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The Gopher Getters specialized in Pocket Gophers. We know their habits, breeding and birthing cycles, even tunnel designs. When hiring a professional to eliminate your gopher problem, be sure to call us for a quick response and excellent service.
Pocket Gophers:
Stocky and muscular rodents that vary in color and size, have fur-lined pokets on both sides of it's cheeks, used to move food and other objects. Long wiskers and a tail that is covered in a thinner fur. The tail is long. Sharp claws enable the gophers to tunnel through the toughest soils, pushing rocks, pavement and concrete. Their front incisors are continually growing and must be maintained or will break off. They file their teeth on concrete, metal and rocks. Their teeth can easily cut through wiring, PVC, drip irrigation lines, wood, barriers, skin and bones. The gopher will forage above ground, pulling the plants below for food storage and nesting materials. Gophers can easily run above ground, as well as below. They can easily climb up wire fencing and planter boxes. They're tunnels are extensive and the dirt mounds they leave, are backfilled extensively to keep predators and water from entering their tunnels, which will expand for major distances, as the generations expand from the den. Gophers will tunnel and den at great depths, travel underneath freeways, homes, basements and pools. Levees, damns, ditches, lakes, fields and pools can be destroyed easily by gophers, especially when water is being introduced into the tunnel system.
Ground Squirrels:
Ground Squirrels are NOT gophers. A Ground Squirrel is a Ground Squirrel. The most obvious is that they have a very short stub of a tail, they have small nails, and lack the major digging claws of a gopher. They have large dark almond shaped eyes, with thick ears at the corners. They have a chirping warning system, as they lay and play above ground. They make short tunnels/burrows, that have a food storage area and a den/nest. They also mass produce and are trapped above ground, using rat traps with a bait, of your own choosing. We make our own specific type that is non-toxic. These rodents will eat anything, litterally, including their own. Often, you will see a few on the side of the road. Personally, I think they convince the dumbest of the group to see who can cross the road, only to be hit and kiled, sothey can then eat him. These are disgusting rodents and I am surprised that so many homeowners feed them, then complain that they're plants are being killed off. There are several varieties, so I'm not going to post any photos, I'll let you research those for your own area.
Prairie Dogs:
Prairie Dogs are in an entirely different class. These are massive compared to gophers! They are also burrowers, and like the Ground Squirrel, leave the opening to the burrow open. They also rely on the verbal and auditory barking and chirping like the Ground Squirrel to warn of predators.
Voles:
Voles are tiny, like field mice. Use mouse traps for these. They will often take over the vacant tunnel systems, and make for an excellent food source for Burrowing Owls.
Moles:
I can't beleive that I am writing this because everyone should know the difference, but moles are an entirely different thing. The Mole Rat is the closest thing to a Gopher, without the thick fur. Moles in general have a long or starfish/tentacle mouth, eat grubs, etc. They tunnel very close to the surface and will leave the trail on the surface. You use an entirely different trap for moles and be careful, those things can take a finger or two off.
A great place to search for images so you can tell the difference is online but if in doubt, send me a photo and I'll let you know. Now if I don't know, I'll tell you, and then I'll go and find out.