Gophers are burrowing rodents that use their powerful front teeth and claws to create extensive networks of underground tunnels that can stretch for hundreds of feet. They are a major nuisance for homeowners and gardeners. The clearest signs of their presence are the crescent-shaped mounds of soil that appear on the surface of a yard. This digging activity disrupts the soil and can create unstable ground, posing a tripping hazard. The most significant damage occurs below the surface, where gophers chew through plant roots, cables, and irrigation lines, often leading to the sudden death of mature plants, shrubs, and trees.
Creating Physical Barriers
The most reliable way to prevent gophers from accessing valuable areas is through exclusion, which involves physically blocking their path with durable, underground barriers. This proactive approach is particularly effective for protecting specific garden beds or newly planted trees. The preferred material for this type of barrier is galvanized or stainless steel mesh, commonly known as gopher wire or hardware cloth.
The mesh should have a maximum opening size of three-quarters of an inch or less to block both adult and juvenile gophers. For comprehensive protection of a lawn, the wire must be laid horizontally and covered with one to two inches of soil before sod is installed. This layer of soil prevents gophers from pulling grass down through the mesh from below.
To protect individual plants, shrubs, and trees, wire cages or baskets should be formed around the root ball before planting. When building raised garden beds, the mesh should line the entire bottom and extend up the sides to create a complete subterranean enclosure. For vertical barriers around a perimeter, the wire should be buried at least 18 to 24 inches deep, with a few inches protruding above the ground to deter surface crossings.
Using Non-Lethal Deterrents
Non-lethal deterrents focus on making the environment unpleasant or unappealing to gophers, encouraging them to leave the area without being harmed. Olfactory repellents capitalize on the gopher’s sensitive sense of smell, using odors they find irritating. The most common active ingredient in these repellents is castor oil, which can be applied directly to the soil or diluted with water and sprayed into active tunnel openings.
Commercial castor oil-based products are available in granular or liquid form, and some homeowners create DIY mixtures by adding concentrated essential oils like peppermint or garlic. The repellent is absorbed into the soil, creating an unpleasant environment that disrupts the gopher’s routine and feeding habits. Because the effectiveness of these liquid repellents can diminish after heavy rain or watering, reapplication is necessary to maintain a consistent deterrent odor.
Some devices attempt to deter gophers using vibrations or auditory signals, such as solar-powered sonic spikes placed in the ground. These spikes emit intermittent, low-frequency pulses meant to irritate gophers, who rely heavily on their sensitivity to soil vibrations. The effectiveness of these devices is often mixed and depends heavily on the soil type, as vibrations travel best through dense, packed earth.
Strategic planting can also contribute to a gopher-resistant landscape by incorporating plants they naturally avoid. Gophers tend to steer clear of plants with strong odors or bitter tastes, such as lavender, rosemary, and plants from the Allium family, including ornamental onion and garlic. Plants in the narcissus family, like daffodils, also contain compounds that are unappetizing to the rodents. While these species lower the appeal of a yard, they are only a deterrent and do not guarantee protection for other desirable plants.
Eradication and Removal Methods
When prevention and deterrents fail to control an established population, direct removal methods are often necessary to eliminate the infestation. Trapping is widely considered the most effective and practical method for dealing with gophers in a residential setting. Specialized mechanical traps, such as choker or box-style traps, are placed directly into the main tunnel runway, which can be located by probing the ground near a fresh mound.
For best results, two traps should be set facing opposite directions in the main tunnel, and the tunnel opening must be completely sealed with soil or sod afterward. The darkness and lack of airflow encourage the gopher to approach the obstruction, which triggers the trap. The advantage of trapping is that it provides immediate confirmation of removal and avoids the environmental risks associated with chemical controls.
Poison baits are a removal option, but they carry significant risks and must be approached with caution. Baits, often containing strychnine, are placed deep within the tunnel system to minimize the chance of non-target animals finding them. A major concern is the potential for secondary poisoning, where predators or scavengers, including household pets, are harmed after consuming a poisoned gopher.
Fumigation, which involves introducing smoke or gas cartridges into the burrows, is often unreliable because gophers are adept at quickly sealing off sections of their tunnel to avoid the fumes. Due to the inherent dangers of chemical treatments, users must always check local regulations regarding the use of restricted pesticides. If an infestation is large, persistent, or involves numerous mounds, the safest and most efficient course of action is to contact a professional pest control service.