Difference Between Gopher and Groundhog

Gopher vs Groundhog

Rodents are mammals which are characterized by their two very sharp incisors which they use to chew on food and bite their predators. They eat most anything especially seeds and plants; they even chew on wood which is food for them.

There are several types of rodents, and they come in different sizes, breeding cycles, and diet. They can be found in all parts of the world. The most common are: rats, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs, chipmunks, gophers, and groundhogs.
A gopher is a rodent which is common to North America especially Canada, the United States, and Central America. There are more than a hundred types of gophers, and they include the pocket gopher which is also known as the “true” gopher.

They are small with a length of 15 inches and weigh only 230 grams. They live for two to three years. They are diggers and live in tunnels which they turn into a large community of tunnels. Because of this they are considered pests since they can get in the way of man’s daily living especially for the farmers.

They are brown and their tails resemble that of rats. Their claws are long and sharp, and they have yellowish teeth which show even with their mouths closed. They do not hibernate during winter unlike their cousins, the groundhogs.

A groundhog is a rodent which belongs to the family of squirrels. It is also commonly known as a woodchuck. Groundhogs are native to the Unites States and North America. They are larger and can grow up to 20 inches, and they are also heavier than gophers. They hibernate during winter; getting into their burrows and curling up and getting into a state of sleep from which they are very hard to awaken. Although they are vegetarians, their diet also consists of insects and bird’s eggs.

They mate several times each season and can produce as many as nine litters. Although they resemble the gophers in appearance, their teeth do not show when their mouths are closed, and they are distinguished by their white teeth and furry tails. They also live longer than gophers, surviving for up to six years.

Summary:

1.A gopher is a type of rodent which is native to North and Central America while a groundhog, which is also known as a woodchuck, is native to the United States.
2.Gophers have teeth that show even when their mouths are closed while the teeth of groundhogs only show when their mouths are open.
3.The teeth of gophers are yellowish in color while the teeth of groundhogs are white.
4.Groundhogs are larger and heavier while gophers are smaller and lighter.
5.While they look similar, having fur with the same color, gophers have tails which look more like that of rats whereas groundhogs have furry tails.
6.Groundhogs hibernate during winter while gophers do not.
7.Groundhogs produce more litters than gophers, and they mate several times during the mating season.

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