Understanding the distinct characteristics and behaviors of local wildlife helps clarify questions about what might be digging in your yard. This insight helps identify the animals present.
The Gopher Question: Setting the Record Straight
The common query regarding gophers in Indiana often stems from a misunderstanding of what a “true” gopher is. Pocket gophers (family Geomyidae) are highly fossorial rodents primarily found across the Great Plains. While not widespread, the Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius) is present in extreme western Indiana, particularly in northwest prairie regions. This species is considered of special concern in Indiana due to its limited distribution and declining populations. The term “gopher” is frequently misapplied to other burrowing animals.
Indiana’s True Burrowing Residents
While true pocket gophers have a restricted range in Indiana, several other burrowing mammals are common throughout the state and are often mistaken for them. The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck, is the largest member of the squirrel family found in Indiana. Groundhogs are widespread, preferring open habitats like meadows, pastures, and agricultural fields.
The eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is another prevalent subterranean dweller. These small insectivores are found statewide, favoring loamy, well-drained soils.
The thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) is another common burrowing rodent in Indiana. These squirrels are prevalent across Indiana, often inhabiting open, grassy areas like lawns, golf courses, and parks.
Key Distinctions: Identifying Indiana’s Diggers
Distinguishing between Indiana’s burrowing animals involves observing their physical characteristics and behaviors. Groundhogs are larger and stockier, weighing 7 to 14 pounds and reaching up to 25 inches long. Their fur is yellowish-brown to black, and they have a short, bushy tail. Groundhogs are diurnal, most active in early morning and evening, and known to emit a high-pitched whistle.
Eastern moles are much smaller, weighing a few ounces and measuring up to 7 inches. Their striking feature is their enlarged, paddle-like front feet with powerful claws for digging. Moles have virtually no visible ears and tiny eyes, often concealed by their dense, velvety gray fur. They are insectivores, primarily eating earthworms and grubs, and spend nearly their entire lives underground.
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are slender, 7 to 12 inches long, and weigh up to 9 ounces. They are identified by 13 alternating brown and whitish stripes. Unlike tree squirrels, they carry their tails horizontally when moving. These ground squirrels are also diurnal, active on warm, sunny days, and often seen standing upright. They use cheek pouches to transport seeds and plant matter.
Understanding Their Telltale Signs
The signs left by burrowing animals can help determine which species is present. Groundhogs create large burrow entrances, typically 10 to 12 inches in diameter, often marked by a substantial mound of excavated dirt and stones. Their extensive tunnel systems can be 2 to 5 feet deep and extend up to 60 feet long, often featuring multiple entrances. Groundhog activity can also be indicated by worn paths between their burrows and feeding areas, and damage to garden plants, characterized by cleanly cut stems and gnawed vegetation.
Moles leave distinct signs, including raised ridges or “runways” across lawns, shallow hunting tunnels just beneath the surface, about 4 to 6 inches wide. They also create volcano-shaped mounds of soil, known as molehills, which are typically circular, less than 12 inches in diameter, and have a plugged hole. These mounds result from moles pushing up dirt from deeper tunnels. Moles do not typically leave visible tracks or droppings on the surface, and their tunneling can cause patches of dead grass due to root disturbance.
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels create smaller burrow entrances, usually 2 to 3 inches in diameter, often with scattered dirt piles around the openings. Their burrows are generally 15 to 20 feet long and commonly have two entrances. These squirrels often dig near sheds, garages, or porches. Evidence of their presence includes feeding damage to plants, particularly seeds, green shoots, and garden vegetables, along with disturbed soil.