Pocket gopher injury to seedlings is caused by which of the following mechanisms?

• A. Root pruning
• B. Stem girdling
• C. Stem clipping
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Pocket gophers damage seedlings by feeding in the root zone and near the soil surface, so several injury types can occur. They prune roots as they gnaw through root tissue, which reduces water and nutrient uptake and weakens or kills young plants. They girdle stems when they bite around the base of the stem or along the stem just below the soil line, disrupting vascular flow and often killing the plant. They can also clip or sever the stem, removing the growing point and preventing establishment. Because all of these injury modes can happen in the field, the best answer is that all of the above explain the observed damage.