Pocket Gopher Problem...

[farmgirl3970]

I would like to plant some fruit trees in my pasture, but have a serious problem with the gophers eating the roots and killing everything...anyone else have a problem like this? what did you do to control them? any ideas would be appreciated....thanks

 

[crazyal]

Sorry can't help much but as soon as I read this the movie Caddyshack came to mind. Maybe you could hire Bill Murphy?

Do you want to kill them or just remove them? If you would rather not kill them I've heard of things like fox urine and live traps being used, don't know how well they work though. If you don't mind killing them then traps or poison will work. Think the trick is to find fresh holes to place the bait or traps at.

 

[beeforty]

I have been using Cinch traps to get rid of mine. Bought 6 and trapped 26 last fall:thumbsup: I have had great luck when I keep at it:laughing::laughing: just starting to get going again, biggest problem I was too lazy to get started they have too many tunnels Also when planting your trees make a "Gopher Basket" out of chicken wire to plant your trees in. I make a round tube of wire the size of my hole then fold in the bottom. By time the tree is established the wire will rust away but it will be big enough. you can also check out the Rodenator on you tube, pricey but I'd be afraid of blowing up my house

 

[moored4]

Go to the thread about black/king snakes in the chicken house and get them to loan you some and put them down the holes you got.
Would go a long ways to solving booth of the problems!:thumbsup:

 

[Perplexed]

Now the theme song from "Caddy Shack" is running through my head... thanks, CrazyAl!

I had quite a healthy population of pocket gophers on my property when I first moved in, two years ago. Since then, the use of box traps in the front, and the residence of several Labs in the fenced-in backyard, have put a serious kibosh in the gopher population. Sure, I had to fill in the canine-created craters in the backyard, but I've only seen one new gopher mound there in the past year. A box trap took care of that right away. None in the front yard yet this year, but I'm keeping the box traps handy.

 

[K9trainer]

farmgirl

I've had similar issues w / pocket gophers (chipmonks ) . I've used a product that is 99% strictnine (sp) . purchased at local feed/garden store ...not the big box stores they don't carry it .I mix it( granular form) with what the gophers are feeding on locally ...in sort of a paste w/ either peanut butter or honey...and place down holes and cover with small river rock.. I'm very very carful as to NOT let any out of holes ..as I love my Owls ,hawks and falcons...This strictnine kills incredibly fast .. I think I paid about 7$ a 12 oz.can
Tractor supply carries smoke bombs that do a good job to rid ground hogs & prarrie dogs ... package of 4 for $4

As mentioned b4 snakes allbeit creepy are your friends protect them to especially the non venom types... good luck!


k9

 

[jamtuc]

Check this out. no worries about chemicals for sure :thumbsup:


YouTube - Rodenator Pro, bunker buster

 

[bigballer]

i used to pinch trap these buggers when i was a kid, the township paid $1 per tail and i made quite a bit of money over the course of a couple summers doing this but mom didn't like the bag of tails in her freezer as i stockpiled them. i had a 3-wheeler to check my line and a really good black lab that i took along to dig the dirt away and find the hole. now i have a mole problem but this spring the barn cats have already taken over 15 of them (proving it by leaving them in the barn for us to find). never had much luck with the non-toxic stuff and too many pets around to use poison or other dangerous chemicals.

good luck!

 

[AHNC]

I got a bit frustrated with them years ago, so I got my big cutting torch with a big rosebud tip on it. Balanced the flame, snuffed it and buried the tip in the tunnel. Let it run for a bit, made a gunpowder fuse across the driveway, touched her off and was surprised at how many places had flames coming out of them. That said, don't do it in the dry season...or to close to house, barn etc!

 

[forgeblast]

Tree tubes pushed about 3-4 inches into the ground will stop them and give your trees a head start. also keeping the area around them(apples/fruit trees) about 6' circle will keep them away and give the preditors a chance to eat.