They have small eyes, small external ears, powerful forequarters, and long claws on their forefeet. The tail is short in relation to the body, and is sparsely haired. Gophers have large paired incisor teeth. The upper incisors of plains pocket gophers have distinct grooves on the outer surface. Their lips actually close behind the incisors, so they can use their teeth for digging without getting soil in their mouth.
Gophers usually live alone.
During most of the year, only one adult occupies a burrow system. May. However, we have captured pregnant females as late as 1 July. Young leave their mother's burrow system in summer and may travel above ground for a time before digging their own burrow. Plains pocket gophers commonly reach densities of 4 to 6 animals per acre. Although pocket gophers are encountered infrequently, their solitary nature reflects their disposition.