Pocket gophers are common subterranean pests, creating extensive tunnel systems that damage lawns, gardens, and agricultural fields by severing plant roots and creating numerous spoil mounds on the surface. Because these rodents spend nearly their entire lives underground, trapping is widely considered the most reliable and immediate method for removing them, provided the traps are placed correctly within the active burrow system.
Identifying Gopher Activity and Tunnel Systems
The first step in effective trapping is accurately identifying where the gopher is actively working within its burrow system. The most visible sign of a pocket gopher is the fan-shaped or horseshoe-shaped mound of soil it pushes to the surface. These mounds are distinct from the circular, volcano-like mounds created by moles, and they always feature a plugged hole, or depression, where the gopher pushed the dirt out of a lateral tunnel before sealing it.
Focusing on the freshest mounds, which have darker, more moist soil, increases the chance of locating an active tunnel. You must locate the main runway, the subterranean highway the gopher uses repeatedly, as opposed to the shallower, temporary lateral tunnels. This main tunnel usually runs 6 to 12 inches below the surface.
To find the main tunnel, use a soil probe or a sturdy metal rod, pushing it into the ground 8 to 12 inches away from the plugged side of the fresh mound. When the probe suddenly drops about two inches with significantly reduced resistance, you have located the main runway. This main runway is the optimal location for trap placement, as it intercepts the gopher’s primary travel route.
Choosing the Right Trapping Tools
Effective gopher trapping relies on a few specialized tools designed to work within the confined space of the burrow. The most common mechanical trap types fall into two categories: the traditional wire pincher-style traps and the box or body-grip traps. The Macabee trap, a classic wire design, is well-regarded for its effectiveness and compact size, allowing for easy placement in the tunnel.
Variations like the Cinch trap or Gophinator are also pincher-style. Box or black-hole traps encase the mechanism, offering an advantage in preventing soil from fouling the trap, though they may be less efficient than the wire types. Regardless of the trap style chosen, always use a pair of traps for each set to cover both directions of the runway.
In addition to the traps, you will need a shovel or trowel for excavation, a probing rod to locate the tunnel, and a length of wire or cord for securing the traps. The securing wire is necessary to prevent the gopher from dragging the trap deeper into the burrow system if it is not instantly killed. Wearing gloves is also recommended to reduce human scent contamination on the traps, which gophers may detect with their acute sense of smell.
Detailed Step-by-Step Trap Placement
Once the main runway is located by probing, carefully excavate the area to expose the tunnel. Dig an access hole slightly larger than the tunnel itself, ensuring it is wide enough to accommodate two traps side-by-side. Open the tunnel cleanly, avoiding collapse or filling it with excess loose soil, which the gopher might push onto the trap.
After clearing the loose soil, set both traps according to the manufacturer’s directions, ensuring the trigger pans are sensitive. Insert one set trap into each exposed end of the main runway, so the jaws face into the tunnel in opposite directions. This dual-trap placement is crucial because you cannot know which direction the gopher will be traveling from within the burrow system.
Each trap must be securely fastened to a stake or a long piece of wire that extends out of the access hole, preventing the gopher from pulling the trap away. Finally, the entire access hole must be completely covered with a solid object, such as plywood, a board, or sod. Blocking out all light and air is important because gophers are sensitive to these changes and will immediately investigate the breach, often triggering the traps.
Post-Trapping Management and Cleanup
After the traps are set and the access hole is fully covered, they should be checked at least twice daily, ideally in the morning and evening, to ensure humane removal. If a gopher is caught, wear gloves for removal and disposal, as is standard practice when handling wild rodents. The captured gopher can be safely disposed of by burial or by bagging and discarding, depending on local regulations and personal preference.
If a trap is not sprung after a full day, it may indicate a collapsed or inactive section of the runway, and the traps should be moved to a different location showing fresh activity. Gophers are solitary animals, so catching one usually clears that entire burrow system, which may cover several hundred square feet.
Once trapping is complete and no new mounds appear for several days, fill in all open tunnels and excavation holes. Filling these voids with soil helps prevent re-infestation by a different gopher attempting to colonize the abandoned system. Ongoing vigilance for new mounds in the surrounding area is necessary, as new individuals may move in.