Botta’s Pocket Gopher

Botta’s Pocket Gopher
Thomomys bottae

Botta’s pocket gopher is a medium-sized gopher species native to the western United States. These adaptable rodents can tolerate a wide range of conditions including high mountain valleys and deserts.

Like other gopher species, the Botta’s pocket gopher is well adapted to creating burrows. While these burrows may seem like a nuisance in our yards, they actually play a crucial role in aerating soil, which helps plants, including human crops, grow more abundantly. You might be surprised to learn that these gophers dig their burrows using both their claws and their thick enamel-coated teeth. They even have fur lined cheek pouches to transport food and nesting materials.

Lindsay Wildlife’s resident Botta’s pocket gopher, Gaia, came to us via our wildlife hospital, where she was brought in by a concerned rescuer. During her stay at the hospital, she was diagnosed with neurological issues that prevent her from surviving in the wild. Gaia officially joined the team in April 2022.

Gaia the Botta’s pocket gopher can be found digging and racing around her enclosure in our exhibit hall!