Although similar in behavior to moles, gophers present a more serious problem. Damage is most severe in the spring and fall when gophers are active near the ground surface. Because they are vegetarian, they are capable of doing more destruction to roots, seeds, bulbs and other plant parts in landscape settings. Gophers also favor tree bark, particularly that of stone fruits, and can girdle trees. Mounds and holes are a big problem for people and animals walking and an impediment to mowing equipment.
Gophers primarily use their teeth and huge front claws to excavate their burrows.
Their tunnels are larger in diameter and deeper than those excavated by moles but are much less extensive. The mound of excavated soil at the tunnel entrance can also provide a clue as to the culprit. The entrance hole to a gopher burrow is at an angle to the ground surface. In addition, the excavated soil around the entrance is on one side of the tunnel while that of a mole is often mounded around the hole like a volcano. Pocket gophers can create up to 15 mounds per day in light soils.