News Animals

Do gophers farm roots? It’s not as clear as viral articles claim

A study suggests the rodents encourage root growth, but the research has its skeptics

photo of a southeastern pocket gopher emerging from a hole

Southeastern pocket gophers expend a lot of energy digging tunnels. They might recoup some of that energy by “farming” roots in those tunnels, a controversial new study suggests.

Veronica Selden/Eurekalert (CC BY-SA)

By Sharon Oosthoek

- More than 2 years ago

Read another version of this article at Science News Explores

Pocket gophers certainly don’t qualify as card-carrying 4-H members, but the rodents might be farming roots in the open air of their moist, nutrient-rich tunnels.