Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents that cause considerable damage to landscapes by creating extensive tunnel systems just beneath the surface. They feed primarily on plant roots, bulbs, and tubers, leading to sudden wilting and death of vegetation, which is often the first noticeable sign of their presence. Beyond destroying ornamental plants and crops, their digging creates unsightly mounds, tripping hazards, and can compromise underground infrastructure like irrigation lines and utility cables. Many landowners seek non-chemical, environmentally friendly methods to manage these pests, focusing on exclusion, deterrence, and ecological balance.
Confirming Gopher Activity
Identifying the specific culprit is the first step, as control methods for gophers differ significantly from those used for moles or voles. Pocket gophers create distinctive mounds of fresh soil, which are typically crescent-shaped or horseshoe-shaped on the surface. A key feature of a gopher mound is the plugged hole, which is usually located off to one side of the dirt pile.
This appearance contrasts with the volcano-like mounds created by moles, which are generally more circular with a plug of soil located in the center. Moles also create raised, shallow ridges or runways just beneath the lawn’s surface as they hunt for insects, a feature gophers rarely produce. Voles, which are smaller, create networks of clean, visible runways on the surface of the grass without any large dirt mounds.
Physical Exclusion Methods
Physical barriers are often the most reliable and long-lasting natural solution for protecting specific areas from gopher intrusion. This strategy involves installing underground fencing, which requires materials like galvanized hardware cloth with a small mesh size, typically 1/2 or 1/4 inch. The small size of the mesh prevents the gophers from pushing through the barrier or gnawing on the wire itself.
For protecting a garden bed or a high-value planting area, a trench must be dug around the perimeter to install the barrier vertically. The hardware cloth should extend at least two feet deep into the soil to prevent the gophers from tunneling underneath the obstruction. The bottom six inches of the wire should be bent outward at a 90-degree angle, creating an L-shaped barrier that acts as a subterranean apron. This outward bend forces a tunneling gopher to encounter the horizontal wire mesh, which they are reluctant to dig through.
Individual vulnerable plants, especially new trees, shrubs, or bulbs, can be protected by planting them inside wire baskets. These baskets are constructed from the same galvanized hardware cloth and completely enclose the root ball before being placed in the planting hole. The wire provides a protective cage for the root system, preventing the gopher from accessing and consuming the roots from below.
Sensory Repellent Strategies
Gophers possess a strong sense of smell, and certain natural substances can be used to create an environment they find unappealing, driving them to relocate their tunnel systems. One common approach involves using commercial products containing castor oil, which acts as a taste and smell deterrent without harming the animals. These oil-based products are applied to the soil and then watered in, allowing the repellent to soak into the burrow structure.
The application is often most effective when the castor oil solution is poured or soaked into active gopher tunnels, making the immediate area undesirable for foraging. This method requires persistent reapplication, particularly after heavy rainfall or irrigation, because the oil’s effectiveness diminishes as it is diluted in the soil. Some gardeners also attempt to plant strong-smelling species like gopher purge, lavender, or garlic near vulnerable plants, hoping the strong odors will mask the scent of the desired roots.
Another sensory approach is the use of devices that generate vibrations or emit high-frequency sounds into the ground. These sonic spikes are inserted into the lawn and are intended to disrupt the gophers’ sensitive hearing and tactile senses. While the effectiveness of these deterrents can vary widely depending on soil type and tunnel depth, they are sometimes used as a supplementary measure to encourage gophers to move.
Utilizing Natural Predators for Control
Encouraging the presence of natural predators provides a long-term, ecological approach to managing gopher populations. Gophers are a common food source for various animals, and creating a welcoming habitat for these beneficial predators can help keep rodent numbers in check.
Barn owls, for example, are highly efficient gopher hunters, with a single owl family capable of consuming numerous rodents over a nesting season. Installing purpose-built owl boxes on the property can successfully attract barn owls, providing them with a safe nesting site to raise their young.
Other helpful predators include certain types of snakes, such as gopher snakes, which naturally patrol the tunnels and feed on the rodents. Tolerating the presence of these non-venomous reptiles and creating cover areas for them can be a passive but effective form of biological control. Allowing other birds of prey, like hawks and falcons, to hunt in the area also contributes to natural population regulation.