Gopher
Wars
By Mary Giambalvo, Master Gardener
The pocket gopher is the one creature in nature with which I cannot resign to
co-exist. I declared war several decades
ago as I helplessly watched a newly planted apple tree shudder and slowly
topple over on a breezeless day, its roots gnawed to oblivion. Since then we've lost countless food and
ornamental plants, vines and trees to those persistent varmints, but I have
fought back, sometimes successfully.
Know your enemy. The pocket gopher lives
almost entirely underground and does its work year-round. In an irrigated area, a female can produce up
to three litters of about six offspring each year. You don't have to do the math to know that
the army can grow to alarming numbers in a short time. It pays to trap early and often.
While gophers can be controlled by any legal method, the most common are traps
and/or poisons. If poisons are used be
sure to follow label instructions and keep safety of children and pets
foremost.
There are a number of trap designs. The
Macabee is the most widely used trap and is available at garden centers. I have fourteen, and they are in use most of
the year. It is a good idea to attach a
chain to the trap at one end and a sturdy metal stake at the other. This prevents the trap from being dragged
down out of reach.
To set traps, look for a fresh mound in a sort of crescent shape. You'll see the plugged hole on one side. Take a large metal probe with a pointed end,
and poke around about 8 to 12 inches away from the mound. You can use the stake attached to the chain
for probing if it is large enough. Suddenly,
the ground will give, and you have found a tunnel. Dig down with a narrow, pointed trowel until
you have found the run going in at least two directions.
Set the traps facing in opposite directions.
Experts say you don't have to bait the traps, but I add a bit of carrot
or apple to lure the enemy in. A 12 x 12
inch square of plywood is a good material to cover the open hole you have dug. It keeps the area dark and prevents dirt from
collapsing the tunnel. To remind you
where you left the trap, plant one of those brightly colored little flags on
wire sticks that highway crews use.
Should you successfully snag the little guy, use pliers to release the trap and
shove him back down the hole. If nothing
else, he can fertilize your next plant. It
is only fair. My personal best is 54 in
one year; however, the war goes on. The
apple tree will be avenged.
For an excellent detailed free publication on pocket gophers, you can access
and download Publication #7433 online at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7433.html
or call the Master Gardener Helpline at the numbers below.