How To Get Rid Of Gophers In Yard

Effectively placing gopher traps involves identifying active tunnels by looking for fresh soil mounds or raised ridges, which indicate current gopher activity. Once you locate the active tunnel, carefully clear a section to expose the tunnel's interior.

Doing this helps you to place the trap without any obstruction. There are many types of traps available for gophers such as a box trap or claw trap. Whatever you use, make sure the trap is positioned snugly inside the tunnel according to manufacturer instructions.

Poison baits are generally easier to deploy than traps. They can be placed in gopher tunnels without needing to locate specific active burrows or tunnels precisely. These baits are typically designed to be attractive to gophers and contain toxicants.

Once consumed, poison baits continue to work over time, affecting gophers even if they are not immediately killed. For placing these baits, identify active burrows, prepare the bait (according to manufacturer's guidelines) and insert it into the main tunnel or burrow system of the gophers.

Castor oil-based repellents have a strong odor and unpleasant taste that gophers dislike. As a result, these repellants act as a barrier that can deter gophers from tunneling and foraging in treated areas, helping to protect gardens, lawns, and other landscaped areas.

Unlike chemical repellants, this repellant is compatible with organic gardening practices. Castor oil repellents are typically available in ready-to-use spray bottles or concentrated forms that can be mixed with water and applied using a sprayer.

For areas like large-scale agricultural fields, you can not wait for traps and baits to work when gophers are significantly damaging your crops. To cover extensive areas quickly and in cases of emergency, you may benefit from the Gopher Blaster.

The Gopher Blaster is essentially a system that uses a combination of propane and oxygen gases to create explosions within gopher tunnels. The resulting controlled explosion sends a shockwave through the tunnel network, which eventually kills the gophers and collapses their burrows.

Ultrasonic devices emit sound waves at very high frequencies. These frequencies are uncomfortable or irritating to gophers, which makes them leave the area they are residing in.

Moreover, gophers also avoid these areas as the sound waves disrupt gophers' communication, navigation, and feeding patterns. The effectiveness of ultrasonic devices can however vary. 

Vibrating stakes operate on the principle of generating low-frequency vibrations. These vibrations are emitted into the ground through a stake or spike placed in the soil. As these vibrations travel through the soil, they create a disturbance that can be disruptive to gophers. 

Vibrating stakes are on the safer side (as they are not audible to humans and pets) than ultrasonic repellants that use high-frequency sound waves. The vibrations may not be effective in repelling gophers from very large areas. So, it's best to install vibrating stakes throughout your yard, not just around the perimeter.

Gopher-proof fencing is typically made of materials like galvanized steel or wire mesh with openings smaller than 3 inches. Also, the fencing should be buried into the ground to a depth of at least 18 inches.

This depth is crucial to prevent gophers from burrowing underneath the fence and accessing the protected area from below. A typical height of around 2 to 3 feet above ground can prevent gophers from climbing it. Gopher-proof fencing is highly effective in deterring gophers.

Gophers are small mammals that easily attract predators like weasels, coyotes and snake species, including bull snakes and rattlesnakes. To attract and support these properties on your property, you can focus on maintaining diverse habitats and creating a more inviting environment for wildlife.

Coyotes are opportunistic predators and use their keen sense of smell and hunting. They prefer areas with native vegetation providing cover and food sources. Bull snakes and rattlesnakes can be attracted by providing rocky areas, brush piles, and suitable burrowing sites.

If you find introducing a natural predator to your area impractical, you can also purchase predator scent to get rid of gophers! Coyote urine is a common predator scent used to deter gophers. It is typically collected from captive coyotes and formulated into a liquid or granular product. 

This is a humane method of deterring gophers and acts by modifying their behavior by triggering natural avoidance instincts. These products are easy to apply, simply spread them around the gopher-infested areas and require minimal effort compared to introducing and managing live predators.

Flooding the tunnels of gophers is another effective way to control them. In this method, we insert the hose or pour water directly into the gopher tunnel openings. If you're using a bucket, pour water directly into the tunnel.

The goal is to fill the tunnels with water to either flush out the gophers or drown them if they cannot escape. As you flood the tunnels, monitor the area closely. Depending on the complexity of the gopher tunnel network and the size of the infestation, you may need to repeat the process in different areas of your yard.

Gassing is generally more effective in smaller to moderate gopher infestations. In this method, the gopher tunnels are fumigated with toxic gases, typically using gas cartridges or smoke bombs designed specifically for gopher control. 

As we place the gas cartridges or smoke bombs into the main tunnel openings, it is essential to seal off secondary entrances using soil, rocks, or other materials to ensure the gases are contained within the tunnel system. Gases like carbon monoxide or aluminum phosphide diffuse through the tunnel system and lead to gopher's death.

There's a belief that gophers can't digest gums. The gum supposedly gums up their digestive system or causes an intestinal blockage, leading to their demise! Juicy Fruit gum as a method to control gophers is a popular home remedy.

Gophers are herbivores that primarily consume plant roots, bulbs, and vegetation found underground. Curious gophers when nibble on the gums for their artificial fruit flavors and sweeteners, can cause an intestinal obstruction as gophers' digestive systems lack the enzymes necessary to break down the gum's synthetic ingredients. 

Compacting the soil by mechanically pressing the soil reduces its porosity, making it harder for gophers to dig. This can be achieved using heavy equipment such as a roller or tamper, or manually with a garden roller.

Effective soil compaction typically involves compacting the soil to a depth where gophers typically tunnel. Compacting the soil to a depth of 6-12 inches is often recommended to target gopher activity zones. To maintain the deterrent effect over time, soil compaction needs to be periodically maintained especially in areas where gophers are persistent.

Gophers are attracted to areas with moist soil. Any kind of irrigation practices that keep the soil surface consistently moist or wet should be avoided in order to stop them.

It is also necessary to water early in the morning so that the soil surface dries out during the day. Avoid irrigation methods like sprinklers that keep the soil surface consistently moist. Instead of frequent and shallow watering, water deeply but less frequently to avoid consistent moisture.

Using hot pepper spray is a natural method to discourage gophers from digging in your garden. Capsaicin present in hot pepper can irritate the eyes, nose, and mouth of gophers, making them leave the area.

You can make your own hot pepper spray by mixing hot pepper flakes or chopped cayenne peppers with water and dish soap. Spray the solution around burrow openings and affected areas of your yard. Hot pepper spray serves more as a deterrent and is not a permanent solution.

Coffee Grounds have a strong scent and contain compounds that gophers hate! The aroma of the coffee aroma can mask or overpower the natural odors that gophers use to navigate and locate food sources.

This deters them from foraging in the treated areas. Caffeine and diterpenes present in coffee may be perceived as aversive by gophers, leading them to avoid areas where coffee grounds are applied.

Wire mesh with smaller openings is commonly used to deter gophers and other burrowing pests. These barriers can be used in areas prone to gopher activity, such as garden beds, orchards, and around sensitive plantings.

For installation, cover the perimeter of the areas of your choice and make sure the mesh is buried at least 12-18 inches deep to prevent gophers from tunneling underneath. Secure the mesh tightly to create a continuous barrier that gophers cannot penetrate.

The mechanism behind using vinegar as a repellent for gophers primarily revolves around its strong odor and acidic nature. This nature of vinegar can disrupt the sensitive olfactory and sensory systems of gophers.

As gophers strongly rely on their sense of smell to navigate, locate food sources, and communicate within their underground tunnels, vinegar can create a deterrent effect. 

Gopher baskets are also known as gopher wire baskets or planting baskets. These baskets are constructed from durable materials such as galvanized steel or stainless steel wire mesh and are essential tools for gardeners.

The primary function of gopher baskets is to create a protective barrier around the plant's root ball. Once in place, the basket is backfilled with soil, securely burying it at the top edge level with or slightly below the soil surface. One of the significant advantages of gopher baskets is their effectiveness in providing long-lasting protection without harming the plant itself.

Professional extermination is a reliable and effective way to deal with a gopher infestation, especially for severe cases or if you'd prefer not to handle the issue yourself.

These services are typically provided by pest control companies equipped with specialized knowledge, tools, and techniques needed for effective gopher removal and prevention.