Two types of pocket gophers occur in Washington: the Western and Northern, with the Western pocket gopher having several subspecies. Pocket gopher burrow systems consist of a main tunnel or runway which is commonly six to eight inches below the surface, but this depth can vary greatly with the type of soil. Runways are about three inches in diameter, but will vary with the size of the particular gopher. Keeping Gophers Away Long-Term. They may choose to feast on these instead of leaving your yard. The White salmon pocket gopher-Northern (Thomomys talpoides)(Fig. Their diet consists primarily of roots, nuts, seeds, vegetables, grasses, stems, tubers, and more. It is near the surface of the ground and gophers move through this tunnel to find plant roots. Pocket gophers are medium-sized fossorial (burrowing) rodents, which have external fur-lined pouches located on the outside of their mouths. Gophers weigh around 200 g (1 ⁄ 2 lb), and are about 15–20 cm (6–8 in) in body length, with a tail 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) long.A few species reach weights approaching 1 kg (2.2 lb). Gopher and Human Interaction Diet of the Gopher. Description. Within any species, the males are larger than the females, and can be nearly double their weight. One type of tunnel is long with many twists and turns. A pocket gopher is a burrowing, tailed rodent, with small ears, and eyes. Gophers use these tunnels for their nests, storing food and hiding from predators. Pocket gophers have long curved claws on their proportionally large front limbs, and sharp curved incisors. Types of Gophers. These rodents are herbivores, which means that they only eat plants. Its fur color can ranges from being any shade from pale brown to almost snow white. The lips of a pocket gopher close behind their protruding front incisor teeth. Not only have gophers earned a reputation for destroying lawns but they have been known to destroy underground utility cables, sprinkler systems, and irrigation systems. The second type of tunnel is deeper in the ground. There are 35 different types of Pocket Gophers spread across the western hemisphere, the most common type in California being the Botta Pocket Gopher. Gophers like to be alone and only one gopher will be found in a tunnel system. 1) is the smallest and most widespread, occupying much of eastern Washington.Adults of this species measure 8 inches in length, including their 2-inch tail. The moles eat earthworms along with other types of worms and insects. Impact: Gophers can be responsible for ruining lawns, killing trees and destroying gardens, but they can also be an important part of the local ecosystem. Gophers eat vegetation, so grub killers will not get rid of them. Without food, moles will move on. Identifying Gophers and Gopher Damage. They feed on a wide variety of different plant species. Species in different regions have different types of plants available to eat. However, this method is only partially effective. Some runways leading to nests or food caches may be three or more feet deep. The most common type of Gopher in the United States is called the Pocket Gopher. Pocket gophers make two types of tunnels. Gophers are by far the largest of the three and therefore can cause the most damage. Carefully follow the directions on any products you use. After attempting one of the extermination methods described above, check to see if the gophers have packed up and moved on by poking a hole into one of the burrows. Botta's Pocket Gopher Botta's pocket gopher skull and teeth from Elliot 1901 Botta's pocket gopher is a medium-sized gopher, with adults reaching a length of 18 to 27 cm (7.1 to 10.6 in), including a tail of 5 to 6 cm (2.0 to 2.4 in). Gophers are small, furry rodents that burrow tunnels through yards of North America and Central America.