Gopher Gold

[SHV]

Die gopher! Nice picture.  I’m still waiting for my gopher snakes to wake up from their winter nap.  And boy, do I need the help. The gopher problem is overwhelming this year.   

[Epicatt2]

If you're also having a problem with squirrels in addition to gophers in California there's now a provider of the Goodnature Pest Control Traps, model A18 for squirrels and rats. (At the time of this writing I looked and it's on sale.)

It's not cheap, but was worth it to me since mine is helping to control squirrels here in Tampa (FL) that have been stripping my tree of all my 'Mexicola Grande' fruit before it ever ripens.  The two seasons before I got zilch off my tree. 

The Goodnature traps are quick, humane, and effective using no poisons. 

I have no monetary interest in these traps, I'm just a satisfied user, so here's a link to the California provider.
Gallagher Animal Management:
https://store.am.gallagher.com/am/us/en_US/animal-management/goodnature-rat-%26-mouse-traps/goodnature-a18-squirrel-trap-kit/p/GNK-A18-003

True, these traps are on the pricey side but they work, and I have found them well worth the cost.

OK — HTH

Paul M.
==

[Satya]

Can a trained dachschund be an easier and more effective solution? Seems like a lot of work and disappointment    so sorry for your plant losses.

[SanDiegoCherimoya]

Gophenator traps are the way to go like Brad mentioned. You need an inventory of at least four. Sometimes you set traps going both directions. I've had a lot of success leaving the hole uncovered. The gopher will try to plug up the opening from the light and that's when you get it. I've killed atleast 80 in the last two months with just 4 traps.

[K-Rimes]

It's been really quiet for gophers for me this year. I caught a female last week right in her den, took about a week of trying a variety of traps but it was a mole size Trapline that got her. Usually by this time I'd be at 15 or so gophers, but I'm under 10 since Jan 1. I have found some good technique with moles and finally handling those, probably at 6 or so for this year, but a few more to go.

Re: inventory: I have 5 gopherhawks, 4 black hole, 10 gophinator, 10 mole'inator, and probably 6-8 quick set Victors. I trap all over my property and over onto my neighbor's, and even off the side highway I live beside now, so if there are a few trouble zones I can deploy a bunch. Sometimes gophers are smarter than the average and will figure out to avoid certain traps, and I'll try a different time.

In order of kills:

1. Victor quick set
2. Gopher hawk
3. Gophinator
4. Black hole

Looking forward to deploying more of the gophinators this year and retiring some of my mangled Victors.

[SHV]

Gone for just a few weeks over the holidays and come home to this shit…







3.5 year old trees scheduled for top working this Spring, wasted.  Gophers are learning how to get around the wire baskets or just mow right through the tap roots. Clever girl.

[K-Rimes]

My new spot has a LOT of gophers ugh. They are also way harder to catch than my old place. Been chasing a big one for the last week.

Hope to nail it tonight. It has set off and filled holes 3x.

[SHV]

Good luck with clearing them on your new property.  Every once in a while there is one wily tunnel rat that pushes dirt in the traps or leaves just a little bit of hair behind to frustrate you.  We need to wipe those genetics from the pool. 

[spaugh]

Make sure your trapline traps are triggering properly.  Sometimes the little part the spring hooks too is pushed too far forward and it can interfere with the trigger.

Also add some nice green weeds or a carrot to the trap and then fully block off the hole the trap is in to block the light. 

Also find a tunnel and put a trap in each direcrion helps. 

[K-Rimes]

Finally got it. Weird situation which I hadn't seen before, it went ass first into a gopherhawk. It was not a clean kill at all. Anyways, onto the next!

[K-Rimes]

Trophy size gophers here at Hollister Ranch. This has to be one of the biggest I’ve ever seen or caught. Locking in #7 in 3 weeks. Trapping on 20 acres is a daunting task but I’m built for this.

[Rain]

Gone for just a few weeks over the holidays and come home to this shit…







3.5 year old trees scheduled for top working this Spring, wasted.  Gophers are learning how to get around the wire baskets or just mow right through the tap roots. Clever girl.

Dang, what the heck. I didnt know it could cost this kind of damage.

[SHV]

And then some.  I ended up trapping the one that did all this damage.  He was a real heavyweight.   I swear, you trap one and 2 take their place.  F-ing hydra gophers. 

[ScottR]

Nice one Kevin, I also find calif. poppy's with root are great attractant for gophers  

[K-Rimes]

I am very close to 80 gophers caught this year at the ranch I moved to. This is 77 or 78. Two today. Mostly catching more juvenile sized ones, but they all count.

Truly feeling like an assassin this year!

I would say it's probably:

50% Macabee
30% Trap Line
10% Victor Quickset
5% Gopher Hawk
5% Black Hole

[Oolie]

Excellent numbers for only June, you've really put the time in.

As the weather dries (if ever) and the soil firms up, you will find the trap line traps pulling more weight. the benefit over the macabee and victors isn't just the lack of material felt by the gopher, it's also the ease of setting and lack of damage it causes to the walls when setting. I think the gophers become more cautious when they sense changes, but it may be that I've only allowed the most cautious ones to remain.

Eventually the numbers on you will be catching drop, and they get better about pushing dirt into the trap at any disturbance. Then you must use indescriminate methods like CO poisioning.

[K-Rimes]

Excellent numbers for only June, you've really put the time in.

As the weather dries (if ever) and the soil firms up, you will find the trap line traps pulling more weight. the benefit over the macabee and victors isn't just the lack of material felt by the gopher, it's also the ease of setting and lack of damage it causes to the walls when setting. I think the gophers become more cautious when they sense changes, but it may be that I've only allowed the most cautious ones to remain.

Eventually the numbers on you will be catching drop, and they get better about pushing dirt into the trap at any disturbance. Then you must use indescriminate methods like CO poisioning.

I was putting in an enormous effort, an hour a day more or less. Often with 4-5 trapping areas at once. I think I got the vast majority of adult gophers, I am just catching pipsqueaks now. They are much harder to trap since they don't set off the trap every time and after a few close calls they get wary. I know it's an infinite number there, but at least if I can clear out the core of the property, I can put my focus more into the edges.

No one has trapped gophers at the property ever, since 1976, and despite letting them run free the orchard is incredibly productive. Last year 17,000lb of Hass.

[dolomis]

What the hell is 80 compared to those numbers . Those gophers will be calling reinforcements shortly

[spaugh]

I have only caught 2 gophers this year.  Last year I had it really clean after around 15 kills.  Now it is even less this year.  But my next door neighbor has them and lets them breed in his lawn so I get some of his coming over to my side thats about it.

I get them everytime with the large mole size traplines.

[K-Rimes]

I knew it was coming. My first loss to gophers. All good tho, from one, many. This was a St Rita cutting from 2022, which was free, so not much of a loss really. Trap went off in the hole but no body so I assume a small juvenile. No mounds or signs of it around the victim. I’ll get it.

[SHV]

Caught these guys sunbathing on a warm fall morning



Rain soaked soil makes trapping these guys like shooting fish in the barrel.

[ScottR]

Nice catches all, mine aways disappear when I leave them out to sun bath

[K-Rimes]

I lost a few more of my figs to gophers over the last few weeks. Not a big deal,  from one eaten fig I get another 20-30 rooted cuttings! They will not keep up with me.

I am starting to see more activity at the ranch and getting my traps out again. I am rounding over to about 90 caught there, so 100 catches is in sight!

[K-Rimes]

Back on the trapline. Have about 5 trap sites going right now, that’s just scratching the surface. I started the season with around 87 trapped on this property and look forward to 100.

[EddieF]

Any of you have major weevil problems?  I do & wonder if gopher here is sign of them.
I see tunnels going straight to a few of my mangos & weevils in larve? stage feed on roots so i read.