Gopher

A gopher is a small burrowing rodent found primarily in North America. They belong to the family Geomyidae, and are known for their extensive tunnel systems which they use for shelter, food storage, and protection from predators. They are characterized by their strong claws, large cheek pouches used to carry food, and small eyes and ears adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. Gophers are often considered agricultural pests due to their habit of damaging crops and disrupting soil. Their activities contribute to both erosion and, paradoxically, aeration of the soil. They are a significant part of the ecosystem, often serving as prey for various predators.

Gopher meaning with examples

• The farmer discovered a network of gopher tunnels riddling his alfalfa field, leading to significant crop damage. He set traps hoping to reduce the gopher population. Despite his best efforts, the gopher problem persisted, and the farmer was forced to reseed parts of the damaged field. This meant a further delay to his autumn harvesting schedule and increased costs.
• While hiking through the prairie, Sarah noticed mounds of freshly turned soil and small, circular openings, telltale signs of a gopher's presence. She watched patiently, hoping to catch a glimpse of the animal but the gopher proved elusive. Sarah marveled at the gopher's engineering, which seemed an important part of the habitat.
• The children in the neighborhood enjoyed watching the antics of the local gopher colony. They nicknamed the particularly bold gopher 'Speedy' because he seemed always ready to eat. Speedy was a frequent visitor to their garden, where he enjoyed the tasty carrots, though the kids knew it was a bad thing to encourage the gopher.
• A biologist was studying the impact of gopher activity on the biodiversity of a grassland ecosystem. He recorded the distribution of plant species around gopher mounds, observing a distinct correlation between the animals and the vegetation, especially pioneer plants. This research aimed to understand the ecological role of the gopher.
• During construction, the workers encountered a vast gopher burrow system. They had to take special measures to fill in the tunnels and prevent the gopher from undermining the foundation of the new building. This presented an unexpected challenge to their tight project deadline and increased the overall cost of the project by quite some amount.