gopher

A burrowing rodent with large cheek pouches for ferrying food. The pouches extend from the mouth deep into the shoulders. The gopher is a hoarder who stores food in a large network of underground tunnels. The gopher's diet consists of grubs, worms, roots and garden vegetables.

Gophers weigh about a half-pound and have brown fur matching the surrounding soil. Living two to three years, prominent predators of gophers include snakes and hawks.