extensive infestations, professional pest control services might be necessary.