Pocket gophers multiply rapidly and will do a lot of damage if left unchecked. One of the methods we use is box traps. We’ll show you how to locate the tunnels and set the trap for maximum effectiveness.

#gophercontrol #gopherkill #pestcontrol

Buy your DFJ Tshirt, Cap, or Coffee Mug at https://www.dirtfarmerjay.com/shop

While there are different types of gophers they have similar habits of burrowing tunnels under the ground, with disturbances at the surface for either excavating soil to allow them to dig more, or when they find an area with food to eat and they come near the surface to eat plant material. They are very cautious creatures that can feel a slight vibration in the ground and will go deeper into their runways at the first sign of danger.

Gophers are persistent creatures that can do a LOT of damage to your yard, garden, orchard, and shrubbery in a VERY short time. You can't kill them all, but you can control them, and keep them out of areas. HERE’S ONE THING YOU DON’T DO! Ignore them. Bad idea!

Why? They are very active and will continue to grow their population and the amount of digging they do. When it looks like they are gone over the winter, they aren’t. They come near the surface and dig tunnels right where the snow and soil meet. These snow tunnels are then filled with soil they have excavated from deeper in the soil. The soil tubes, which become evident when warm weather returns, are called eskers.

Our “goto” methods for eliminating gophers in a given area are gasemitting cartridges, baits, box traps, and a vertical springloaded device called the GopherHawk®. No single approach will be effective against all gophers. If we can’t get control using one approach, we try others as well until we have eliminated the problem.

In this episode, we are using box traps for control in a field or open area. These are black plastic units made by Victor®, and they are robust and should last many seasons. To place them, you’ll need to locate where the tunnels or “runs” are below the surface.

Fortunately, gophers give you clues in the form of a fanshaped mound of soil with a dirt plug on the narrow side of the fan. Locate a freshly dug mound to increase your chances of success. Use a probe or long screwdriver to push into the soil about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) away from the plug, perpendicular to the fan mound. When you locate the run, the probe will suddenly drop about 2” (5 cm). It will be running roughly right and left in relation to the mound.

Use a trenching shovel to expose the run. The goal is to locate an opening to the tunnel on both sides of the hole. Dig the hole about 12” (30 cm) long in line with the tunnel. You’ll need to dig about 8 to 16 inches (20 to 40 cm) deep. Once the tunnel is exposed, locate an opening to the tunnel on both sides of the hole.

Why two openings to the tunnel? Because you don’t know what side the gopher is located. So, place a board or your trenching shovel vertically in the hole so that there is one tunnel opening on opposite sides of your board or shovel. Then leave the area. The gopher doesn’t like to have a direct opening to their burrow system, so they will dig fresh dirt to close the opening. When they do, you will know what side they are on.

To place the box trap, remove the fresh dirt the gopher has placed, and square off the face of the hole so that the open end of the box trap can be placed against the hole’s wall and around the tunnel opening. You want as few gaps between the trap and the hole’s side as you can. Having the floor of the hole flat helps a great deal as well.

Now load the trap using the directions provided, place the trap, and lightly cover the top and sides with soil. Do not cover the hole on the enclosed end of the trap. It is this hole that will lure the gopher into the trap to push soil to cover the hole. When that happens, the trap will likely kill the gopher.

The trap gives immediate verification if the gopher has been eliminated. If you have a gopher that keeps filling the trap with soil with no success, use another control such as gas cartridges or bait.

To learn how to place cartridges and to get maximum distribution of the gasses generated, view this DirtFarmer Jay episode “The Best Way to Use Gopher Smokers”:

   • The Best Way to Use Gopher Smoke Bombs!  

Here’s a bait system that is reasonably priced and with just a bit of practice, will get bait placed deep in the gopher’s burrow system where they are most likely to eat it:

COMING SOON!

Lastly, check out how to use one of the newer gopher control devices on the market, the GopherHawk®. Learn how to place it and monitor the results at:

   • How Good is the Gopher Hawk Gopher Trap?  

When it comes to gopher control, don’t give up. Be persistent because they will be!


Instagram:   / dirtfarmerj  
Facebook:   / dirtfarmerjay