Pocket gophers are specialized burrowing rodents that create extensive tunnel networks, making them significant pests in yards and gardens. They are rarely seen above ground, but their presence is easily identified by the fan or crescent-shaped mounds of soil they push up to the surface. Gophers are herbivores, primarily feeding on the roots, tubers, and stems of plants they encounter while digging, which quickly destroys lawns and landscaping. Their burrowing activities can also damage underground utility lines, irrigation pipes, and compromise the integrity of ditch banks. Effective control requires a direct approach to remove the current population, followed by exclusion methods to prevent their return.
Active Removal Through Trapping
Trapping is considered one of the most effective and environmentally conscious methods for removing gophers. The initial step is locating the main active tunnel by probing the ground 8 to 12 inches away from the plugged side of a fresh mound. A sturdy metal gopher probe will suddenly drop by about two inches when it penetrates the open tunnel.
Once the runway is located, carefully dig a small opening large enough to set traps without causing a tunnel collapse. Gophers are sensitive to air and light, and they will immediately move to plug the breach, which is the behavior that triggers the trap. Common traps include wire pinch traps (Macabee or Victor) and box traps (Cinch or Black Box), which are placed directly inside the burrow.
For maximum efficiency, set two traps facing opposite directions within the tunnel to intercept the gopher regardless of its approach. Secure the traps with wire or cord anchored to a stake above ground to prevent the gopher from dragging them away. Covering the opening with plywood or cardboard to block all light and air encourages the gopher to return quickly and activate the device.
Chemical Control and Baiting Hazards
Chemical control involves applying rodenticides directly into the gopher’s tunnel system, but this method carries risks to non-target animals. Acute toxicants like strychnine and zinc phosphide are commonly used baits, designed to kill the rodent after a single feeding. Zinc phosphide works by releasing a toxic gas in the gopher’s stomach, while strychnine is regulated due to its toxicity.
The primary concern with any toxic bait is the risk of secondary poisoning, where predators or scavengers (such as owls, hawks, or domestic pets) consume the poisoned gopher carcass. Anticoagulant baits, which cause internal bleeding, are dangerous because the poisoned gopher may wander above ground before dying, increasing the chance of contact with other animals. All toxic baits must be placed deep within the runway using a specialized probe to avoid surface spillage, which could harm ground-feeding birds.
Fumigation introduces toxic gases into the burrow system. Aluminum phosphide is effective when soil moisture is high. However, less potent gas cartridges are often ineffective because gophers quickly detect and seal off the tunnel when they sense smoke or gas. Specialized machines that inject carbon monoxide into burrows are also used, offering a method that does not leave behind toxic residue.
Long-Term Prevention and Exclusion
After removing gophers, long-term prevention focuses on exclusion and making the environment less appealing to new invaders. The most reliable method is installing underground barriers made of hardware cloth or gopher wire, typically a 3/4-inch hexagonal woven mesh. For gardens and raised beds, this wire should be buried vertically 18 to 24 inches deep, with a portion extending above the soil line to prevent surface entry.
To protect entire lawns, a horizontal barrier can be created by laying the mesh beneath the sod, covered by a thin layer of soil before the sod is placed. This physical barrier prevents gophers from accessing plant roots and forces them to tunnel elsewhere, as they avoid obstacles they cannot easily chew through. Reducing excess vegetation and managing irrigation also helps, since gophers prefer moist, easily dug soil.
Anecdotal deterrents, such as castor oil-based repellents and sonic spikes that create ground vibrations, are used as supplementary measures. Castor oil irritates the gopher’s nasal passages and makes the soil and roots taste unpleasant, but its effectiveness is variable and often short-lived. Gophers are sensitive to vibrations, but they may simply tunnel around sound spikes, meaning these methods should not be relied upon for primary control.