Gophers are burrowing rodents that cause substantial damage to gardens, lawns, and agricultural fields by feeding on roots and creating extensive tunnel systems. Property owners often consider various removal methods, some of which carry significant safety concerns. Assessing the severity of risk posed by each control technique to humans, pets, and the environment is necessary. This analysis compares the dangers of common gopher control methods to identify the highest risk approaches.
High Risk: The Dangers of Toxic Baits
Toxic baits introduce chemical risk to the local ecosystem and pose a significant hazard to non-target species. The most widespread risk comes from secondary poisoning, where a predator or scavenger, such as a hawk, owl, or domestic pet, consumes a gopher that has ingested the poison. Anticoagulant rodenticides cause internal bleeding over several days, meaning a poisoned gopher may wander above ground before dying, increasing the chance of consumption by another animal.
Other active ingredients, such as zinc phosphide, are acute toxicants that cause rapid death, often within a few hours. While zinc phosphide does not accumulate in tissue like anticoagulants, it still presents a secondary risk if a scavenger eats the gopher’s stomach contents soon after death. The bait itself is also a primary hazard, as its palatable formulation can be accidentally ingested by children or pets if not applied securely within the burrow system. Zinc phosphide is particularly dangerous because when it reacts with stomach acid, it produces highly toxic phosphine gas, which can pose a risk to anyone transporting a poisoned pet for treatment.
Extreme Risk: Hazards of Chemical Fumigants
Chemical fumigants represent the highest immediate risk, primarily through the danger of inhalation. Products containing aluminum phosphide or magnesium phosphide react with moisture in the soil to release phosphine gas, a chemical that is severely toxic to all mammals. Phosphine gas is a potent, multi-organ system poison that can cause respiratory distress, neurological effects, and cardiovascular damage in humans and animals upon exposure.
Improper application, such as placing the fumigant too close to a building foundation or a crack in the burrow system, can allow the gas to leak into residential or working areas. Because phosphine is a restricted-use pesticide due to its acute inhalation toxicity, its use is often regulated to certified applicators who employ specialized safety equipment and atmospheric monitors. The risk is acute and can be lethal quickly, making this method the most hazardous for human health.
Physical Injury Risk from Mechanical Traps
Mechanical traps eliminate the gopher and introduce no toxic chemicals into the environment. The risk associated with this method is physical injury, mainly to non-target animals or the person setting the trap. A trap placed in an open tunnel may accidentally injure a pet or wildlife, although proper placement deep within the gopher’s closed burrow system significantly reduces this possibility.
The human applicator can also sustain injury, such as pinched fingers or cuts, while setting the powerful springs of the trap. Unlike chemical methods, the danger from mechanical traps is localized and non-systemic. Trapping poses no contamination risk to the soil or water table, distinguishing its risk profile from that of chemical control methods.
Essential Steps for Risk Mitigation
Minimizing the dangers associated with high-risk gopher control methods requires strict adherence to safety protocols and product labeling.
Mitigation Steps
- When handling toxic baits or fumigants, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including gloves and eye protection, is necessary to prevent accidental exposure.
- All chemical products must be stored in their original containers in a locked location inaccessible to children, pets, and livestock.
- To mitigate secondary poisoning risk, retrieve and safely dispose of all poisoned gopher carcasses found above ground immediately.
- For fumigants, ensuring the area is clear of people and pets during application is paramount due to the immediate inhalation hazard.
- Posting clear warning signs around the treatment area alerts others to the presence of hazardous materials.