Cute destruction

I have complicated feelings about the gophers that forage for food in my front yard.

On the one hand, they’re cute little things. I like watching them scamper about, playing or looking for something to eat. And how could I not look at those little paws and fluffy tails and not feel a little tug on my heartstrings?

That said… there’s no denying that they’re pests. All of that foraging? They’re pulling grass out of the ground, and last year they ate some of my plants. They’re also well-known around here for wreaking havoc on farmers’ crops.

Thankfully, I don’t have to be the one who makes the call on whether to treat them as a cute neighbour or neighbourhood pest. I don’t actually own the yard they run around in, so I can’t lay traps or engage in any other sort of control methods. And as long as I don’t feed them, I’m not actively encouraging them to come back.

Taking the occasional picture, though? I figure that’s something I can do. Especially if they’re going to turn out as well as these did.