Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents that spend almost their entire lives underground, causing extensive damage to gardens and landscapes. They create complex tunnel systems that sever plant roots, leading to wilting and death. Their constant digging disrupts soil structure, leaves unsightly mounds across a lawn, and can damage irrigation lines. This guide presents reliable methods for identifying gopher activity and implementing effective management techniques to protect your property.
Identifying Gopher Activity
Accurately identifying the pest is the first step, as gopher signs are often confused with those of moles or voles. Pocket gophers create characteristic crescent-shaped or fan-shaped mounds of soil, distinct from the circular mounds produced by moles. The gopher mound features a plugged hole off to one side, which is the sealed entrance to the tunnel.
Gophers do not create the raised ridges or surface runways that moles and voles do, because their main tunnels are located deeper, between 4 and 18 inches below the surface. Look for fresh mounds of dark, moist soil to confirm recent digging activity. Leveling an area of mounds and checking for new ones within one or two days confirms the presence of an active gopher.
Lethal Removal Techniques
Trapping is the most effective and reliable method for eliminating pocket gophers. Locate the main runway by probing the soil with a metal rod 4 to 12 inches away from the plugged side of a fresh mound. When the probe drops several inches with little resistance, you have found the main tunnel system, typically 6 to 12 inches deep.
Excavate an opening large enough to insert two traps, such as Macabee or Cinch-style pincer traps. Set the traps in opposing directions, with their jaws facing into the tunnel runs. Cover the opening with soil, a board, or sod to block out light and air, as gophers instinctively plug open burrows. Traps should be checked twice daily, and if no capture occurs within 24 hours, move the set to a new location.
Chemical control involves placing poisoned grain or pellets directly into the main burrow system. This method is effective but risks non-target animals. Baits containing active ingredients like strychnine or zinc phosphide must be applied using a specialized probe or funnel to ensure the poison is deposited deep within the runway. This sub-surface application is a regulatory requirement that prevents exposure to pets, wildlife, and children.
Gas cartridges, which release carbon monoxide, are an alternative lethal method for smaller infestations. Gophers often quickly seal off their tunnels upon detecting the gas, which limits effectiveness. Specialized devices that inject pressurized exhaust or gas mixtures are restricted to professional application due to safety and regulatory concerns.
Non-Lethal Deterrents and Exclusion
Exclusion barriers offer a permanent physical defense for high-value areas like raised garden beds, shrubs, and young trees. To install a barrier, wire mesh or hardware cloth (no larger than half an inch opening) must be buried 18 to 24 inches deep. The mesh should include a 6-inch outward-facing “L” bend at the bottom to prevent gophers from digging underneath.
For individual plants, place the roots within wire baskets, purchased or fabricated from hardware cloth, before planting. When constructing a raised bed, line the entire bottom with mesh to prevent gophers from accessing the soil from below. Use galvanized or stainless steel wire to ensure the barrier lasts without degrading.
Castor oil-based repellents can be applied to the soil as a non-lethal deterrent, creating an unpleasant smell and taste that encourages gophers to move elsewhere. These products are applied as granules watered into the soil or as a liquid spray to penetrate tunnels. Ultrasonic and vibrating devices are also marketed, but their effectiveness is debated, as gophers may become accustomed to the sound.
Encouraging natural predators, such as barn owls and snakes, is a long-term, passive control strategy. Installing owl boxes helps attract barn owls, which are highly effective at hunting gophers and provide continuous population management. This method contributes to a balanced landscape.
Safety and Regulatory Considerations
Handling gopher control products requires careful attention to safety instructions to prevent harm to people and non-target animals. Chemical baits, particularly those containing toxic ingredients like strychnine or zinc phosphide, must be stored securely away from children and pets. Application must strictly adhere to label instructions, mandating placement only within the underground burrow system to minimize secondary poisoning risks.
When trapping, secure the trap to a stake or anchor on the surface with a wire or cable to prevent predators from carrying it away. Dispose of dead gophers properly according to local waste management guidelines to maintain sanitation and reduce the risk of secondary poisoning.
Check local regulations and ordinances regarding wildlife control before initiating any program. Certain lethal methods may be restricted, or municipalities may require a licensed professional for restricted-use pesticides. Confirming compliance ensures your efforts are responsible and legally sound.