Gophers and Gopher Traps

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Pocket gophers are rodents from 5 to 14 inches long.

Pocket gophers have fur-lined pouches outside of the mouth, one on each side of the face. These pockets, which are capable of being turned inside out, are used for carrying food.

Their fur ranges black to light brown and white.

Pocket gophers heads are small and flattened, with small ears and eyes .

Gophers are solitary animals except when breeding or rearing young.
Gophers are active year round, but are the most visibly active in the spring and fall when the soil is of the ideal moisture content for digging.
Gophers are extremely well adapted and built for an underground existence.
Gopher underground burrows can be very deep, up to several feet, and several hundred feet in length.
As gophers dig burrows, pushing the soil to the surface, they leave a mound, usually in a fan shaped, Moles leave a conical shape.

RECOMMENDED MEASURES OF CONTROL

1. Gopher Traps:

For small numbers of gophers, control can be accomplished with the use of gopher traps such as EASY SET GOPHER TRAP

The key to effective gopher traps is to properly locate main tunnels and then correctly place the traps within the tunnels.

Gopher traps are most effective when they are placed in pairs in opposite directions in main tunnels as they will intercept gophers coming from either direction.

In addition to the main tunnel traps, gopher traps can also be placed in the lateral tunnels leading to mounds.

Main runways can be located by probing with a sharp stick or rod one or two feet away from a mound opposite the burrow plug.

Once the tunnel is located, it should be opened with a trowel or shovel to allow for the placement of gopher traps.

The gopher traps should be worked back and forth in the tunnel to loosen the earth.

After setting gopher traps, it is important to exclude light and air currents by covering the opening with grass clods, cardboard, or some other material.

All gopher traps should be wired to stakes to allow for safe and easy trap/carcass recovery as well as to prevent predators from removing the traps.

Gopher traps should be checked once or twice daily.

If a trap falls to catch a gopher within 3-4 days, it should be moved to a new location.

Trapping can be done any time of the year (as long as the ground is soft enough to permit digging),
but spring is overall the best time to trap as this is when gopher activity is high and the ground is easy to work.

Gopher trapping in the early part of the year will help to maintain population levels by eliminating breeding females.

After removal of any trapped gophers, it is wise (if it does not pose any hazard to children or pets) to leave a few gopher traps set in the burrows for a week or two because new invading gophers often explore vacated burrows before constructing completely new burrow systems.

Alternate methods of gopher control:

Recommended product would be GIANT DESTROYER SMOKE BOMBS , a gaseous product that is lighted and put in the main burrows.

WHOLE CONTROL is another recommended product, inhibiting the tunnels and burrows of pocket gophers.

It is a completely natural and effective way to work with gophers and moles. One qt. (with a sprayer attachment )covers 5,000 sq. ft. For more information, Dr.T's web site.