Many amphibians and reptiles use pocket gopher mounds as homes, including Florida’s unique mole skinks. Their average territory is approximately 40x40 to 50x50 square feet, i.e., a 20 to 25 foot radius. Pocket gopher tunnels are 1¾ to 3½ inches in diameter, depending on the size of the gopher digging the tunnel. Like voles, pocket gophers are rodents. In fact, southeastern pocket gophers are sometimes locally referred to as “sandy mounders” or subsequently turned into “salamanders” in Florida because of their characteristic mounds. Pocket gopher presence can be identified by the sandy mounds formed from the gopher pushing soil out of freshly dug tunnels. In fact, southeastern pocket gophers are sometimes locally referred to as “sandy mounders” or subsequently turned into “salamanders” in Florida because of their characteristic mounds. You’ll need to know the difference to have any success with pocket gopher control. It has been estimated that a single pocket gopher can excavate approximately a ton of earth producing 30 to 50 mounds in one year. Gophers like to close the openings of their burrows and will even rush to fix a disturbed door to their tunnels. Gophers leave behind mounds of dirt that can be up to 12” in diameter where they’ve pushed the dirt out of their tunnels. Tunnels occur 4 to 12 inches below ground, whereas the nest and food storage chamber may be as deep as 6 feet. The “pockets” open externally on each side of the mouth and extend from the face to the shoulders; they can be everted for cleaning. At the rate this gopher is going my lawn is going to be completely destroyed as this beast leaves 3 to 5 mounds each night. Mole mounds are sometimes mistaken for gopher mounds. Pocket gopher presence can be identified by the sandy mounds formed from the gopher pushing soil out of freshly dug tunnels. Some feed holes are only the size of a silver dollar, other feed holes are 2 to 3-inches across. Pocket gopher families are loners and territorial. A single pocket gopher can create several mounds in a day and can construct as many as 300 soil mounds in a year while moving over 4 tons of soil within a few weeks of work. Gophers leave behind mounds of dirt that can be up to 12” in diameter where they’ve pushed the dirt out of their tunnels. Moles leave long trails of slightly raised dirt across the ground’s surface. The shape of the gopher hole is crescent-like or irregularly-shaped because the gopher pushes soil from the underground tunnels to the ground surface at an angle which results in a hole that is not round. Many amphibians and reptiles use pocket gopher mounds as homes, including Florida’s unique mole skinks. Mole mounds, however, are more circular and have a plug in the middle that might not be distinct; in profile they are volcano-shaped. In the early spring or late fall, when grass growth is limited, pocket gopher mounds are highly visible, making it a good time to attempt control measures. Moles leave long trails of slightly raised dirt across the ground’s surface. In addition to creating mounds and eating roots from underground, gophers will dig open holes to the surface to feed on surface vegetation. By that time the tree or plant may be beyond saving. Signs of gophers are easier to spot than signs of moles. Download premium images you can't get anywhere else. Q: I have a gopher leaving dirt mounds all over my lawn. When you apply for a building permit, properties with gopher soils get on-property inspections to rule out the presence of Mazama pocket gophers, a species protected by the U.S. Dig a hole large enough to place a trap inside. The pocket gopher tunnels themselves serve as habitat for …