Pocket Gopher Information

Pocket Gophers and their natural function
Pocket gophers, or geomys, have a fairly large family line. Usually named for their locality, they represent a very large, and slightly diverse portion of the tunneling rodents in the country. Pocket gophers have an important function in the natural world as plows and aerifiers of the plains areas, with the exception of true blackland prairie, which seems to prevent the geomys altogether.

Pocket gopher prevention
Their function in the wide open spaces need not be disputed, but when it comes to having them in your Saint Augustine lawn, they have got to go! There are very few options when it comes to preventing gophers from attacking a lawn, with exclusion being the most practical, but also, very difficult. This involves installing an underground barrier, usually of galvanized hardware cloth around the area to be protected. Proper installation requires the out turning of the barrier at the bottom for several inches, to discourage the rodent from digging under the barrier. The gopher will dig to the barrier, find the barrier, and try to go under by digging parallel and downward. When he reaches the out turned edge, he will move away from the barrier.

Pocket gopher removal.
A variety of ideas and gadgets have been created for the elimination of pocket gophers:
1. Strychnine laced grains

5. Devices to fill the tunnel with explosive gasses, and ignite to kill them with explosive shock waves.

6. Devices which attempt to suffocate the rodents with carbon monoxide.

7. A million home remedies, most of them being as useless as they are amusing.

Best option
The best way to deal with pocket gophers, is to trap them. This provides solid proof that at least one of the lawn terrorists has met his match.
The poisoned grain has some good results in reducing populations, but does not offer the security of knowing for certain that they are gone, and not recuperating in a nest somewhere. There is also the slight risk that one of the poisoned creatures could make it to the surface only to be eaten by the family pet, who could then suffer the fate intended for the gopher. This is a pretty small chance, but it has happened.

The smoke method has some validity, but is rarely conclusive. I have used it in conjunction with flooding in a last ditch attempt to get rid of one that had proven to be the most elusive of my long career. The animal never returned, so I must assume success.

Repellents, electronic devices, and the home remedies, while being amusing, are mostly ineffective, and some downright dangerous. I think that some of these things may have had a background as an elaborate practical joke, which replays itself to each new generation, with roots similar to those of catching a bird by pouring salt on its tail feathers, or putting nothing in your ear except your elbow.

In conclusion, trapping is the only sure fire, safe method of getting rid of pocket gophers.

Gopher Service  More About Gophers  Gopher Mole Notes How To Trap Gophers

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