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Geomys bursarius

(Shaw, 1800)

Plains Pocket Gopher

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106455
Element CodeAMAFC02010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyGeomyidae
GenusGeomys
Other Common Names
Gaufre brun (FR) plains pocket gopher (EN)
Concept Reference
Sudman, P. D., J. K. Wickliffe, P. Horner, M. J. Smolen, J. W. Bickham, and R. D. Bradley. 2006. Molecular systematics of pocket gophers of the genus Geomys. Journal of Mammalogy 87:668–676.
Taxonomic Comments
Previously included G. jugossicularis and G. lutescens (Sudman et al. 2006, Genoways et al. 2008, Chambers et al. 2009, Bradley et al. 2023). Bradley et al. (2023) have retained G. bursarius major as a subspecies until a detailed geographic study determining the subspecific boundaries is available.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1996-11-07
Range Extent Comments
Southern Manitoba (Roseau River valley), Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana south to New Mexico and Texas.
Threat Impact Comments
Vulnerable to rodenticide programs in Canada (Shoesmith, 1979 COSEWIC report).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Prefers open lands such as prairies, pastures, cultivated areas with deep, friable, moist soils; e.g., sandy or moist alluvial soils in Oklahoma. Also oak-hickory savanna, oak savanna mixed with maple-basswood forest, mesquite prairie, prairie-deciduous forest mosaic (Williams, in Wilson and Ruff 1999; Heaney and Timm 1983). Fossorial. Dens underground in extensive tunnel systems. Most mounds and tunnels are constructed in the spring/fall.

Ecology

A solitary animal; lives within loose "colonies." Tunnels between neighbors are not interconnected. Home ranges are small. Population density averages 4-5 individuals per acre (Banfield 1974). Pocket gophers are ecologically important as prey items and in influencing soils, microtopography, habitat heterogeneity, diversity of plant species, and primary productivity (Huntly and Inouye 1988).

Reproduction

Mating takes place in spring. Gestation lasts about 30 days. Gives birth to one litter of 1-6 (average 4-5) young each year, March-May. Female evicts young from burrow when they are ready to be weaned. Sexually mature in 12 months.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodSavannaGrassland/herbaceousCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN3
ProvinceRankNative
ManitobaS3Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
MinnesotaSNRYes
IowaS5Yes
MissouriS4Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
IllinoisS3Yes
ColoradoS5Yes
South DakotaS5Yes
WisconsinS4Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
IndianaS2Yes
KansasS5Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
TexasS5Yes
NebraskaS5Yes
Roadless Areas (2)
North Dakota (2)
AreaForestAcres
SheyenneDakota Prairie Grasslands14,537
VenloDakota Prairie Grasslands5,317
References (38)
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  3. Baker, R. J., L. C. Bradley, R. D. Bradley, J. W. Dragoo, M. D. Engstrom, R. S. Hoffman, C. A. Jones, F. Reid, D. W. Rice, and C. Jones. 2003a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2003. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 229:1-23.
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