You get rid of gophers in the garden by trapping them in their burrows, since gophers are solitary and do not bait well. Gophers leave fan-shaped mounds and eat plant roots, so the fix is a trap placed in the burrow. Here is what actually works.
- Gophers leave fan-shaped mounds, not volcano mounds like moles.
- Trapping in the burrow is the reliable fix.
- Gophers are solitary, so you are usually dealing with one per burrow.
- Repellents have mixed results.
Confirm It Is a Gopher
Gophers leave fan-shaped or crescent-shaped mounds with a plugged entrance hole to one side. Moles leave volcano-shaped mounds, and voles leave surface runways. Identify the culprit first.
Gophers eat plant roots and can pull a whole plant down into the burrow.
Trap the Burrow
Gopher traps are placed inside the burrow, not on the surface. Locate the main tunnel, set the trap, and check it daily. Still deciding whether to handle this yourself? My DIY vs. pro quiz asks five questions and gives you a straight answer.
Find the main tunnel. Probe near the mound to find the tunnel, then set the trap in it.
Two traps, facing both directions. Gophers use tunnels in both directions, so set two traps back to back for the best results.
Why Repellents Are Unreliable
Gophers are not strongly deterred by scent, and sonic spikes have mixed results. For a gopher already in the garden, a trap in the burrow is the fix.
Protect Plants
For small gardens, underground wire baskets around plant roots protect them from gophers while you trap the animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trap them in their burrows. Locate the main tunnel, set two traps facing both directions, and check daily.
Plant roots, bulbs, and tubers. Gophers pull plants down into their burrows to eat the roots.
They have mixed results, since gophers are not strongly deterred by scent. Trapping in the burrow is the reliable fix.
Usually one gopher per burrow system, since gophers are solitary and territorial.
