Are There Gophers in North Dakota?
Yes, gophers are present throughout North Dakota, particularly in the western and central portions of the state. The northern pocket gopher, a member of the Geomyidae family, occupies grasslands, meadows, and prairie habitats across much of North Dakota. These burrowing rodents are well adapted to the Great Plains environment and create visible mounding and tunnel systems that make them noticeable.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
Northern California pocket gopher · John Rosford CC BY
Megascapheus bottae bottae · Henrik Kibak CC BY
Northern Pocket Gopher · Public domain CC0
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- GBIF records
Yes, gophers are in North Dakota. Next you'll want:
Yes, gophers are present throughout North Dakota, particularly in the western and central portions of the state. The northern pocket gopher, a member of the Geomyidae family, occupies grasslands, meadows, and prairie habitats across much of North Dakota. These burrowing rodents are well adapted to the Great Plains environment and create visible mounding and tunnel systems that make them noticeable.
Where in North Dakota Gophers Are Found
Gophers are widespread throughout North Dakota, with populations concentrated in areas with suitable soil and grassland habitat. Western North Dakota's high plains from Williston through Dickinson contain significant gopher populations. The Medicine Hat region and Fort Union areas support active gopher colonies. Central North Dakota's grasslands from Minot through Bismarck contain abundant gophers. The prairie pothole region, with its mix of grasslands and wetlands, hosts healthy gopher populations despite occasional flooding in depression areas. Eastern North Dakota has fewer gophers due to more extensive agricultural conversion and heavier soils, but populations persist in remaining grassland patches. The Badlands and rough terrain of western North Dakota contain gophers in more scattered distributions. Grasslands managed for conservation, including areas within the Theodore Roosevelt National Park region, support thriving gopher areas. Agricultural areas throughout the state contain gophers in fields, margins, and pastures. Upland prairie areas from the Little Missouri River through the grasslands near Fortuna host strong populations. Even in areas converted to agriculture, gophers persist in grassland remnants and uncultivated margins. The Little Missouri National Grassland and other protected prairie areas contain significant gopher populations. Visit/wildlife/north-dakota/gopherguides specific to your region to learn about local populations.
Season and Timing
Gophers in North Dakota remain active year-round, though their above-ground presence and tunneling behavior vary significantly with seasons. Spring brings the most obvious gopher activity as warming temperatures and soil thaw trigger intensive burrowing and mounding. From March through May, fresh mounds appear regularly across North Dakota's grasslands and cultivated fields. Spring is also breeding season for North Dakota gophers, with males actively seeking mates and defending territories. Summer activity continues as gophers maintain tunnel systems and forage for vegetation. Hot, dry conditions in mid summer may reduce visible activity as gophers retreat to cooler, deeper tunnel sections. Fall from September through November sees another surge in gopher activity as they prepare burrows for winter and gather food stores. Gophers create deeper chambers and may shift their main tunnel systems in advance of winter freeze. North Dakota's harsh winters mean gophers must retreat below frost lines to access roots and survive. Winter activity continues underground, though few surface signs appear from December through February except when soil conditions allow brief thaws. Wet springs following heavy snowmelt can reduce gopher populations temporarily by flooding their tunnel systems. Understanding these seasonal patterns in/wildlife/north-dakotahelps predict when you are most likely to notice gopher damage.
How to Identify a Gopher
Northern pocket gophers in North Dakota are compact, powerfully built rodents typically measuring five to eight inches in body length. They have stocky, barrel-shaped bodies with minimal visible neck separation. Fur color typically ranges from tan to reddish-brown to dark brown, with lighter colored populations more common in sandy areas. All North Dakota gophers have massive front claws extending nearly straight outward, perfect for excavating soil. Their front incisors are large, continuously growing, and prominently visible. The head is wedge-shaped and flattened, ideal for pushing through soil while digging. Eyes are very small and positioned toward the sides of the head, adapted for life in darkness. Distinctive cheek pouches extend back along the sides of the head, used for carrying food through tunnels. The tail is short, nearly hairless, and used primarily for sensing in tunnels. Small rounded ears are often hidden in fur. The front legs are massively muscled compared to the rear legs. A gopher's nose is small and rounded. The overall appearance is specialized and unique among North Dakota rodents. If you encounter a/wildlife/north-dakota/gopherin the field or garden, these distinctive features will confirm identification.
Where Sightings Concentrate in North Dakota
Gopher sightings and burrow systems concentrate in North Dakota grasslands with suitable soil conditions and vegetation. The unplowed prairie areas of western North Dakota, including native grassland remnants and conservation areas, support the highest gopher densities. Regions around the Little Missouri River drainage have extensive gopher populations. The grasslands of the northwest from Williston through Alexander contain dense gopher areas. Central North Dakota's prairie pothole country from Minot area through the Drift Prairie contains abundant gophers. Areas with sandy loam soils show the highest gopher concentrations, as these soils are easier to tunnel through. Agricultural fields with legume crops like alfalfa and clover attract high numbers of gophers. Pastureland and ranching areas throughout the state contain significant gopher populations. Grassland-woodland transition zones, particularly in eastern areas with scattered cottonwood groves, often host gophers. The Theodore Roosevelt National Park area contains visible gopher activity. Areas recently converted from prairie to grassland or with grassland restoration efforts often show increased gopher colonization. Wet prairie areas near potholes may have seasonal gopher activity that shifts depending on water levels. Dense agricultural areas with extensive crop cover tend to have fewer visible gophers, though populations persist. Learning about/wildlife/north-dakota/gopherhabitat preferences helps predict where you are likely to encounter these animals.
Typical Behavior
North Dakota gophers are solitary, territorial animals that spend nearly their entire lives in underground tunnel systems. Each gopher maintains its own territory, often covering one-quarter to one-half acre depending on soil conditions and food availability. Gophers are active day and night, with feeding activity distributed across multiple sessions throughout each 24-hour period. They push soil from their burrows, creating the characteristic mounds visible across North Dakota grasslands. Most mounding occurs during spring and again after heavy summer rains when soil moisture makes digging easier. Gophers are strict herbivores, feeding on roots, bulbs, grasses, legumes, and other underground plant material. They frequently pull plants directly into their burrows to consume them in safety. North Dakota gophers create complex tunnel systems with multiple main runways and numerous lateral branches for foraging. Tunnel systems include enlarged chambers for nesting, food storage, and waste. They do not hibernate but shift to deeper tunnels during winter to access roots below the frost line. Males and females interact primarily during breeding season in late winter and early spring. Young gophers are born in spring litters and disperse in early summer, traveling above ground to establish new territories. This dispersal makes young gophers vulnerable to predators and vehicles. Understanding/wildlife/north-dakota/gopherbehavior helps predict damage and manage conflicts.
Coexistence and Safety Notes
Gophers in North Dakota pose no direct danger to humans but can cause significant frustration through agricultural and landscape damage. North Dakota residents with gopher problems must decide whether to tolerate minor damage or implement control measures. Gophers do not carry rabies at elevated rates and are not aggressive toward humans unless handled roughly. They may bite if captured, so observation from a distance is recommended. Lethal control of gophers in North Dakota may require permits from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, particularly in areas with protected status. Licensed pest control operators can assist with removal if damage justifies intervention. Humane exclusion methods include underground barriers of wire mesh or hardware cloth around garden beds and cultivated areas. Flood irrigation in some cases discourages tunneling by making soil too wet for tunnel maintenance. Live trapping and relocation may be possible but may violate regulations, so check with/wildlife/north-dakotaauthorities first. Encouraging natural predators like snakes, hawks, owls, and badgers can help reduce gopher populations naturally. Many North Dakota ranchers and farmers coexist successfully with gophers by accepting minor agricultural damage as the cost of living on the prairie. This perspective respects gophers as native animals and maintains habitat for the full prairie ecosystem.
Common Species People Confuse with Gophers
Several North Dakota animals create similar burrow systems or cause tunneling damage, sometimes leading to identification confusion. Voles are much smaller than gophers and create surface runway systems in grass while also tunneling underground. Ground squirrels create burrows with visible entrance holes and are larger and more visible than gophers. Prairie dogs create extensive colonial burrow systems with large openings, easily distinguished from solitary gopher tunnels. The mounding created by prairie dog towns is more obvious and organized in regular patterns compared to scattered gopher mounds. Badgers dig large sett burrows that are much bigger than gopher holes. Foxes create fox burrows that differ from gopher systems. The thirteen-lined ground squirrel creates burrows with circular entrance holes. The plains pocket gopher in some southern North Dakota areas occupies similar habitat but is generally less common than the northern species. Chipmunks in forested northern regions create smaller burrows than gophers. Shrews create tiny tunnel systems invisible from above ground. Marmots in badlands regions dig larger burrows than gophers. By learning the specific characteristics of/wildlife/north-dakota/gopherand comparing them to these other species, you can make accurate identifications of burrowing animals in your North Dakota landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What damage do gophers cause in North Dakota? Gophers create tunnels that disrupt lawns and gardens, consume plant roots and bulbs, damage irrigation systems, and consume forage and crop vegetation. In pastureland and hay fields, gopher mounds make mowing difficult and create hazards for equipment. Agricultural producers report measurable crop losses in some seasons. Do all North Dakota counties have gophers? Most North Dakota counties contain at least some gopher populations, though densities vary dramatically. Eastern areas with heavy agricultural conversion have lower densities than western prairie regions. Gophers persist even in intensively farmed areas by utilizing field margins and grassland remnants. How large are gopher colonies? Unlike prairie dogs, gophers are solitary animals that do not form colonies. Individual gophers maintain their own territories and do not cooperate with neighbors. Multiple gophers in an area simply means overlapping individual territories, not a unified colony. Are gophers good for North Dakota's grasslands? Gophers play mixed roles in prairie ecosystems. Their burrowing aerates soil and can improve water infiltration. However, their vegetation consumption can compete with livestock grazing. Their mounds can interfere with native grassland management and haying operations. What predators hunt North Dakota gophers? Badgers are the primary predator, digging into gopher tunnels to capture them. Snakes, particularly gopher snakes and bullsnakes, actively hunt gophers in burrows. Hawks, owls, and coyotes occasionally catch gophers above ground. Can I trap gophers myself? Check North Dakota regulations before attempting removal. Licensed wildlife removal professionals can assist with legal trapping and removal as documented in/wildlife/north-dakota/gophermanagement guidelines.
Plan your gopher sighting in North Dakota
485 verified gopher records have been logged in North Dakota, most recently in 2024. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in North Dakota
- Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- North Country National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site · Find hotels
More places to see gopher
More wildlife in North Dakota