Gophers are present in Michigan, specifically the Eastern Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius). While often confused with other subterranean animals, true gophers exhibit distinct characteristics and leave specific signs. Identifying these differences helps residents identify creatures in their landscapes.
The Eastern Pocket Gopher in Michigan
The Eastern Pocket Gopher is a medium-sized rodent, typically ranging from 7.5 to 14 inches in length, including its tail. Adapted for underground life, they have small eyes and ears, a short neck, and a broad head.
Their most recognizable traits are large, fur-lined cheek pouches extending from mouth to shoulders, used for carrying food and nesting materials. Powerful forelegs with long, strong claws enable efficient digging.
Their fur color can vary, often matching the surrounding soil, ranging from yellowish-brown to black, with lighter undersides. Within Michigan, the Eastern Pocket Gopher is primarily found in the western region of the Upper Peninsula. They prefer habitats with deep, sandy, and friable soils, such as agricultural fields, open grasslands, and areas with abundant plant roots. This soil preference often leads to patchy distribution across the state.
Identifying Gopher Activity
Gopher presence is identified by distinctive soil mounds on the surface. These mounds are typically fan-shaped or crescent-shaped, created as the gopher pushes excavated dirt out of its burrow. The entrance hole to the tunnel is usually plugged with soil, often found off to one side of the mound. This plugging seals their extensive underground networks.
Their tunnel systems are deep and complex, consisting of feeding tunnels usually 6 to 12 inches below the surface, with deeper chambers for nesting and food storage reaching up to 6 feet. Gophers are herbivores, primarily consuming plant roots, tubers, and bulbs, which they encounter while digging. They may also pull entire plants into their tunnels from below, leading to visible damage to garden plants, crops, and even the roots of trees.
Distinguishing Gophers from Other Burrowing Animals
Differentiating gophers from moles and voles in Michigan requires observing their physical traits and activity patterns. Unlike moles, gophers have visible eyes and prominent incisor teeth.
Moles, however, are typically 4 to 11 inches long and have very small, often unseen eyes and ears, along with large, paddle-like front paws designed for digging. Mole mounds are distinctively volcano-shaped or conical, with a central plug, and they also create raised ridges or tunnels just beneath the surface as they search for insects and worms. Voles, often called meadow mice, are smaller, usually 3 to 8 inches long, with compact bodies, small eyes, short tails, and gray-brown fur. They create small, open holes without surrounding dirt mounds and often form visible surface runways through grass, as they primarily feed on stems, leaves, and seeds.