There are many kinds of gophers, and each kind has its own name. Do you know how the pocket gopher got its name? It was called this because it has fur-lined pouches on the outsides of its cheeks. It stuffs food inside these pouches to carry back to its underground tunnel. It empties its pouches by turning them inside out, then it heads back outside to collect another load. Squirrels and chipmunks also have cheek pouches for carrying food, but the gopher is the only rodent that has fur-lined pockets on the outside of its body.
Not many people have seen these gophers, for they seldom come out of their tunnels and usually only venture a few feet away, except when exploring for food. They themselves are food for snakes, large birds and larger animals and so are nervous, darting quickly into their tunnels when danger is near.
These 10-inch rodents weigh less than a pound and are found over wide areas of Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America. They vary in color from reddish-brown to gray. The most noticeable features are their long, sharp-pointed front claws and their large, yellow teeth, which are always showing even when their mouths are closed. They have large heads with very small eyes and ears.
You may wonder why the Creator designed them this way. The reason must be that most of their lives are spent digging tunnels, and these features are a real help in this. Incidentally, those big front teeth are used not only for gnawing food but are real power shovels, working with the claws when digging. What a wonderful provider the Lord God is for His creatures!
The main tunnel may be 500 feet long with side tunnels and storage areas. The tunnels, which are always being lengthened, are about a foot below the surface, but go much deeper where the grass-lined den is placed. There is a mound at the tunnel’s entrance, but the tunnel itself is plugged and only opened when it is necessary to look for food or to let in sunshine and fresh air.
The pocket gopher’s digging opens up otherwise hard ground, allowing rain to penetrate rather than run off. However, because they eat plants in the areas around their tunnels, they are not welcome guests to farmers and gardeners.
This is just one more of God’s underground creatures that display the wonders of His creation and the diversity of life He has created for this earth. The psalmist was impressed with creation when he wrote: “Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are . . . in the earth!” (Psalm 113:5-65Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, 6Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! (Psalm 113:5‑6)).
Do you know that loving One not only as the Creator but also as your very own Saviour?
MAY 11, 1997
ML-05/11/1997