Difference Between Gopher and Mole

Gopher vs. Mole

A good lawn or garden is a great place to relax and enjoy nature on any day and at any time. However, most of the relaxation and enjoyment dissipates when we spot the occasional garden and lawn pests and their handiwork. It is good to have some information on the unwelcome residents of the lawn so that proper action can be taken as soon as possible.

Both gophers and moles are considered pests for garden and lawn owners. Though both animals live in the same environment, there are many differences between them. To start, gophers are larger than moles; their size is the same as that of a small squirrel, while moles are usually equivalent in size to a human’s thumb.

Another telltale sign is their handiwork. Since gophers are bigger and wider than moles, their tunnels are also wider, deeper, and larger. Their hills’ entrance is often situated at an angle. Moles, the smaller of the two, dig small and tighter tunnels. Gophers also prefer dry soil, while moles like moisture in their ground. Check the plants in the area; if rosebushes are torn and destroyed, the perpetrator is most likely a gopher – it’s their favorite plant. Conversely, moles don’t bother with vegetation or any kind of plant; they tend to prefer grubs and worms in the moist soil.

Another distinction between moles and gophers is that moles are totally blind, while gophers have good vision. The eyes of moles are also completely covered, while a gopher can open and see with its eyes. Additionally, both species have a tendency to hoard their food in different methods; a mole will coat their food with toxic saliva and keep it in a special and secretive hiding place, while a gopher will grab the food, carry it in its pouch (located near the cheeks), and bring it to their home.

Moles and gophers also differ in other aspects of appearance. Moles have an extended and bare snout with large digging claws that are not proportional to their body. Their fur is characterized as very soft and fine. Meanwhile, gophers have large buckteeth with a larger and more massive body. Their body length is also longer compared to a mole’s body, and they appear more rat-like than moles. They have pouches in their cheeks, which are often used to collect food.

Moreover, the length of the gopher’s tail is much more impressive than the mole’s. Upon first glance, a gopher’s features can be easily discerned by the naked eye, while the mole’s features are harder to distinguish because of its fur.

When it comes to “being social,” the mole is the perfect ground buddy. Moles often gather together in large groups or families, known as labors. On the other hand, save for the instinct of breeding, gophers are content to be alone; they often build their own territory. Gophers are comfortable above the ground and can sometimes be seen outside their “homes”;,moles, however, only leave their burrows to gather food.

Summary:

1.Gophers are larger and wider, while moles are smaller in comparison.
2.Gophers are a gardener’s nightmare – they prey on plants and vegetation in the garden. Meanwhile, moles love insects like worms and grubs.
3.The two are also different when it comes to storing their food; moles use their toxic saliva, while gophers store food in the pouches located in their cheeks.
4.Moles have large digging claws, while gophers are identifiable by their big teeth. In terms of tail length, gophers have longer tails than moles.
5.Moles have no eyesight and prefer the darkness of their burrows, while gophers have good eyesight and favor the outside of their dwellings.

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