Species MammalsYellow-faced Pocket Gopher

Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher

Cratogeomys castanops

CommonMammal
Illustration of Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys castanops)

The Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher is a large, robust gopher of the Chihuahuan Desert region of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, distinguished by its yellowish face patch. It inhabits sandy and loamy soils of desert grasslands and is among the larger pocket gopher species in North America. Its prominent mounds are a common feature of Chihuahuan Desert grasslands.

Habitat
Chihuahuan Desert grasslands and sandy flats
Diet
Roots, bulbs, and underground vegetation
How common
Common

Best time to see a Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher

The best time to see a Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher is March–May, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 51 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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