Gophers expel the soil they excavate from the burrow in a fan shape radiating away from the burrow opening. They will use both their claws and teeth while digging, pushing the soil and debris behind them with their hind claws, then flip over in a somersault motion and push the material out of the burrow with their forefeet and chest.
A single pocket gopher can dig a burrow system consisting of up to 200 yards of tunnel in a year displacing as much as 2 ¼ tons of soil.
Pocket gophers do not hibernate and are active throughout the year.
The pocket gopher’s burrow system will typically consist of a main burrow with a number of laterals branching off from it.
Burrow diameters tend to be around 3 inches; areas larger than this diameter are believed to be resting or feeding areas.
The nesting area of the gopher will be filled with grass and other plant debris that the gopher has formed into a ball. Some as deep as 5 or 6 feet underground.
Pocket gophers live solitary lives. Exceptions to this rule occur during mating season, and when the female is raising her young.
Gophers that reside in the more northern locations generally have 1 litter per year.
Litter sizes can range from 1 to 10 but usually average 3 or 4 young per litter.
The teeth of the pocket gopher continuously grow to accommodate the near constant wear and tear exerted upon them.
Gophers can exert up to 18,000 pounds per square inch with their bite
