The presence of pocket gophers in a yard can quickly turn a manicured landscape into a minefield of dirt mounds and damaged plants. These solitary, burrowing rodents construct extensive tunnel systems just below the surface using powerful claws and large incisor teeth. Their continuous foraging on roots, bulbs, and other underground vegetation leads to dead patches of lawn, plant destruction, and compromise of underground irrigation and utility lines. Successfully managing a gopher problem requires verifying their presence and then applying persistent, targeted control methods.
Identifying Gopher Activity
Confirming that the damage is caused by a pocket gopher, rather than a mole or a vole, is the first step before beginning removal. The most definitive sign of a gopher is the characteristic mound of earth pushed to the surface. Gopher mounds are typically fan-shaped, crescent-shaped, or horseshoe-shaped, with loose soil pushed out from a lateral tunnel.
The defining feature of a gopher mound is the visible plug of soil that seals the entrance hole, usually off-center of the main dirt pile. This plugged entrance contrasts with a molehill, which is generally symmetrical or volcano-shaped with the entrance hole located in the center and often less visible. Gophers rarely create the raised, spongy ridges or “runways” near the surface characteristic of mole activity.
Direct Lethal Removal Techniques
Trapping is the most practical and effective method for direct removal, especially for small infestations or residential properties. Traps target the gopher directly within its runway system without the risks associated with chemical use. The most successful models are pincher-type traps (like the Macabee or Cinch) and box traps designed to instantly dispatch the animal.
To maximize effectiveness, two traps should be placed facing in opposite directions into the main tunnel, located by probing near a fresh mound until the tool drops into the runway. After locating the main runway, a small section of the tunnel is excavated, and the traps are set snugly inside to block the path. Securing the traps with wire or a stake and covering the opening blocks out light and air, encouraging the gopher to approach the blockage to seal the tunnel.
Chemical baiting involves placing specialized rodenticides, such as those containing strychnine, zinc phosphide, or anticoagulants, directly into the gopher’s tunnel system. While effective for large or widespread infestations, this method carries significant risks. There is a danger of primary poisoning if children or pets accidentally ingest spilled bait, and a risk of secondary poisoning to predators like hawks or owls that consume a poisoned gopher. Trapping is often preferred in residential settings.
Non-Lethal Deterrents and Repellent Strategies
Methods intended to discourage gophers focus on creating an unpleasant environment within the existing tunnels. Flooding the tunnel system with a garden hose can temporarily saturate the soil, which fouls the gopher’s fur and restricts the exchange of gases in the burrow. This action may force the gopher to flee to the surface, making it vulnerable to predation or immediate removal.
Fumigation, using products like smoke bombs or gas cartridges, is another technique aimed at driving gophers out of the burrow. However, this method has variable effectiveness because gophers quickly sense the gas or smoke and seal off the affected section of the tunnel. More advanced methods, such as those that inject carbon monoxide or propane-oxygen mixtures, can be more lethal but require specialized equipment and carry their own safety hazards.
Repellents relying on strong scents, such as castor oil, are sometimes used but typically offer only temporary relief over small, localized areas. Devices that generate ultrasonic waves or vibrations have not consistently proven to be effective deterrents in university research trials. These non-lethal approaches are better suited for encouraging a gopher to exit a tunnel or for protecting a very small, specific area than for clearing a large, established infestation.
Installing Physical Exclusion Barriers
For long-term protection in high-value garden beds or beneath new lawns, installing physical barriers provides the most reliable preventive measure. Exclusion barriers are designed to block the gopher’s access to the protected area from below. The material of choice is typically galvanized or stainless steel wire mesh (often 20-gauge), with openings no larger than three-quarters of an inch to prevent passage by young gophers.
For lawns or planting beds, this wire mesh should be laid horizontally beneath the soil surface, with one to two inches of topsoil placed over the mesh before laying sod or seeding. For vertical perimeter protection, a trench should be dug and the wire mesh buried at least 18 to 24 inches deep, with a minimum of six inches of the material extending above the grade. This vertical barrier prevents gophers from simply tunneling around the edge of the protected space.
Individual plants, especially shrubs and trees, can be protected by placing their root balls inside cylindrical wire baskets before planting. This prevents the gopher from chewing through the roots, which is a common cause of plant death. When constructing raised beds, the entire bottom surface should be lined with the same durable wire mesh to create a complete, permanent seal against burrowing pests.