How to Get Rid of Pocket Gophers Naturally

If you're looking for a humane way to get rid of pocket gophers, you're in luck.

One of the most effective natural methods is to use castor oil, which is toxic to gophers and can be applied directly to their tunnels.

The reason castor oil is so effective is that it's a natural repellent that gophers can't stand the smell of.

To use castor oil, simply mix it with water and apply it to the affected areas, being careful not to get it on any nearby plants or pets.

Another natural method is to use ultrasonic repellent devices, which emit a high-pitched sound that gophers can't hear but will drive them away.

Gophers are rodents, specifically members of the rodent family Geomyidae. They are herbivores and primarily feed on plant roots, tubers, and underground stems.

Gophers are solitary animals and typically live alone, only coming together to mate. They are known to be active year-round, with the exception of extreme weather conditions.

A gopher's diet consists mainly of grasses, clover, and alfalfa, but they can also eat other plants, such as shrubs and trees. They can eat up to 1.5 pounds of food per day.

Gophers are expert diggers, using their powerful front teeth and long claws to excavate complex tunnel systems. They can dig up to 700 feet of tunnels in a single year.

Gophers are typically 10-12 inches long, including their tail, and weigh between 6-12 ounces. They have stocky bodies and short legs, but are agile and fast.

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To locate and prepare for getting rid of pocket gophers, start by using a gopher probe to identify the main burrow. Probes can be long and durable, allowing you to detect gopher tunnel systems through 4 to 12 inches of hard soil.

First, locate areas of recent gopher activity based on fresh mounds of dark, moist soil. These mounds are the plugged openings of lateral tunnels. Fresh mounds can be found aboveground.

You can find the main burrow by probing about 4 to 12 inches from the plug side of the mound; it's usually located 4 to 12 inches deep. When the probe penetrates the gopher's burrow, there will be a sudden, noticeable drop of about 2 inches.

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Probing for Burrows involves using a gopher probe or even a long screwdriver to locate the main burrow. A gopher probe should be long and durable enough to penetrate 4 to 12 inches of hard soil.

To find burrows, look for areas of recent gopher activity marked by fresh mounds of dark, moist soil. These mounds are plugged openings of lateral tunnels.

Probing about 4 to 12 inches from the plug side of the mound, usually 4 to 12 inches deep, can help you locate the main burrow. A sudden, noticeable drop of about 2 inches will indicate you've hit the gopher's burrow.

You might need to probe repeatedly to locate the main burrow, but your skill will improve with experience. Because gophers might not revisit lateral tunnels, trapping and baiting them is not as successful as in the main burrow.

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Dig a trench about 6 inches wide and 2 feet deep to limit where gophers can dig. This will help prevent them from tunneling into your lawn or garden.

You can fill the trench with rocks or line it with wire mesh or hardware cloth that has openings no larger than 3/4 of an inch. This will keep critters from burrowing underneath.

Exclusion fencing keeps gophers away from food sources, and this method is affordable, humane, non-invasive, safe for kids and pets.

Professional assistance is usually the best way to get rid of gophers if your infestation is severe or not responding to DIY methods. A good pest management company will use a variety of strategies, including trapping, baiting, fencing and exclusion, and habitat modification.

A professional exterminator can also help you by providing insider tips and tricks to gopher-proof your property and prevent subsequent infestations.

Fumigation is one option for controlling gopher populations, but it requires careful consideration due to its potential risks.

Fumigation with aluminum phosphide, a restricted-use application, is effective at controlling gophers, but it's only available to licensed pest control operators.

New regulations greatly restrict the use of aluminum phosphide in residential areas, limiting applications to areas more than 100 feet from any building where humans, domestic animals, or both are or may potentially be found.

Aluminum phosphide can only be applied in parks and athletic fields within residential areas, making it unlikely to be available for most residential properties.

Pressurized exhaust machines, approved for use in California in 2012, are another fumigation option that injects exhaust rich in carbon monoxide into the burrow system, asphyxiating the gopher.

These machines, such as the Pressurized Exhaust Rodent Controller (PERC), BurrowRx, Cheetah rodent control machine, and the CO-Jack, are relatively effective, with removal rates in excess of 70% observed in some settings.

However, pressurized exhaust machines are expensive and likely only practical for individuals involved in large-scale gopher management.

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A professional exterminator can use a variety of strategies to eliminate large, well-established gopher populations. These strategies include trapping, baiting, fencing and exclusion, and habitat modification.

To get rid of gophers quickly, a pest management company will often use trapping and baiting methods.

A good pest management company can also help you prevent subsequent infestations by providing insider tips and tricks to gopher-proof your property.

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Non-Lethal Control is a viable option for getting rid of pocket gophers, especially if you're not keen on using lethal methods. It's all about making your yard less appealing to these furry critters.

Crop rotation is a great way to reduce gopher damage. By alternating between alfalfa and grain crops, you can create an environment that's inhospitable to gophers. This method is particularly effective because annual grains don't provide the underground storage structures that gophers rely on.

You can also use repellents to deter gophers. These products typically contain a mix of natural and chemical components, including castor oil, garlic, predator urine, and capsaicin. To be effective, you need to saturate the soil with the repellent, which can be a bit tricky.

Flood irrigation is another non-lethal method that can help control gopher populations. By flooding your fields, you can fill gophers' tunnels and force them to flee to the surface, where they're more vulnerable to predators. This method is most effective when combined with the removal of high spots in the field that might serve as a refuge for gophers.

Here are some key ingredients found in effective gopher repellents:

Keep in mind that repellents require frequent re-application and may have unknown effects on plants in your garden. They're best used in conjunction with other non-lethal methods and can help control gopher populations over time.

To prevent damage from pocket gophers, it's essential to understand their behavior and habits. They are primarily nocturnal, so they do most of their digging at night.

Pocket gophers can cause significant damage to lawns, gardens, and landscaping by digging extensive tunnel systems. These tunnels can collapse, causing additional damage.

To prevent this damage, consider using physical barriers to protect your plants and landscaping.

Exclusion fencing is a game-changer for preventing gopher damage. This effective solution involves installing fine metal mesh around areas you want to protect, such as gardens or lawns.

To successfully exclude gophers, the wire mesh should have openings of less than ½” x 1” to prevent even the smallest gophers from slipping through.

Installing exclusion fencing requires some effort, but it's a long-term solution that's poison-free and humane. You can either place fencing around specific areas or dig a trench and line it with wire mesh.

Gopher baskets are another option to protect plants and trees from gopher damage. These baskets are made from stainless steel or high-quality galvanized steel and come in various sizes to fit different plants.

To protect trees, use 15-gallon tree gopher baskets, which are designed to break down within a few years and won't girdle the tree's roots. Note that chicken wire is not a suitable option, as it will deteriorate quickly.

Exclusion fencing is a worthwhile investment if you're serious about preventing gopher damage. It's an affordable solution that can be installed around vulnerable areas of your lawn or garden.

Gardens with large taprooted plants like alfalfa are more susceptible to damage from gophers, as they feed on the roots. Removing weeds from the borders of your garden can make it less appealing to gophers.

Crop rotation is a simple and effective way to reduce gopher damage. By rotating alfalfa with grain crops, you can create an environment that's not suitable for gophers.

Planting grain buffer strips around hay fields can also help minimize gopher invasions. This creates an unsuitable habitat for gophers to live in.

Flood irrigation can be a game-changer for gopher control. By flooding fields, you can fill gophers' tunnels and cause them to drown or flee to the surface, where they're more vulnerable to predators.

Removing high spots in fields can enhance the effectiveness of flood irrigation. This helps prevent gophers from finding refuge during irrigation.

Handling gophers requires a strategic approach. Gophers are most active at dawn and dusk, so it's best to set traps during these times for maximum effectiveness.

To catch gophers, use a tunnel trap baited with a combination of peanut butter and oats. This attracts gophers and encourages them to enter the trap.

Gophers can cause significant damage to plants and lawns. They can gnaw through a wide range of materials, including wood, plastic, and metal.

A single gopher can dig up to 700 pounds of soil in a day, causing extensive tunnel systems and mounds. This extensive digging can weaken soil structure and lead to erosion.

Gophers are primarily solitary animals, but they may occasionally interact with each other. Female gophers typically give birth to 2-5 young in a litter, and the young are weaned after about 20 days.

Trapping is a good way to control pocket gophers on small areas, and to remove remaining animals after a poisoning program. It can be done year-round because gophers are always active, but a formidable effort is required for trapping when the soil is frozen.

You can use spring traps or box traps to catch gophers. Trapping is most effective when gophers are pushing up new mounds, usually in spring and fall. To trap gophers, you'll need to find their burrows and place traps in or near them.

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Here's a step-by-step guide to trapping gophers:

Poisonous gopher bait is another option for controlling pocket gophers, but it requires a cautious application. Always follow the instructions on the back of the bait’s packaging and use a dispenser probe to deposit the toxins.

Trapping is a good way to control pocket gophers on small areas, and to remove remaining animals after a poisoning program. Traps can be used year-round because gophers are always active, but a formidable effort is required for trapping when the soil is frozen.

There are two general types of pocket gopher traps: spring traps and box traps. Trapping is most effective when gophers are pushing up new mounds, usually in spring and fall.

To trap gophers effectively, you'll need to find their burrows and place traps in or near them. You can use a long screwdriver or rebar to push down into the ground in areas of gopher activity, and active tunnels will be felt as hollow spots in the ground about 2 to 4 inches deep.

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Here's a step-by-step guide to setting traps:

It's essential to check the traps daily and leave them in place for a day or two after you catch a pocket gopher. If a trap is not sprung within 48 hours, move it to a new location.

Bait is a common method for controlling gopher populations, but it's essential to use it carefully. Poisonous gopher bait looks and smells like a tasty treat to gophers, but it kills them quickly.

Most baits are made from chemicals like zinc phosphide or anticoagulant rodenticides like warfarin. Strychnine baits used to be popular, but they're now heavily restricted due to the dangers they present.

Baits are effective, but they require a cautious application. In California, for example, the rodenticide strychnine is legal but must be placed underground – never at lawn level.

To use bait safely, always follow the instructions on the back of the packaging. It's also crucial to use a dispenser probe to deposit the toxins directly into gopher burrows and tunnels.

Before handling any bait, make sure to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including long pants and gloves. This will help prevent exposure to the toxic substances.

Now that you've taken the necessary steps to identify the problem and prepare your yard, it's time to put your plan into action.

To get rid of gophers, using traps is a recommended method. Traps can be an effective way to remove gophers from your yard.

You may also want to consider removing their sources of food and shelter. This can include removing plants that gophers like to eat, as well as sealing any holes or burrows that they may be using.

Signs of a successful gopher removal include a decrease in the number of horseshoe- or fan-shaped mounds in the soil, and an increase in the health of your plants.

Here are some additional steps to consider:

Remember, patience and persistence are key when it comes to getting rid of gophers. It may take some time and effort to completely eliminate the problem, but with the right approach, you can keep your yard gopher-free.