The gopher character in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh is named Gopher.
Gopher is an anthropomorphic gopher created specifically for Disney’s Pooh productions. He first appeared in the 1966 animated featurette Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, making him different from many of the central characters, who originated in A. A. Milne’s books.
Gopher famously breaks the fourth wall during his debut by pointing out, “I’m not in the book, you know.” That line refers to the fact that he does not appear in either Winnie-the-Pooh or The House at Pooh Corner. Disney initially developed him partly as a possible replacement for Piglet, but Piglet remained in the cast and Gopher became an additional character.
The character is known for working underground, digging extensive tunnels, and whistling his sibilant consonants, especially his S sounds. He often presents himself as a practical handyman, although his rambling advice and tendency to fall into his own tunnels create comic problems. Gopher should not be confused with a chipmunk, groundhog, or mole; those are different animals, while “Gopher” is both his species and his canonical name.