Chipmunks and gophers are small, burrowing rodents often found in North American landscapes. Both spend significant time underground and can impact gardens, yet they possess distinct characteristics for proper identification. Their similar sizes and subterranean habits often cause confusion. Understanding their appearances, behaviors, and habitats helps differentiate them.
Appearance and Anatomy
Chipmunks are notably smaller and more slender than gophers, typically measuring between 5 to 6.5 inches in body length with an additional 3 to 4 inches for their tail. Their fur is usually reddish-brown, and a defining feature is their prominent stripe pattern. They exhibit five dark stripes on their back—one central stripe and two on each side—often bordered by lighter stripes. Additionally, chipmunks have distinct light stripes above and below their eyes. Their tails are moderately furred and can appear somewhat bushy. Chipmunks also possess internal cheek pouches, which can expand significantly to hold food.
Gophers, also known as pocket gophers, have a more robust and stout build, ranging from 5 to 14 inches in body length, with a shorter tail typically 1 to 2 inches long. Their fur color varies, often matching the soil of their habitat, ranging from brown, gray, to black. Unlike chipmunks, gophers lack prominent stripes on their bodies or faces. They have small eyes and ears, and their necks are not distinctly visible, contributing to their cylindrical appearance. A distinguishing anatomical feature of gophers is their external, fur-lined cheek pouches, which open outside the mouth and extend back to their shoulders, allowing them to carry large quantities of food or even soil.
Habitat and Behavior
Chipmunks primarily inhabit wooded areas, including deciduous forests, woodlands, and brushy edges. They are agile climbers, capable of ascending trees and shrubs to forage for food, although they spend most of their time on the ground. Chipmunks are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon. They construct extensive burrow systems underground, up to 30 feet long and 3 feet deep, with multiple chambers for nesting, food storage, and waste. While they do not truly hibernate, chipmunks enter periods of torpor during winter, waking occasionally to consume their stored food and are known for their characteristic “chip-chip” sound.
Gophers lead a predominantly subterranean lifestyle, spending most of their lives underground within elaborate tunnel systems. They prefer moist, porous soils that are easy to dig through. Their extensive burrows can range from 200 to 2,000 square feet and include travel runs, drainage tunnels, and chambers for living and food storage. Gophers create characteristic crescent or horseshoe-shaped mounds of loose soil on the surface as they excavate their tunnels. Unlike chipmunks, gophers are generally solitary and territorial, defending their burrow systems. They remain active year-round, although they may stay in their burrows during extreme weather, and are herbivores, primarily feeding on roots, tubers, and other underground plant parts.
Quick Identification Tips
To quickly distinguish between a chipmunk and a gopher, observe their appearance and behavior. A chipmunk will almost always display distinct black and white stripes on its back and face, and it possesses a bushy tail. You will often see chipmunks actively foraging above ground, scampering and climbing.
Conversely, a gopher will appear stouter, lack any body stripes, and have small, almost hidden ears and eyes. The most definitive sign of a gopher’s presence is the characteristic fan-shaped or crescent-shaped mounds of dirt it leaves on the surface, indicating its extensive underground tunneling activity. Gophers are rarely seen above ground.