The characteristic fan-shaped mounds, which may be 18 to 24 inches in diameter and about 6 inches high, are at the ends of short lateral tunnels branching off the main runway. The surface opening, through which soil is pushed from the tunnel, is finally plugged by soil pushed into it from below, leaving a small circular depression on one side of the mound. Generally, the entire lateral is then filled to the main tunnel.

The placement of these mounds often gives a clue to the position of the main tunnel, which usually does not lie directly under any mound. One pocket gopher may make as many as 200 soil mounds per year. The most active mound building time is during the spring. And here’s the really bad news–gophers do not hibernate.

There are many home remedies to repel gophers, including planting gopher repellent plants or putting substances in gopher tunnels such as cat litter or rags soaked in pine oil. But they rarely produce the desired results.

But the most cost effective way to kill gophers quickly and in large numbers is with prepared poisoned bait, or the use of gopher traps. The baits usually contain grains such as corn, oat and wheat along with small pieces of fruit or dried vegetables. Simply drop the bait into the underground runways (beyond the hole) and then cover them with dirt to keep to keep out light and air. Make one application for every four to six fresh mounds. The same instructions apply for gopher traps.

It’s important to act quickly once you see signs of gopher activity, because once a tunnel system is in place, other gophers will quickly replace any you drive away.

What attracts Gophers to your yard?

• A Gopher’s eyesight is poor from being underground its entire life. It moves around by feeling vibration.
• Irrigation lines vibrate when water passes thru lines. Irrigation valves vibrate when in operation.
• When weeds outside of landscaped areas die, gophers are attracted to your landscape from irrigation line vibrations.
• Gophers are attracted to battery operated vibration devices.
• Gophers can be driven into your property by heavy equipment operating next to your property.

Baiting

• Use baits such as WILCO GOPHER BAIT for effective bait.
• The amount of bait needed depends on size of infestation.
• Tools to use – metal probe 1/4 inch to 3/8, small funnel, spoon or funnel, gloves (protect your hands when handling bait).
• Use a probe to locate the gophers’ tunnel. Tunnels can be easily found in between dirt mounds. Find tunnels that are usually 6 to 12 inches deep. Place the funnel with probe into hole you have made. Put 1 teaspoon of bait into funnel to place into the gophers’ tunnel. Seal the hole with paper covered with dirt, or anyway you can without too much dirt falling onto bait. 1 placement for every 2 mounds.

Trapping

• The Macabee and Gopher Hawk are the most effective traps for gophers.
• Tools to use – narrow digging spade, metal probe, Macabee traps, something to cover holes for traps, stake and string.
• Find gophers’ tunnel with probe using your spade or digging tool. Open up the tunnel without destroying its size or width. Make the opening big enough for you to place 2 Macabee traps in either tunnel direction; you don’t know what direction the gopher is tunneling from. Secure traps to a stake in case the gopher tries to take off with the trap still attached. Cover opening.  USING THE TRAPS IN PAIRS IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRAP WITH SUCCESS.