Mammal field guide · Pocket Gophers

Photographing the Botta's Pocket Gopher

How to photograph the Botta's Pocket Gopher (Megascapheus bottae): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (April and May).

15–30 cm1/2000 s
15–30 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/800 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2000 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/5.6–f/8
Aperture
3,071
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2000 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionGet down to eye level; a long lens with close focus (or an extension tube) helps with small subjects.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens200–600 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 22 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)251 mm370 mm167 mm125 mm
10 m (33 ft)502 mm741 mm334 mm251 mm
15 m (49 ft)752 mm1,111 mm502 mm376 mm
20 m (66 ft)1,003 mm1,481 mm669 mm502 mm
30 m (98 ft)1,505 mm2,222 mm1,003 mm752 mm
50 m (164 ft)2,508 mm3,704 mm1,672 mm1,254 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 8% Jan Feb: 9% Feb Mar: 11% Mar Apr: 16% Apr May: 14% May Jun: 8% Jun Jul: 6% Jul Aug: 5% Aug Sep: 5% Sep Oct: 5% Oct Nov: 6% Nov Dec: 6% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: April and May.

Field-craft tips#

  • Wait at fresh mounds.
  • Get down to eye level; a long lens with close focus (or an extension tube) helps with small subjects.
  • Sightings peak in April and May, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Botta's Pocket Gopher?

At about 22 cm long, a botta's pocket gopher fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 502 mm, or at 20 m with 1,003 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Botta's Pocket Gopher?

1/800 s when it's still; 1/2000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Botta's Pocket Gopher?

Observations in North America peak in April and May. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

  • iNaturalist — Observation data CC BY-NC; photo licence as credited

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources