Pocket Gophers vs Moles: Identifying and Preventing Damage

Pocket gophers and moles are two of the most common burrowing animals in North America, but they're often mistaken for each other due to their similar habits.

Both pocket gophers and moles are herbivores, which means they primarily eat plants, and they can cause significant damage to lawns, gardens, and crops.

Their burrowing activities can be particularly frustrating for homeowners, especially when they tunnel under foundations, patios, or sidewalks.

Pocket gophers, however, are more likely to be found in areas with loose soil, such as sandy or clay-rich soil, while moles prefer well-drained soil and can be found in a wider range of habitats.

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Pocket gophers and moles are two common underground dwellers that can cause problems for homeowners.

Gophers are rodents that belong to the family Geomyidae.

Their tunnels often have airvent holes along the surface, which provide fresh air circulation underground.

Moles, on the other hand, are small, insectivorous mammals that belong to the family Talpidae.

Moles don't feed on roots, but their tunneling can dry out grassroots, creating brown, sunken trails along the surface.

Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents that belong to the family Geomyidae.

Their name comes from the cheek pouches they have, which are used to carry food back to their burrows.

These pouches can be quite large, and some species of pocket gophers have pouches that are bigger than their heads.

Pocket gophers are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of roots, tubers, and other underground plant material.

They have powerful front teeth that are used for digging and breaking through tough plant material.

Their hind legs are strong and well-suited for digging, allowing them to move large amounts of soil in a short amount of time.

Pocket gophers are found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, forests, and deserts.

They are typically solitary animals and only come together to mate.

In the wild, pocket gophers can live up to 3 years, although their average lifespan is about 1-2 years.

Moles are small, burrowing mammals that are closely related to shrews and hedgehogs. They have a distinctive, pointed snout and powerful front legs that are well-suited for digging.

Moles are typically solitary animals, only coming together to mate. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Moles are carnivores, feeding on insects, worms, and other invertebrates. They have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell, which helps them locate their prey.

Moles are known for their ability to dig complex underground tunnels and burrows. These burrows can extend several feet underground and have multiple entrances and exits.

Moles can be found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Gopher mounds are often shaped like horseshoes or kidney beans, with dirt excavated in a fan pattern. They feature a plugged entry hole and usually create several holes or mounds within a six-foot radius of one another.

Mole mounds, on the other hand, resemble miniature volcanoes, with a round shape and the burrow entrance in the center. They often leave the ground soft and mushy.

To help you identify which pest you're dealing with, look for these key differences:

By paying attention to these characteristics, you can start to determine whether you have a gopher or mole problem in your yard.

If you notice gopher mounds, they look like horseshoes or kidney beans, featuring dirt excavated in a fan pattern. Gophers often create several holes or mounds within a six-foot radius of one another.

You might also spot dried patches of flat dirt, which could be old gopher mounds that the lawn mower has flattened.

Gophers cause plant damage like stem girdling and clipping, and root exposure. They may pull entire plants into their burrows with them, or cause plants to topple over.

To confirm if you have a gopher problem, take a closer look at your yard. Gopher tunnels uproot plants from below, leaving dead patches. Moles don't feed on roots, but their tunneling dries out grassroots, creating brown, sunken trails along the surface.

Here are some key differences between gopher and mole tunnels:

Identifying mole problems can be a challenge, but there are some key signs to look out for.

Moles can cause significant damage to your lawn, so it's essential to catch the problem early.

Look for areas where the grass is thinning or dying, which can be a sign of mole activity.

Moles can also create tunnels and burrows that can be visible above ground.

These tunnels can be up to 20 inches below the surface.

Moles typically feed on insects, grubs, and worms, so if you notice a large number of these pests in your yard, it could be a sign of a mole problem.

If you suspect you have a mole problem, check for mole hills, which are small piles of soil that moles push up to the surface as they dig.

Mole hills can be up to 6 inches high and 12 inches wide.

Keep in mind that moles are most active at night, so you may not see them during the day.

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Physical differences between pocket gophers and moles are quite striking. They're both rodents, but they've got some distinct features that set them apart.

One of the most noticeable differences is the shape of their snouts. Moles have elongated, pinkish snouts, while pocket gophers have more typical rodent snouts.

Moles have small eyes, which are often hidden underneath their fur, whereas pocket gophers have larger, more visible eyes. Their ears are also more prominent on pocket gophers.

A key feature of moles is their large, broad feet that almost look webbed with big claws. This is perfect for their burrowing lifestyle. Pocket gophers, on the other hand, have back feet with serious claws for digging.

Here are some key physical differences between pocket gophers and moles:

In terms of size, pocket gophers are bigger than moles, with some species reaching up to 14 inches in length. Moles, on the other hand, rarely reach 7 inches in length or 5 ounces in weight.

Moles have distinctive pink paddle-like paws with big claws, which are perfect for their burrowing lifestyle. Pocket gophers, while not as well-suited for burrowing, have long claws that are still useful for digging.

Pocket gophers and moles have distinct behaviors and diets that set them apart from one another.

Pocket gophers are primarily herbivores, feeding on roots, tubers, and underground plant parts, which they gather using their powerful front teeth.

Their diet consists mainly of grasses, clover, and alfalfa, making them an important part of their ecosystems.

Moles, on the other hand, are carnivores and primarily feed on insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates, which they catch using their highly developed sense of touch.

This diet allows them to thrive in a variety of environments, from forests to grasslands.

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Gophers are notorious for their digging habits, creating mounds that resemble horseshoes or kidney beans. These mounds can range in size, but they all feature dirt excavated in a fan pattern.

Gophers are meticulous about sealing their entry holes, plugging them with dirt to prevent predators from getting in. They often create several holes or mounds within a six-foot radius of one another.

If you notice dried patches of flat dirt, it may be old gopher mounds that the lawn mower has flattened. These patches can be a sign of gopher activity.

Gophers are plant-eaters, and they can cause significant damage to gardens and crops. They may pull entire plants into their burrows with them, or cause plants to topple over due to stem girdling and clipping.

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Moles are primarily solitary animals, only coming together during mating season.

They are nocturnal creatures, spending most of their time underground where it's dark and quiet.

Their sense of touch is incredibly developed, allowing them to navigate and find food in complete darkness.

Moles are also skilled diggers, using their powerful front legs and long claws to excavate complex tunnel systems.

In the wild, moles typically live for 2-3 years, although some have been known to live up to 5 years in captivity.

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Gophers are vegetarians, and they'll suck down some smaller insects while they're feeding, but that's just an incidental type of thing.

Their favorite foods are alfalfa and dandelions, along with tree roots, bulbs, leaves, and tender roots they encounter while digging.

Mole diet consists mainly of insects, worms, and small invertebrates.

They have a keen sense of smell that helps them detect their prey.

In the wild, moles typically eat 50-100 grams of food per day.

Their diet is also supplemented with small vertebrates like lizards and snakes.

Moles have been known to eat earthworms, which make up a significant portion of their diet.

In captivity, moles can be fed a diet of live insects and worms.

Moles have a unique way of eating, using their powerful front legs to dig and their long, pointed snout to sniff out their prey.

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Gophers are notorious plant killers, with a massive appetite for roots, bulbs, seedlings, and any vegetation they can get their teeth into. They can chew on utility cables or irrigation pipes, causing even more damage.

To prevent gopher damage, consider using physical barriers like hardware cloth or chicken wire to protect your plants. Gophers can't chew through these materials, so they'll be deterred from digging in those areas.

Moles, on the other hand, are beneficial soil aerators and eat damaging lawn grubs and insects that can harm your plants. However, their tunnel systems can still cause drainage problems and stunted vegetative growth.

To prevent mole damage, try not to disturb their tunnels, as this can cause them to move to a different area of your yard and create even more problems. Moles can make up to 150 feet of tunnels in a day, so it's essential to act quickly.

Gopher tunnel systems can be massive, sometimes interconnecting and covering up to 2,000 square feet. To prevent gopher damage, consider removing any debris or clutter from your yard that might attract them.

Mole mounds can be unsightly, but they're often a sign of beneficial activity in your soil. By tolerating these mounds and letting the moles do their job, you might actually see an improvement in your lawn's health over time.

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Trapping is the most effective way to remove both moles and gophers. You often need to call a professional wildlife removal company near you because only certain traps may be authorized in your area.

Scissor jaw types are common for trapping moles, and two-pronged pincer traps are favorites for gophers. Always check local regulations and restrictions before attempting to trap them.

Fumigation works fairly well on gophers because their burrows are deep enough underground to prevent major leakages of the gases used on them. However, it's rather time-consuming because of the need to fumigate each mound separately and seal off any leaks that do occur.

Spraying pesticides to kill the insects they feed on is a humane option for mole removal. This method doesn't work on gophers because they don't eat insects that can be sprayed with pesticides.

Removing the food source of moles can also help deter them from your yard. This may involve getting rid of termites, ants, and other insects that moles eat.

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Here are some humane strategies for removing both moles and gophers:

It's essential to note that trapped animals can be dangerous, no matter their size. Always call in a pro for safe removal instead of attempting to handle them yourself.

If you suspect you have a gopher or mole problem, it's essential to identify the culprit to choose the right removal method. Gophers are known to create mounds that resemble horseshoes or kidney beans, often with a fan-shaped pattern of dirt excavated around them.

Their tunnels are typically 12-18 inches underground, making them hard to spot, but the mounds they leave behind are a dead giveaway. Gophers also tend to create several holes or mounds within a six-foot radius of each other.

Moles, on the other hand, create tunnels that are clearly visible on the surface, leaving the ground soft and mushy. Their mounds look like miniature volcanoes, round with the burrow entrance in the center.

To determine whether you have a gopher or mole problem, look for air vent holes along the surface of their tunnels – a characteristic unique to gophers. You can also track their routes based on the condition of your grass and vegetation.

Here's a comparison of gopher and mole mounds:

Remember, gophers tend to uproot plants from below, leaving dead patches, while moles dry out grassroots, creating brown, sunken trails along the surface.