Gopher

Pocket Gophers are burrowing rodents, named for the fur-lined pouches or “pockets” outside of their mouth, which are used for carrying food and nesting materials. They have a short neck with a small, flat head and large front teeth (incisors).

Identification

• There are more than 40 species of gophers in North and Central America.
• Lips can be closed behind front teeth to exclude dirt from mouth while digging with incisors.
• Length: 7”-10”.
• Weight: 3-5 oz.
• Colors range from light to dark brown.

Behavior

• Burrows can cover 200 to 2000 sq. ft.
• Tunnel diameter is 2.5” to 3.5”.
• Feeding tunnels are approximately 6” to 12” deep.
• Nesting and food caches may be as deep as 6 ft.
• Gopher mounds are usually identifiable by their by fan-shape and tunnel entrances are plugged to keep intruders out of burrows
• Gophers do not hibernate.
• They lead a solitary life except during breeding.
• Gophers are herbivores, feeding on plants, shrubs, trees, roots – they do not eat insects.

Problems

• Several studies have identified a measurable economic loss of forage due to gopher activity
• Gopher burrows cause damage in many ways, including destroying underground utility lines and irrigation pipe.
• Gopher mounds may cause damage to machinery or equipment
• Mounds can choke off forage or provide seedbeds for invasive plant species
• Gophers damage trees by girdling, pruning roots, and possibly exposing roots due to burrowing.
• In irrigated areas, gopher tunnels can channel water runoff, causing loss of irrigation water.

Reproduction

• Reach sexual maturity at 1 year old and live for about 3 years.
• Females produce 1 to 3 litters per year in irrigated sites, averaging 5 to 6 pups.
• One mating pair can produce 18 pups per year.

Control Methods

• Trapping
  • Can be effective, but only on small populations.
  • Requires extensive maintenance and monitoring.
  • Proper technique and knowledge of the animal are critical to success.
  • Control typically requires multiple traps, which is costly.
  • Can be extremely dangerous around children and pets.
• Repellents
  • Include water-in types, fumigants, mechanical and ultrasonic devices.
  • Completely ineffective.
  • May show some initial, short-term results, but the animals typically return in a few days.
• Poison Baits
  • Rodenticides are the most effective and economical choice for Gopher control
  • ZP AG is an acute product registered for use on gophers
  • Contains 2% Zinc Phosphide as the active ingredient
  • ZP Ag is a Restricted Use Pesticide – see product label for complete application details & species
• Baiting Techniques
  • Bait must be applied directly into Gopher’s underground burrow system.
  • Hand baiting: 1 teaspoon applied at 2 to 4 locations using a probe into the underground runway.
  • Mechanical baiting with a burrow-builder: Drop a teaspoon quantity of bait at 4 to 5 foot intervals into artificial burrow (approximately 2 to 3 pounds per acre).