California
Thomomys talpoides   1-Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles, California Academy of Sciences; 2- National Park Service | |
| Type of Animal: | Mammals |
|---|---|
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Geomyidae |
| Federal Status: | |
| State Status: | |
| Occurrence: | |
| Habitat: | Meadow,Streams,Mountains |
| Description: | Pocket gophers received their name because they literally have pockets that extend from their cheeks to their shoulders. The pockets are lined with fur and are mainly used for food storage and transport. The pockets can be turned inside out and then put back again using a special muscle. Northern pocket gophers are relatively secret animals. They rarely come out of their burrows, and when they do they typically only venture a few feet from the burrow entrance. Their burrow systems can be up to 500 feet long and 6 feet deep. They usually have two layers of tunnels; the top layer is used for foraging and waste, while the bottom layer is used for food storage and nests. Northern pocket gophers dig their burrows mainly with their teeth, but they may use their feet for assistance. Pocket gophers are solitary animals with only one gopher per burrow. Northern pocket gophers breed in the spring, usually in March and April. The litter size ranges from four to seven young, which are born blind and helpless. The young stay in the burrow with their mother for about 40 days, at which time they leave to make their own burrows. Females typically only produce one litter each spring. The main predators of northern pocket gophers are other mammals, such as badgers, weasels, skunks, and bobcats. Some snakes and owls also prey on these pocket gophers. |
| Effort: | |
| References: | Jameson et al. 1988. California Mammals. Wilson et al. (editors). 1999. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Whitaker (editor). 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals, Revised Edition. Zeiner et al. (editors). 1990. California’s Wildlife, Volume III, Mammals. |
| Other Sites: | |
| Field Office(s): | Eagle Lake; Redding |