Gopher Protection in Vegetable Gardens

Gophers are a common pest in gardens.

Gophers are troublesome garden pests. They can dig through a vegetable garden, eating the roots of plants or taking the plant whole, without being seen. Their holes create large mounds of dirt in garden beds and walkways, and their tunnels can collapse underfoot, creating a hazard for passersby. Gopher protection in vegetable gardens starts with locating the gophers and then getting rid of the animals using methods ranging from safe and natural to toxic.

Probing

A report by the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program explains that a gopher probe is used to locate gophers in a garden. A gopher probe is a long piece of metal that has a head wider than the shaft. The probing process involves locating one of the fresh mounds of dirt that are the closed ends of a lateral tunnel and probing down six to 12 inches, approximately eight to 12 inches away from the mound. A sudden drop of about two inches when probing indicates you have found the main burrow.

Trapping

Trapping gophers is a safe and effective method to control gopher populations. The two most common trap styles are a two-pronged design that is set off by a vertical pan and a choker-style box trap that snaps shut behind the gopher. Traps are most effective if placed in pairs and facing opposite directions. Dig open the main burrow and place one at either end to capture the gopher regardless of which way he comes in.

Toxic Bait

Toxic bait is most effective if it is placed within the main gopher tunnel. Widen the hole to allow the bait to fit into the tunnel, then cover the hole with a rock or sod, something that will block light while not allowing dirt to fall on to the bait. If new mounds appear two days after baiting with strychnine, you will need to re-bait or trap the gophers. Toxic baits are dangerous and should be used carefully according to the directions.

Fencing

Burying a fence around a vegetable garden can help protect it against gophers. Use 3/4-inch mesh chicken wire or hardware cloth buried at least two feet deep, making sure to have an extra six inches on the bottom to bend outward at 90 degrees. Extending the fencing one foot above ground will also help to deter gophers from moving across land into the garden. Fencing off the garden is not a perfect solution, because a determined gopher can always dig under the fence.

Natural Control

The simplest method of controlling gophers is to rely on natural predators, such as owls and snakes, to hunt down the pests. You can increase the likely presence of owls by placing owl boxes in or near the garden. However, natural predators are not the most effective way to protect your garden, since owls tend to look for easy, visible prey and snakes can be blocked from a gopher tunnel by an earth plug.

References

• University of California Integrated Pest Management Program: Pocket Gophers Management Guidelines