Free Entertainment and Rototilling

So yesterday and today, we pretty much just sat at the back door and watched the gopher dig up the backyard. He has the face of an otter, he is shaped like a bullet, he's about eight inches long, and he seems friendly enough. I'm pretty sure he's here because we've been severely overwatering the lawn, so we turned off the sprinklers and will be watering key sections with just rainwater, dew and rain barrel water for the time being. In keeping with my permaculture belief system, I'm grateful that this little ecosystem architect has seen fit to loosen my soil for me, therefore allowing future root systems to penetrate more deeply, all while bringing fresh, newly aerated soil to the surface from under the ground. (That said, I'm not sure I like discovering his tunnels when my feet sink into random sections of my yard.) He'll move on eventually, or an owl or a hawk or a cat will get him, or maybe we'll just have very well-tilled soil for a long time! But basically, until he effs with my trees and my berry vines, I'm happy to live and let live.