Gopher
Gopher is a common name for several burrowing rodents in the family Geomyidae, native to North America. These medium-sized mammals have compact bodies, short limbs, and fur-lined external cheek pouches used to carry food. They dig extensive tunnel systems underground, which can disrupt crops, lawns, and infrastructure but also aerate soil and create habitats for other species. Most species feed on roots, tubers, and leafy vegetation and are typically solitary outside of breeding periods.
The Gopher protocol was an early distributed document retrieval system developed at the University of Minnesota
In culture and usage, the term Gopher is also associated with the University of Minnesota’s athletic teams,