The Plains Pocket Gopher, known scientifically as Geomys bursarius, is a rodent named for its external cheek pouches. Like the cheek pouches of other rodents, they are used for storing and carrying food. Other physical characteristics aside from its cheek pouches include: a stocky body with dark brown-black fur, a tapered tail with sparse hairs, and big front feet with long, strong claws.
Residing in the grasslands of the Great Plains of North America, the Plains Pocket Gopher lives a solitary and territorial life dedicating nearly all its time to living in, expanding, and defending its burrows.
Plains Pocket Gophers have a height of 3.5”-5.1” (9-13 cm), body length between 8.2”-13.8” (21-35 cm), and an overall weight in the range of .26-.44 lb (120-200 g). The tail length of a Plains Pocket Gopher is 2”-4.7” (5-12 cm). Plains Pocket Gophers have a typical lifespan of 1-3 years in the wild and 5-7 years in captivity.
The Plains Pocket Gopher, known scientifically as Geomys bursarius, is a rodent named for its external cheek pouches. Like the cheek pouches of other rodents, they are used for storing and carrying food. Other physical characteristics aside from its cheek pouches include: a stocky body with dark brown-black fur, a tapered tail with sparse hairs, and big front feet with long, strong claws.
Residing in the grasslands of the Great Plains of North America, the Plains Pocket Gopher lives a solitary and territorial life dedicating nearly all its time to living in, expanding, and defending its burrows.
Plains Pocket Gophers have a height of 3.5”-5.1” (9-13 cm), body length between 8.2”-13.8” (21-35 cm), and an overall weight in the range of .26-.44 lb (120-200 g). The tail length of a Plains Pocket Gopher is 2”-4.7” (5-12 cm). Plains Pocket Gophers have a typical lifespan of 1-3 years in the wild and 5-7 years in captivity.