Gophers can get around

Gophers are in the news again and I’ve got one of those nasty little critters tearing up my lawn. A little internet research tells us that gophers live solitary lives in territories that can be from 2000 square feet to a half acre. Now and then they go traveling (tunneling) through other gophers’ territories to find a mate. Gophers can’t tunnel under roads, either paved or gravel, or buildings. They tunnel around them. If someone wants to build a garage on their residential lot, it would be only a minor inconvenience to a gopher, and I’m sure the county is aware of that.

According to an article in the July 16 Olympian regarding a back log of people waiting for a gopher survey of their property, the county’s response was (we are) “looking at ways to review projects in-house that have ‘limited risk’ of gophers”. Does that mean places where gophers are unlikely to be? The county should say, “We will review all residential projects in-house and if there is no risk to whatever gophers may exist, then proceed with the permitting process.”

Most residential projects do not affect gophers but developing undeveloped land does. Too many cross streets divide the land into small segments so gophers can’t propagate. Developments can be accomplished with few if any through streets and back yards connected to open spaces and green belts to accommodate gophers. It is reasonable for Fish and Wildlife to be part of this process.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Gophers can get around."