- The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources states that mounds of fresh soil are the clearest indicator of gopher activity. The mounds are formed when gophers dig tunnels and move dirt to the surface. The shape of the mounds is also important; look for mounds that have a crescent or horseshoe shape with a plugged hole off to the side.
- The most obvious lawn damage sustained from gophers is the unsightly mounds of dirt. The unearthed soil and grass must be replaced, often repeatedly, and widely if damaged is not quickly contained. Gophers are particularly evident in lawns during periods when a lawn is irrigated.
- For best results, employ a control method as soon as gopher activity is detected. According to the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the most common tactics include using traps and poisonous baits. Setting traps out near the main tunnel helps to ensure the best success. The two most common types of traps are the two-pronged, pincher traps and the choker-style box trap. Toxic baits filled with either strychnine-treated grain or anticoagulants are additional options for controlling gophers. To use baits successfully, it is important to place them in the right area, inside the main underground tunnel. Exclusion, fumigation, flooding and allowing predators to remove the pests may work but not always as effectively.
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