Plains Pocket Gopher — The Hidden Soil Engineer of Illinois

By Andi Anderson

Beneath Illinois’ prairies lies a secret world where the plains pocket gopher works tirelessly to build and sustain healthy soil. These small, herbivorous mammals spend most of their lives underground, digging intricate tunnels that serve as both homes and food sources.

As they dig, they bring deep soil to the surface, aerating and enriching it, making them valuable natural soil engineers.

The Illinois prairie once stretched endlessly across the state, but today, less than 1% of it remains due to colonization and farm expansion. Over the past century, agriculture has continued to evolve—farms have grown larger, machinery has become heavier, and crops have shifted from grasses and alfalfa to soybeans.

These changes, along with soil compaction, have reduced the natural prairie habitats that once supported thriving gopher populations.

The plains pocket gopher, scientifically known as Geomys bursarius, is the only gopher species found in Illinois. Adaptable yet selective, these animals now prefer sandy, well-drained soils at lower elevations—areas less likely to flood.

Increased rainfall since the 1950s has also influenced their habitat choices, pushing them toward drier regions to protect their burrows.

Today, gophers can be found in a narrow stretch across Illinois, from Cahokia Mounds to south of Kankakee. Measuring about eight inches long, they use their external cheek pouches to carry food and nesting materials.

Their diet consists mainly of roots that extend into their tunnels, which they harvest as they dig.

Despite their declining habitat, plains pocket gophers continue to play an important ecological role. By mixing soil layers and enhancing nutrient cycling, they improve soil structure and fertility.

In many ways, these hidden builders sustain the land that sustains us—quietly ensuring the prairies and farmlands of Illinois remain productive and alive.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock