Species MammalsSoutheastern Pocket Gopher

Southeastern Pocket Gopher

Geomys pinetis

UncommonMammal
Illustration of Southeastern Pocket Gopher (Geomys pinetis)

The Southeastern Pocket Gopher is a deep-soiled sand pine scrub specialist of the southeastern Coastal Plain, dependent on the well-drained, sandy soils of longleaf pine ecosystems. It creates the distinctive conical dirt mounds in longleaf pine flatwoods recognizable to any southern naturalist. The pocket gopher's burrowing is a natural disturbance process that maintains the open, sandy microsites required by many rare plant species.

Habitat
Sandy soils in longleaf pine flatwoods and scrub of the Southeast
Diet
Roots, tubers, bulbs, and underground plant matter
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Southeastern Pocket Gopher

The best time to see a Southeastern Pocket Gopher is November–March, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 461 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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