The question of whether true gophers inhabit Tennessee is a common one, largely because the term “gopher” is often used incorrectly to describe several different burrowing animals. While the state is home to a variety of subterranean mammals that cause similar yard damage, the true Pocket Gopher, belonging to the family Geomyidae, is generally not a native resident. The widespread perception of a “gopher problem” in Tennessee is actually a case of mistaken identity, pointing instead to two much more prevalent species: the Eastern Mole and the Woodchuck, or Groundhog.
Are True Pocket Gophers Native to Tennessee?
True pocket gophers are rodents defined by their prominent, fur-lined external cheek pouches used for carrying food. They are primarily found throughout the Great Plains and the western United States, with a few species extending into the southeastern part of the country. The closest species, the Southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetis), is restricted to sandy soil habitats in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, but their established range does not extend into Tennessee. True gophers are vegetarians that feed on roots and tubers, and their tell-tale sign is a horseshoe-shaped mound of dirt with a plugged entrance hole, which differs from the mounds created by other local burrowers.
The Case of the Eastern Mole
The Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is the most frequent culprit behind the raised ridges and soil disruptions seen in Tennessee lawns. Its diet consists primarily of earthworms, grubs, and other invertebrates found in the soil. The mole’s extensive tunneling is a continuous search for these food sources.
It possesses tiny, often concealed eyes, a fleshy, movable snout, and velvety fur that allows it to move easily forward or backward in its tunnels. Its most distinctive feature is the pair of large, paddle-like front feet with powerful, outward-pointing claws used for efficient digging. The damage it causes includes raised, vein-like surface runways and volcano-shaped molehills, which are the byproduct of excavating deeper tunnels.
The Case of the Woodchuck (Groundhog)
The Woodchuck (Marmota monax), also known as a groundhog, is common across Tennessee and often mistaken for a gopher. This large rodent, a member of the squirrel family, is easily identified by its stout body, relatively short bushy tail, and a weight that can range from five to twelve pounds. Unlike the mole, the woodchuck is a strict herbivore that prefers grasses, clover, legumes, and garden vegetables.
The woodchuck creates extensive, deep burrow systems, up to five feet deep and over sixty feet long, used for shelter, raising young, and hibernation. The sign of a woodchuck den is a large mound of excavated dirt and stones near the main entrance hole, which is usually ten to twelve inches in diameter. These large, complex dens can pose a hazard to farm equipment and livestock if they collapse.
Managing Burrowing Pests in Tennessee
Effective management of burrowing animals in Tennessee requires accurate identification since strategies for moles and woodchucks differ. To manage the Eastern Mole, homeowners should focus on reducing their primary food source, such as controlling grub populations in the lawn. Trapping is widely considered the most consistently effective method, using specialized traps placed in the mole’s active, main runway tunnels.
Controlling the Woodchuck involves exclusion, which means installing sturdy fencing, ideally buried at least a foot deep and bent outward to prevent digging underneath. Live-trapping is also an option, using cage traps baited with preferred foods like apples or cantaloupe. For both animals, removing available cover like overgrown brush piles or low decks can help reduce the attractiveness of a property for den construction.