What Does Gophers Eat

If you’ve noticed mysterious mounds of dirt and damaged plants in your garden, you might be wondering what does gophers eat. Understanding their dietary habits is the first step to protecting your lawn and garden from these persistent burrowers.

Gophers are herbivores, meaning they eat only plant matter. Their diet is extensive, which is why they can be such a nuisance. They feed on roots, tubers, stems, and leaves, often pulling entire plants down into their tunnels from below.

This section breaks down the primary components of a gopher’s daily menu. Their food choices change with the seasons and what’s available, but they always prefer succulent, fleshy plant parts.

Favorite Foods: The Gopher Gourmet List

Gophers are opportunistic feeders. They will eat a wide variety, but they have clear favorites. These are the plants that will attract them and suffer the most damage.

Roots and Tubers: This is their main food source. They love carrots, potatoes, radishes, and beets. They also consume the roots of grasses, dandelions, and many garden plants.
Bulbs: Flower bulbs like tulips, lilies, and daffodils are like candy to gophers. They will often store these in special chambers of their tunnel system.
Stems and Leaves: They will pull down whole plants, such as lettuce, peas, and alfalfa, to eat the above-ground portions underground.
Bark and Trees: In winter or when other food is scarce, gophers will gnaw on the bark of young trees, especially fruit trees. This can girdle and kill the tree.

What Gophers Usually Avoid

Not every plant is palatable to a gopher. Knowing what they tend to avoid can help you plan a more resistant garden. These plants often have strong smells, textures, or toxins that gophers find unappealing.

Most members of the mint family (like peppermint and spearmint).
Plants with strong odors, such as garlic, onions, and marigolds.
Daffodils and other narcissus bulbs (they are toxic).
Oleander and castor bean (both are highly poisonous).

How Gophers Forage and Store Food

Gophers rarely appear above ground. They do most of their eating underground in their vast tunnel networks. A single gopher can dig hundreds of feet of tunnels.

They use their sharp claws and teeth to locate roots. They will often bite off a root, pull the rest of the plant down, and eat it in the safety of a tunnel. In preparation for winter, they actively store food in special “pantry” chambers. These caches can contain a surprising amount of vegetation.

Signs of Gopher Feeding in Your Garden

You won’t often see the gopher itself. Instead, you need to look for the evidence they leave behind. The most obvious sign is the fan-shaped or crescent-shaped mound of fresh, fine soil. Since they eat roots, plants will often wilt and die suddenly as their root system is severed. You might find a carrot or flower bulb with distinct gnaw marks, or even disappear completely overnight.

Protecting Your Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once you know what gophers eat, you can take action to defend your garden. A combination of methods is usually most effective.

Step 1: Install Physical Barriers

This is the most reliable long-term solution for specific areas. It involves putting a barrier between the gophers and your plants.

For garden beds, line the bottom and sides with hardware cloth (a sturdy wire mesh) with 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch holes. Bury it at least 18-24 inches deep.
To protect individual trees or shrubs, create a wire basket. Surround the root ball with hardware cloth before planting.
For lawns, this is less practical, but you can lay wire mesh under new sod to prevent damage.

Step 2: Choose Plants They Dislike

Incorporate gopher-resistant plants around the perimeter of your garden or among more vulnerable plants. This won’t guarantee safety, but it can deter them. Good choices include rosemary, lavender, salvia, and catmint. Remember, a very hungry gopher might still sample these, but they are not preferred.

Step 3: Use Traps Effectively

Trapping is a direct way to remove gophers from your property. It requires patience and correct placement.

Locate the main tunnel by probing the soil near a fresh mound.
Dig a hole to access the tunnel. It should be large and stable.
Set two traps (like box traps or cinch traps) facing opposite directions in the tunnel.
Cover the hole with a board or dark material to keep light out. Check traps daily.

Step 4: Consider Natural Repellents

Some gardeners have success with natural repellents, though results can vary. Castor oil-based granular or spray repellents can make plants taste bad to gophers. You need to reapply them regularly, especially after rain. Placing used cat litter or dog hair in the tunnels can sometimes scare a gopher away, as it signals predator presence.

The Seasonal Diet Shift

A gopher’s menu changes with the weather. In spring and summer, they feast on fresh greens, vegetables, and annual flowers. Their activity is highest. In fall, they focus on gathering and storing roots, tubers, and bulbs for winter. In winter, they live mostly on their stored food but will still gnaw on tree bark and any roots they can find deep underground.

Common Misconceptions About Gopher Diets

Let’s clear up a few myths. Gophers are not the same as moles. Moles are insectivores that eat grubs and worms; they don’t eat your plants (but their tunneling can damage roots). Also, while gophers are primarily solitary, a single gopher can cause a lot of damage very quickly. You don’t need a large population to see significant harm.

FAQ: Gopher Dietary Habits

Do gophers eat meat or insects?

No. Gophers are strict vegetarians. They do not eat insects, grubs, or any animal protein.

What is a gopher’s favorite food?

They are especially fond of succulent roots and tubers. In a garden, carrots, dandelion roots, and flower bulbs like tulips are often their top choices.

Will gophers eat all my vegetables?

They are likely to target root vegetables first (carrots, potatoes). They also eat the roots of above-ground plants like beans and lettuce, causing them to wilt.

How much does a gopher eat each day?

A single gopher can consume roughly 60% of its body weight in vegetation every day. For an average gopher, that’s like a human eating 50-60 pounds of food!

Do gophers eat grass?

Yes, they eat grass roots. This is why you see dying patches of grass and mounds in lawns. They can undermine large sections of turf.

Managing gophers starts with knowing what they eat. By identifying their favorite foods and the signs of their activity, you can take targeted steps to protect your garden. Focus on physical barriers for valuable plants, consider trapping in active tunnels, and don’t rely on quick fixes. With a strategic approach, you can enjoy your garden and they can find their meals elsewhere.