Gophers

[M. Sullivan]

Help. Now that the snow has melted found I have some of the nastiest little guys in years. Previously would get a handful of exit holes--simply drove over them and went about my way. This time, have networks of tunnels just a couple inches below grade. They have to go! Not even sure what I have. The 'exit holes' are about 9" in diamteter and 6" high, the new tunnels are about 2" diameter. Will try about anyhing that won't bring the bomb squad over. Thanks in advance.

 

[jimmoore]

Sounds like you have moles. they make about 2" tunnels just under the ground and ever so often they surface and leave mounds of dirt about the size you described. Best way to get rid of moles is to spray the yard with an insecticide to kill under ground insects and grubs. That is what they feed on and when the food supply is gone the moles will leave town!!

jim

 

[Bird]

M.Sullivan, are they really gophers, or are they moles? I don't know much about either, but Padre and Mustang Islands have long had a gopher problem, and we were amused when we stayed in an RV park there and noticed one of the bold print park rules was "DON'T FEED THE CATS". They had quite a number of cats in the park and wanted them to kill gophers. And then we discovered at the golf course, when you paid your green fees they were giving each golfer a handful of bubble gum and asking that they unwrap and drop a piece in any gopher hole they found. The gophers would supposedly eat it, couldn't pass it, and it would kill them. But the golf course discontinued that practice after a short time because some of the animal rights folks complained that such a method was animal cruelty. And I don't know how well either system worked.

Bird

 

[Thomas]

If they should be moles late autumn would be the best time to handy your problem.
I spread wood ashes on the lawn etc and it does help,also when the moles have move on than the shunks will appear from there hibernation and seek out the grubs etc../w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif


Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[ERNIEB]

About half of my place is sand running 1 to about 3 feet deep. It's great habitat for gophers and moles. My Parents place is about the same. I pretty much ignore them, my Dad when he was alive, fought them non stop. This much I can tell you.
As to gophers or moles, its fairly easy to tell which you have. Gophers will have large mounds at the ends of their tunnels. At times you will see an opening in the mound, a good indication that the critter is near and working on that part of the tunnel. They close it up when they move to a different area. Moles only dig enough to get under ground a few inches. Their path is easy to see, as the ground protrudes as they move along. If you step on it is sinks down.
To my mind, moles are not near as troublesome as gophers. The best way to get rid of them is the method previously mentioned. Get rid of the bugs, grubs, and worms in area, their food source.
Gophers, are another story. Most of the feed stores around here sell gopher bait, basically poisoned seeds, or peanuts. You have to find the gophers tunnel and poke a hole down to it, and drop in a few morsels of the bait. Cover the hole without caving in the tunnel, light would keep the gopher away. Gopher eat seeds and is history.
The thing is, unless your neighbors get rid of their gophers, they'll be back. I made my dad a sort of walking stick out of 1/2 copper pipe to make the holes into the tunnel. When he saw one digging, he would go to the area and poke around untill he pierced the tunnel, you can feel it when you hit the tunnel. He always kept bait on hand, and in this fashion he was able to at least control the pests. But it was an ongoing thing. Sometimes I see a new mound starting, and dirt flying up out of the mound. I get my 22, and sit quietly until Mr. gopher sticks his head up. Good target practice.
We had cats when we first moved here. One cat became an accomplished hunter. She brought us mice, rats, birds, and even baby bunnies, but alas never a gopher.
Some of the larger farms and ranches use a device that hooks to the 3 point on a tractor, it is something more than a plow, and it makes tunnels. It also has a seeder like thing on it, that is loaded with the poison seeds. It makes tunnels and baits them. Evidently, the gophers will use these man made tunnels.
That is about all I know about gophers, and thats what I think you have.

Ernie
"I dont like being hemmed up, I think we should march out onto that prairie" David Crockett

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

M. Sullivan

If they are moles read on, if not bail. Jim is right saturate the ground with diazion, kill all the subterranean critters and they will move on, not the best tatic for the soil or the environment. The sticks that you light and throw down the holes emitt the five lethal gases of Nitrogen and don't work. The field will cover with a blue haze and in couple days they are back. The poison tablets they sell don't work. I have heard of Bird's suggestion but the gum used was juicy friut./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The Northwest has an abundance of Townsend's moles. They are about 8-9 inches long with a short 1-2 inch tail. They are blackish brown in color. They feed on worms and other invertabrates. They don't feed on plant roots but will damage them with their tunnels. I trap 20 to 30 a year in my garden.
I use the scissor trap they cost about $10 apiece. There are a lot of different traps, the scissor is the cheapest and the best. In the fields I don't bother. In the garden, the runs make it impossible to keep things watered.

I set five traps, but the vast majority will be caught by one or two traps. Find a main run, one which goes both directions. Putting a trap in the exit mounds seldom will catch one. Don't handle the traps with your bare hands. I place new traps in the fire until they are good an hot, not enough to take the temper from the spring. After you have found a run, dig a hole big enough to hold the trap, about 6 inches in diameter. Hard pack a ball of dirt a little smaller than a baseball and place it in the run. Set the flat trigger of the trap over the hard packed ball. Cover with rock free loose dirt enough so the top of the trap can just be seen from above the ground. This allows you to check if it has sprung. This usually will take a couple of attempts because you will spring the trap. Try to set the trap so it has a hair trigger. The idea is to make the going tough for the little critter underneath the trigger of the trap.

A much tougher critter to catch in this area is the Mountain Beaver. This little fellows likes plant roots and the more expensive the plant the better they like it.

These links will tell you more.

http://www.themoleman.com/index.html
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1577/16376

 

[Boondox]

I've always had good luck with ammonia and bleach. Expose the tunnel, toss in two cups of each and cover the hole. Generates chlorine gas, which being heavier than air sinks down into the depths of the burrow. Just don't breathe the stuff, and don't mix it outside of the burrow.

Doesn't kill the soil or any of the little surface flora and fauna. Sinks right down deep and does its business.

Pete (who learned chemical warfare from the Marine Corps)
www.gatewaytovermont.com

 

[jyoutz]

Boy, oh boy am I familiar with gophers. I've lost more tree and shrub plantings to them than I can count. I've tried everything with varying degrees of success. The most effective treatment I have found is to bait them with stryknine treated grain. Just probe in a circle around fresh mounds with a sharp metal object to find the tunnel. When you do, just drop a few tablespoons of grain into the tunnel and cover the hole with a small rock. You have to keep at it by baiting the freshest mounds almost on a daily basis. You will eventually have them under control. Mine are gone now, but every year, I get a few strays that wander in from neighboring property. I take care of them quick. If you keep on top of new holes, you can pretty much eliminate the damage. I actually bought a tool called a "gopher getter" made by Elston Co. This permits you to screw on a pound can of bait to a long probe. A pull of a T-handle, drops the grain into the hole. Baiting is really the only effective way to kill gophers in mass numbers. I've tried trapping and caught a few. But, this is nearly a full time job, and I'm not retired yet. Nothing else I've tried has been effective, and I have heard of (and tried) numerous other solutions.

 

[bsauter]

Boondox, how much ammonia and bleach do you mix at a time? I suppose you get a gallon jug of each and pour it in the hole and cover. Do you use that much?

Brad, Kubota L3010HST, loader, R4 tires
Pictures at http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=179207&a=9183978

 

[Boondox]

Brad -- I use about a quart per hole, and cover it quickly. The stuff is nasty! They can escape by coming up for air at another hole, but the gas generally makes them seek safer turf.

Pete