POCKET GOPHER CONTROL

Press Release Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service 1304 West Stevens Carlsbad, NM 88220 For More Information, Contact: Woods Houghton, Eddy County Agriculture Agent Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service Phone: 575-887-6595 Fax: 575-887-3795 whoughto@nmsu.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE POCKET GOPHER CONTROL Do you have mysterious mounds showing up in your yard? Well I do and I have had numerous calls this past week. The first question I ask is, ”are the holes in the mound plugged or open?” If the holes are plugged you most likely have pocket gophers. There are four different species in New Mexico. Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents, which live almost entirely underground. They are well adapted to their underground existence, with stout forelegs and strong curved claws for digging. They have prominent, yellow teeth and large fur lined external cheek pouches in which food is carried. They are basically lawn and yard landscaping terrorists. If the hole is open, you could have prairie dogs or ground squirrels and control methods are a little different. I have never found a mole in Eddy County. A single gopher may have a burrow system 800 feet or longer and can cover an acre of land. The tunnels are 2 to 5 inches in diameter and 4 to 15 inches below surface. The gopher pushes soil from the burrow to the surface with it forefeet and chest, this forms a characteristic horseshoe shaped mound 8 to 24 inches in diameter and 6 inches high or so. The mounds are at short lateral tunnel which branches off the main runway and the surface opening is plugged by pushing dirt into it, resulting in a depression on one side of the mound. For gophers this is real important, the plug keeps out predators such as snakes. The gopher’s diet mainly consists of fleshy roots of various plants, including trees, but prefer potatoes, peanuts. They are known to pull green tops and seeds down into their burrows, just like in the cartoons. In some places and some conditions gophers are beneficial to the soil. One gopher can in one year move 2 1/2 tons of soil. This process however can be damaging to cultivated farming and landscapes. Controlling pocket gophers should be conducted in the spring or the fall when gophers are most active near the surface. In the summer they are deeper due to the heat. There are two methods of control, Mechanical, or Chemical. The most common type of mechanical control is trapping. There are a number of different traps but the two most common are the Macabee, and DK-1 trap. I prefer the DK-1 trap. Both types are available at local feed stores and come with instructions. Success depends upon proper placement! Here are some suggestions: 1. Locate the newest mound or series of mounds. 2. Locate the main runway by probing the soil with a bluntly pointed probe, (Philips screw driver), 6-8 inches from the mound, on the side of the horseshoe depression. When the probe hits the runway the release of ground friction will be felt. Simply it goes in fast. Women walking in high heels will find them too. 3. Dig down with a trowel or shovel to locate the runway and place the traps. With a DK-1 trap leave the hole open and place the trap in the lateral or you can place the same as a Macabee. With the Macabee two traps must be placed one facing each direction. I used to tell people they need to cover the hole but recent research presented by Dr. Smallidge NMSU wild life specialist indicates this is not necessary. Traps should be checked often but at least every day. I have used this same technique with the DK-1 as well. Chemical control includes baits and fumigants. If baiting with poison grain locate the main burrow the same as under mechanical control. Pre-bait with un-poisoned grain for two-days or so then put in the poison grain. Care need to be applied to make sure bait does not affect non-target animals such as pets, and other wildlife. Also I would avoid use of baits if Children are around. Fumigants include carbon monoxide gas cartridges if labeled for gophers. Many manufactures have dropped their gopher label because they are not real effective. Other fumigants include Aluminum phosphide, which require a pesticide license and a fumigation plan. Do not use fumigant near inhabited buildings! Recently there have been propane or acetylene gas exploders, which are considered a fumigant, lots of fun, not real effective however. Ultra sonic device are not legal for sale in New Mexico due to the lack of third party scientific evidence that they work. It is not illegal to use them in New Mexico, but it is illegal for them to be sold, or shipped into New Mexico. These products are considered pesticide under the New Mexico pest control act and as such are regulated by New Mexico Department of Agriculture. If the manufactures could produce scientific data for effectiveness they would be allowed. I did have one farmer comment that his wife bought a gopher/mole chaser to protect her garden; the next day there was a mound right next to it. She sent it back. I prefer DK-1 traps for gofer control it is safer and effective. I also like knowing for sure that I have this little underground terrorist. For more information Contact your Local County Extension office a publication is also available on the web at http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/L-109.pdf . This and all programs are available to everyone regardless of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating “to put knowledge to work”.