i found a hurt gopher in my backyard. what do gophers eat?

Question

(like what kind of environment do they need to be in ,water supply,etc.)

Answer 1

Roots and tubers. I'm guessing carrots, potatoes, rutabagas and/or parsnips would be fine.

They're burrowing critters, so it will want a hiding place. Lindsay's link below says they get their water from their food sources.

Answer 2

Gophers live under the ground and eat roots. However the gopher is not a suitable pet. The injured gopher needs to go to an animal rescue unit that cares for wild animals till they are well enough to return to the wild. Call your local Parks and Wildlife Department. They should have a list of people who can properly care for the gopher. Keeping the gopher may result in shock and eventual death for the little creature who most likely was attacked by a feral cat and escaped. Until you find the right place for it give it plenty of water and leave some carrot and potato around and keep it in a dark area. Hope you find a place for it.

Answer 3

What Do Gophers Eat

Answer 4

Well being known for digging up your back yard looking for roots,I would say a pretty good guess is they eat insects,worms,and tender young plant roots. As for water,every living thing has to have water to survive.It's the way they get it that's different.Again I'm going to guess,they get it from the roots of the plants.That's just my guess. If you have the wounded gopher in a cage, make sure you have a water bottle in it .(like a hamsters water bottle) I'd also give him some kind of pellets,from the length of their teeth,they also chew on stuff that's kinda hard.Try maybe alfalfa.I'd also put a dark cloth over the cage,the light problem hurts it's little eyes. Good Luck,Bye.

Answer 5

I have a pet gopher that my cat brought in, on earth day. I think these creatures are delightful! I put him in a 21 gallon tank and expanded it with a plexiglass turtle topper so he has a second and third layer to give him room. He was just a baby when my cat got him. I fill the bottom tank with sterilized potting soil and orchid bark (do not use soil from your garden as it can contain bugs, fleas, mites, etc). I also put some ferret tunnels (plastic ones) in there to give him some structure for his tunnels (potting soil is crumbly). I love the little guy. He eats nuts, carrots, zuchinni, really all veggies. I also give him a rodent mix. I water the soil every once in a while otherwise it will get too dusty in there. That also creates more texture so he can structure his tunnels. One great thing about gophers is unlike mice and hamsters, they don't smell. The soil absorbs everything. I only have to clean the tank every three months or so, vs every week for a mouse. Again, pocket gophers are absolutely adorable. They make great pets. I would be careful though in terms of diseases. I treat him with beaphar, an anti parasite for hamsters. It is effective against roundworms, lice, fleas, mites, etc. One thing that people need to know is that a lot of diseases (like the bubonic plague) actually came from fleas, not rodents (the fleas were on them and transported by the ship rats). His exercise wheel is attached to a little carrier, so when he goes in there I can trap him. This allows me to remove him to clean his pen. I put him in the bathtub, and when he peeks out of the carrier I can put the Beaphar on the back of his neck. I also use latex gloves when I am handling him. I don't hold him, but I can touch him, and also can hand feed him. He will pop up out of his tunnel and come up to take the veggies right out of my hand. He is so sweet. Seriously. Great animals. He is not a climber like mice, but he does like the exercise wheel. He prefers one that is enclosed so he feels safe there. He also likes to chew on wood, so some of the wooden rodent toys work for him. I think that the plastic mouse/hamster tunnels are too small for him, which is why I use the ferret tunnels. He did break one of the mouse tunnel in half (lengthwise) and I think he used it to help structure one of his tunnels. I know that normally you should release a wild animal, but we had so many this year. Cats killed a lot and I could see others on the surface outside (one was in the basement-they look like mice from far away but move slower), which is very rare for a gopher. I don't think this fellow would have lasted long out there. You have to ask yourself if it is better to release an animal to die, or take it in as a pet and learn from it. This little guy has taught me a lot. They are very organized, and constantly reorganizing their living space. With different "rooms' for different reasons. larder/kitchen, bathroom, etc. Not many people can observe gophers in the wild as they are so elusive, so again, a great learning experience. Added to that is that sometimes I find him more entertaining than TV. Just some thoughts here for anyone searching.

Answer 6

First, take it to the vet.

As for food, the ywill eat any fuit or vegetable. We used to feed the ones outside our place apples and bannanas, but they will eat most fruit or vegetables - carrots, potatoes, etc.

While the yare sold as pets in some areas, theone yo have is wild. The best thibg to do is help it till ig gts better and then let it go again. As it grew up in the wild, it will be fine once released again.

Answer 7

lettuce basic vegtables found in gardens or roots anthing like that good luck with the gopher maybe you better call a vet first though he can tell you more then i can! bless you for being so careing animals are a joy !

Answer 8

Strictly vegetarian, pocket gophers eat a panoply of herbaceous plants, grasses, tubers, bulbs and roots of native plants, weeds and shrubs.

Look at that. I would take it to a vet anyway. I love that you are willing to help it though. :-)

Answer 9

Since that little fella is in your yard, you should call animal control to come get it. They should. If it is hurt that bad to where you could give it something to eat, it probably won't make it long. Just be careful, it's in pain probably and could still maybe hurt you or your kids if you have any.

Answer 10

if you have any tulip bulbs or hyacinth bulbs-maybe even freesia bulbs handy,you can try those.i know as soon as i plant these varieties in the yard,if i dont protect them with moth balls,its either the moles or the squirrels that get to them.the mole will eventually die from a heart attack if you dont release it right away,so i would take it to an anti-cruelty center or vet ASAP!nice to know people still care about such minute creatures!!!!