The Plains Pocket Gopher is more highly specialized for digging than any other North American rodent and lives underground for practically its entire life. Although rarely seen, its presence can be determined by piles of fresh dirt pushed to the surface and arranged in a somewhat linear fashion in open fields. These mounds of soil lead to sloping subterranean tunnels that connect to a main tunnel that traverses the entire set of mounds. The lateral tunnels are superficial, and are generally only 150-250 mm below the surface. The main tunnel is generally deeper in the area of the nest chamber; it is usually below the frost line. In addition to the nesting chamber there are special tunnels for food storage and for the deposit of fecal material. The tunnels are excavated using the large claws of the front feet. After sufficient dirt has accumulated the gopher turns around and pushes the dirt with front feet, head, and chest to a surface opening where it piles the dirt. Plains pocket gophers are solitary except during breeding periods and rarely leave the tunnel except for breeding or for foraging near the entrance of a tunnel, where they sometimes can be seen. Abandoned tunnels make excellent retreats for many kinds of small vertebrates and invertebrates. The plains pocket gopher does not hibernate.
Adult females may attain the following dimensions: total length 230-316 mm; tail 63-102 mm; hind foot 30-39 mm; ear 4-9 mm; weight 170-305 grams; males are somewhat larger.
The food of Plains Pocket Gophers is entirely vegetable matter consisting of grasses and forbs, roots and underground stems. Green plants and grasses are taken from around the entrance of their tunnels and perhaps beyond, at night. The plains pocket gopher is especially fond of alfalfa fields, and can become a nuisance. Their earth mounds can damage the sickle bars of mowing machines. The Plains Pocket Gopher breeds from February to April and, after a gestation presumed to be a month or more, one to six (average four) young are born hairless, pink, wrinkled, and with eyes and ears closed. In five weeks the cheek pouches and eyes of the young open and a week later they are weaned. When half grown, they disperse and begin to forage alone. They reach sexual maturity at one year. The female has three pairs of nipples.