- Author: Lauren Fordyce
- Contributor: Roger A Baldwin
In this blog article we answer some frequently asked questions about moles, voles, and gophers and their management.
How can I tell if I have moles, voles, gophers, or something else?
Moles: look for circular or volcano-shaped mounds with the plug in the middle, or a plug may not be apparent. The soil of mole mounds tends to be clumpier than gophers. Moles sometimes leave a raised ridge just beneath the soil surface while hunting for food.
Voles: look for aboveground runways that connect burrow openings. Grass usually covers the burrows. Voles can girdle trees aboveground while gophers girdle trees belowground.
Gophers: look for crescent or horse-shoe shaped mounds with a plug off to one side. Tunnels are 6-12 inches below ground.
Can gophers climb fences or into raised garden beds?
To some extent, yes. It is important to have an above-ground exclusionary device in place to keep them out of desired areas. Usually 12 inches of fencing is sufficient since they are not great climbers.
Should I use gopher baskets or underground fencing?
Gopher baskets can be used to protect individual plants. Underground fencing might be justified for valuable ornamental shrubs, landscape trees, or garden beds. Keep in mind metal wire will rust and disintegrate after several years to prevent plant roots from being strangled. Galvanized wire, and especially stainless-steel wire, will last much longer. Read more on gopher exclusion. For voles, wire fences or aluminum flashing around gardens can be effective. Learn more about vole exclusion. Installing a vertical underground barrier may provide temporary relief for moles. Read more about mole exclusion.
Should I treat the soil to remove insects or grubs to prevent moles, voles, and gophers from feeding?
Treating the soil with an insecticide would have no impact on gophers or voles because they feed on plant material, not insects. Doing so might reduce mole activity, but the effectiveness of this approach has not been proven.
What plants deter these pests?
Plants, including Euphorbia lathyrus, castor bean, Ricinus communis, and garlic have not proven through conducted research trials to be effective at protecting plantings from moles, voles, or gophers.
Are there any natural repellents that work?
Repellents containing castor oil have shown some repellency for moles in the eastern U.S., but their effectiveness against moles in CA is unknown. No other repellents have proven effective at protecting gardens or other plantings from moles, voles, or gophers. They are also not practical as you must apply them before damage occurs and some products may not be labeled for use on edible plants.
What traps are most effective?
The most effective trap is going to depend on which animal is present.
For gophers, 2-pronged pincer traps, such as the Macabee, Cinch, or Gophinator, can be used. Another popular type is the choker-style trap, such as the Gopherhawk. Learn more about gopher traps. For voles, a standard mouse trap can be effective. Learn how to place traps correctly. Harpoon, scissor-jaw, and pincer-style traps can be used for moles. Learn more about trapping moles.
Can I flood their burrow to kill them?
Flooding mole and vole burrows is ineffective at controlling them. For gophers, flooding can force them out of their burrows but you must kill them when they exit the burrow, otherwise they will return once it dries out. Since their burrows can be extensive and deep, flooding is usually just a waste of water.
What fumigants can I use?
Burrow fumigants with smoke or gas are not effective for moles, voles, or gophers.
The general public cannot use aluminum phosphide. This is a restricted use pesticide and often cannot be used in residential areas. You must have a pesticide applicator license to use it.
Pressurized exhaust machines and carbon dioxide injection devices are expensive and only practical for large infestations.
Are poison baits dangerous for nontarget wildlife and predators? How can they be used safely?
Toxic baits can harm nontarget wildlife, but since baits are placed inside burrows and the pest usually dies inside the burrow, predators and other wildlife are less likely to encounter the toxic bait and poisoned animals. Certain baits, known as first-generation anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin and chlorophacinone) generally require consumption over the course of several days to be effective–making them a potentially safer option. Always be sure to read the product label and make sure it will work against your specific pest, and be sure to understand the potential risks when using these toxicants. Note that not all products are legal for all 3 pests.
Will predatory birds, dogs, or cats control them?
Many predators including coyotes, foxes, badgers, weasels, cats, gulls, and especially hawks and owls eat voles and gophers. However, in most cases predators can't keep their populations below damaging levels. Installing barn owl boxes will likely not be enough to control these burrowing animals in urban settings either.
Do ultrasonic, sound-emitting, or vibrating devices work?
Electromagnetic or ultrasonic devices settings are ineffective against voles. Gophers and moles are not frightened by these devices.
How can you tell if a burrow or mound is active?
For moles and gophers, always look for the freshest activity as indicated by moist soil on the mound. The fresher the mound, the more likely the animal is still using the tunnel. For voles, look for fresh grass clippings and fecal pellets around burrow entrances and along runways.
How do I prevent moles, voles, and gophers from establishing?
Limit dense vegetation including weeds and heavy mulch that provide them protection. They are less common in non-vegetated areas.
How can you dispose of dead moles, voles, or gophers?
Bury them or place in a plastic bag in the trash. Never touch them with your bare hands as they can carry infectious pathogens and parasites.
To learn more about management of these pests, visit the Pest Notes fact sheets below:
Questions for this FAQ collected from the Moles, Voles, and Gophers webinar on May 16th, 2024.
- Author: Lauren Fordyce
Do you feel like something is biting you? Have red swollen spots on your skin?
There are many biting and stinging pests that could cause such reactions, such as mosquitoes, ticks, mites, bed bugs, fleas, and head lice. But sometimes it can be the result of an allergic skin reaction.
To learn more about the potential causes of itching and red swollen skin, join UC IPM on November 16th from 12-1pm PST on Zoom. This lunchtime webinar will be presented by Dr. Siavash Taravati, Area Urban IPM Advisor for the Los Angeles Basin area. Register here!
Can't make it? A recording of the live webinar will be posted to the UC IPM YouTube channel. You can also view the UC IPM Pest Notes below to learn more:
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Bowers, with funding from the Western Integrated Pest Management Center, is measuring the cold-hardiness of puncturevine-eating weevils from New Mexico to see if they can tolerate cool northern climes and potentially boost biocontrol efforts throughout the region.
Join the webinar live om Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at noon (Pacific Time.)
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RECORDED EPISODES:
Episode 32 - Watch Recording
Lessons Learned from 20 Years of Management of Invasive Knotweed on an Unregulated Western River
Presenters: Jill Silver, 10,000 Years Institute and Lauren Kuehne, Omnifishient Consulting
Description: Invasive knotweed was introduced into the Hoh River during a flood in 1999 and efforts to manage it began shortly thereafter. Those efforts were well documented with extensive data collection, and this presentation looks at some of the lessons learned during the 20-year effort.
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Episode 31 - Watch Recording
Using persistent herbicides to produce certified weed-free products and updates into the non-target impacts of basal bark treatments
Presenter: Gino Graziano, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Description: Using persistent herbicides to produce certified weed-free products and updates into the non-target impacts of basal bark treatments.
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Episode 29 - Watch Recording
Integrated and Cooperative Russian Thistle Management in the Semi-Arid Pacific Northwest
Presenter: Judit Barroso, Oregon State University
Description: This presentation will focus on Russian thistle ecology (seed germination, seed viability, seed longevity) and the amount of water extracted from the soil if it is not controlled; Russian thistle control post-harvest and some ideas to improve the control at that time; and whether cooperative management is helping to reduce Russian thistle infestation and its control cost.
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Episode 19 - Watch recording
IPM Decision-Support Tools for Wildland Weed Management
Presenter: Doug Johnson, California Invasive Plant Council
Doug Johnson from the California Invasive Plant Council discusses IPM online decision-support tools for managing invasive plants in natural lands, including the Weed Control User Tool (WeedCUT). https://weedcut.ipm.ucanr.edu/
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Episode 18 - Watch recording
Managing Herbicide-Resistant Italian Ryegrass with Electric Current in Hazelnut Orchards
Presenter: Marcelo Moretti, Assistant Professor and Extension Weed-Management Specialist, Oregon State University
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Episode 16 - Watch recording
Use of Precision Applied Steam to Control Soilborne Pathogens and Weeds in Lettuce
Presenter: Mark Siemens, Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Arizona
Lettuce drop (Sclerotinia spp.) and in-row weed control are major concerns of California and Arizona lettuce growers. Soil disinfection using steam is a highly effective technique for controlling plant pathogens and weeds, but is cost prohibitive since conventionally steam is applied to the entire soil profile. To address this, a prototype band-steam was developed where only narrow strips of soil centered on the seed line are treated. The device is principally comprised of a 35 BHP steam generator mounted on a bed shaper. The system's design and operation, as well as field trials results will be presented and discussed.
Developing Non-chemical Harvest Weed Seed Control Strategies in Dryland Crops
Presenter: Eric Westra, Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado State University
Talk will cover updates on field trials evaluating how chaff lining fits into dryland cropping systems in the Central Great Plains as an integrated weed management tool. Evaluation of chaff lining weed control efficacy in wheat, corn, and grain sorghum will provide information on how this integrated weed management tactic will fit in new geographic regions.
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Episode 10 - Watch recording
Topic: Spot It! Report It! Remove It! Mobilizing Residents in the Fight Against Invasive Weeds
Presenter: Qiting Chen, IPM Coordinator, City of Edmonton, Alberta
Description: Public education and awareness of invasive plant species are essential to support integrated pest management efforts in municipalities. The public plays an important role in detection, data collection and early intervention of invasive plant species. In Edmonton, efforts to engage the public in IPM activities have been ongoing and in 2019 the city launched a social marketing campaign called Spot it, Report it, Remove it. Tactics used include public outreach events, community weed pulls, door-to-door outreach campaigns, and the weed identification feature in the Edmonton 311 app. We will discuss the results and lessons learnt from the campaign.
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Episode 6 - Watch Recording
Revegetating Weed-Infested Rangeland
Presenter: Jane Mangold, Montana State University
Seeding desired vegetation to compete with weeds is sometimes necessary when weeds have
dominated rangeland for many years and remnant vegetation is scarce. This presentation will share research results from a variety of Montana studies where seeding was integrated with other weed-control strategies.
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Episode 5 - Watch Recording
Ecological Management of Kochia in Irrigated Western Cropping Systems
Presenter: Prashant Jha, Associate Professor and Extension Weed Specialist, Iowa State University
Description: This presentation will highlight on how to best implement sustainable integrated weed management programs to reduce herbicide reliance and manage weed resistance to herbicides in sugar beet-based crop rotations of the Western United States.
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Episode 4 - Episode 04 - Watch recording
Schools in the Time of COVID: More Questions than Answers
Presenter: Shaku Nair, University of Arizona:
A Developing and Developed Countries Perspective on Implementation of Integrated Weed Management
Presenter: Anil Shrestha, California State University, Fresno
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- The IPM Hour website: http://westernipm.org/index.cfm/about-the-center/publications/the-ipm-hour/
- Western IPM Center website: http://westernipm.org/
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- Author: Ben Faber
The Citrus Research Board (CRB) is excited to announce the return of the 2023 Citrus Growers Educational Webinar Series. CRB will be holding four one-hour webinars scheduled for June 6, 13, 20, 27. Each webinar will highlight valuable research and practical discussions for growers.
Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 10:00 AM
Tree Density and Pruning Affect Fruit Numbers, Size, Quality and Maturity of Navel Oranges
The series will kick-off on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, with Craig Kallsen, citrus and pistachio farm advisor for Kern County. This presentation will go over how tree density and pruning affect, fruit numbers, size, quality, and maturity of navel oranges.
Continuing Education Units: This webinar is approved for one-hour Crop Management from Certified Crop Advisers (CCA).
Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 10:00 AM
Update on Sweet Orange Scab and Integrated Pre- and Postharvest Strategies for Decay Management
On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, Dr. Jim Adaskaveg, Professor & Plant Pathologist at the University of California, Riverside, will give an update on sweet orange scab and integrated pre- and postharvest strategies for decay management.
Continuing Education Units: This webinar is pending approval for One-hour "Other" from Department of Pesticide Regulations (DPR) and is approved for one-hour IPM from Certified Crop Advisers (CCA).
Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 10:00 AM
Lemon Variety and Rootstock Research for California
On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, Dr. Glenn C. Wright, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for Tree Fruit Crops at the University of Arizona, will discuss CRB-funded lemon variety and rootstock research for California.
Continuing Education Units: This webinar is approved for one-hour Crop Management from Certified Crop Advisers (CCA).
Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM
California Water Availability and Crop Water Efficiency Strategies
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Dr. Franklin Gaudi, VP of Design at Laurel Ag & Water, will discuss California water availability and crop water efficiency strategies.
Continuing Education Units: This webinar is approved for one-hour Soil and Water Management from Certified Crop Advisers (CCA).
Spring into the following free webinars from the UC IPM Urban & Community Program! Held every third Thursday from 12:00-1:00pm PDT, these informative webinars will help you identify, prevent, and control pests in and around the home, garden, and landscape!
April 20, 2023: Aphids, Scales, and Mealybugs, Oh My!
Insects such as aphids, certain scales, mealybugs, and others can produce a sticky substance called honeydew that can create a big mess around gardens and landscapes. Learn how to identify, prevent, and control these honeydew-producing insects and their damage to plants. This presentation will be given by Karey Windbiel-Rojas, UC IPM Associate Director for Urban & Community IPM/Area IPM Advisor. Register for this webinar.
May 18, 2023: Birds: Friends or Foes?
Birds are sometimes considered pests around homes, buildings, and in gardens, but they can also help to control other pests. This webinar will cover pest bird biology, identification, monitoring, and common types of damage; in addition to predatory birds and ways to enhance their control of pests. This presentation will be given by Breanna Martinico, Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, Napa, Lake, and Solano counties. Register for this webinar.
June 15, 2023: Summertime Household Pests
This webinar will cover identification, prevention, and management of common household pests that can be a problem in the summer months. Dr. Andrew Sutherland, Area Urban IPM Advisor for the San Francisco Bay Area, will present the webinar. Register for this webinar.
July 20, 2023: Natural Enemies & Beneficial Bugs: What are they?
While some insects can be damaging pests, many others are actually useful and keep pest species in check by parasitizing them or preying on them. These beneficial bugs are known as natural enemies and are vital to help keep pests from getting out of control. In this webinar, learn about natural enemies, how to identify them, and how they can help you out in your home and garden. This presentation will be given by Eric Middleton, Area IPM Advisor for San Diego county. Register for this webinar.
Can't make a webinar? Don't worry, all presentations are recorded and posted on the UC IPM YouTube channel! More webinars will be announced in the late summer. Follow us on social media @ucipmurban for the latest IPM content and news.
Webinars from the IPM Institute of North America
From April 10-14, Midwest Grows Green and Green Shield Certified will host Green Shield Week, a series of webinars discussing sustainable landscaping and pest management practices, strategies and policies. The webinars include:
- Monday, April 10th – Barry Draycott from Tech Terra Environmental discusses how to protect our water resources while maintaining a healthy and resilient lawn. Register for free at bit.ly/GreenLawns23.
- Tuesday, April 11th – Bradley Herrick from the University of Wisconsin Madison Arboretum focuses on best management practices, control methods and latest research of jumping worms. Register for $10 at bit.ly/InvasiveJumpingWormsWebinar.
- Thursday, April 13th– Dr. Doug Richmond from Purdue University's Soil Insect Ecology Laboratory presents a systems approach for integrating cultural, biological and low impact chemical tools to reduce the ecological footprint of managing turf pests. Register for $10 at bit.ly/SustainablePest23.