Pocket gophers are subterranean rodents that can quickly ruin a manicured lawn or vegetable patch. Natural control methods manage gopher populations without introducing toxins to the environment, children, or pets. These non-lethal strategies focus on discouraging gophers by making the environment physically inaccessible or undesirable. This article explores non-chemical methods using exclusion and environmental manipulation.
Confirming Gopher Presence and Damage
Proper identification is the first step in effective management, as control methods for pocket gophers differ significantly from those used for moles or voles. The most definitive sign of a pocket gopher is the characteristic crescent or horseshoe-shaped dirt mound. This shape results from the gopher pushing soil out of a lateral tunnel, which is then plugged from the inside, leaving the distinct off-center depression in the mound.
In contrast, a mole mound is typically symmetrical and volcano-shaped, and moles also create raised ridges on the surface as they tunnel for insects. Gophers are herbivores, focusing damage on plant roots. They pull entire plants, particularly seedlings, down into their tunnels and gnaw on the large taproots of mature trees and shrubs, which can lead to sudden decline and death.
Exclusion Methods Using Physical Barriers
Exclusion is often the most effective solution, relying on physical barriers to block gopher access to vulnerable plants and areas. When planting new trees, shrubs, or perennial vegetables, using wire mesh gopher baskets is a recommended preventative measure. These baskets, typically constructed from galvanized hardware cloth with a mesh size of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch, fully enclose the plant’s root ball. The small mesh size prevents gophers from chewing through or squeezing past the barrier while still allowing the roots to expand and grow.
For protecting established garden beds or entire lawn sections, installing a perimeter subterranean fence provides a robust defense. This barrier requires burying galvanized hardware cloth at least 2 feet deep, with the bottom portion bent into an “L” shape facing away from the protected area to deter gophers from digging underneath. The top edge of this fence should extend a few inches above the soil line to prevent above-ground entry. Lining the bottom of raised vegetable beds completely with the same gauge of wire mesh hardware cloth creates an impenetrable floor, ensuring that gophers cannot tunnel up into the rich soil from below.
Environmental and Behavioral Deterrents
Manipulating the environment to make an area less appealing encourages gophers to relocate their burrow systems. Castor oil is a non-toxic repellent that contaminates the gopher’s food source, making the soil taste and smell unpleasant. Applied as a granular product or liquid concentrate, it is watered into the soil for deep penetration into the gopher’s main foraging tunnels. This triggers a strong aversion, prompting gophers to move.
Repellent Plants
Certain plants with pungent odors or bitter compounds are used as companion plants to deter gophers from grazing. Planting species like gopher purge, lavender, rosemary, or allium varieties around the perimeter of a garden creates a sensory barrier that gophers prefer to avoid.
Removing Cover
Eliminating excess ground cover and clutter helps expose gophers to the open air. This removes protected travel routes and makes the area feel less secure for foraging.
Introducing sound and vibration devices, such as solar-powered sonic or vibrating stakes, aims to create an uncomfortable environment. These devices transmit low-frequency vibrations through the soil, mimicking the presence of a predator or threat. While results can be inconsistent depending on soil composition and terrain, strategically placing them in active areas may prompt gophers to abandon their tunnel network.
Encouraging natural predation provides a long-term, self-sustaining control method. Installing raptor perches or owl nesting boxes attracts natural predators like barn owls and hawks, which actively hunt pocket gophers and help reduce the local population.