There are five species of gophers in California. The most common gopher on the central coast is Botta’s pocket gopher, named for his fur lined cheek pockets used to carry food. Pocket gophers live 3 years. They do not hibernate and although primarily nocturnal grazers, they are active anytime. They have 3-5 litters per year with 2-10 young per litter. They are solitary and territorial. A male gopher territory can be up to 2200 sq ft. Gopher tunnels tend to be linear in orientation. |  Photo credit: David Headrick |
Damage - below ground on a wide variety of garden crops: ornamentals, vines, shrubs, trees and utility cables. Above ground - irrigation pipes and tubing.
Gopher mounds: Crescent shaped mounds with openings plugged during inactivity or nesting. The plugged hole is to one side of the crescent of soil.
Tunnels - Main tunnels are 6-12 inches below ground level
Management
Gophers are classified as non-game animals and can therefore be controlled at any time, without a license, using any legal method.
High density gophers: use exclusion, toxic baits and sometimes trapping
Low density gophers: use exclusion, trapping and predators
Not effective: fumigants, repellent products or plants, noise makers, flooding, or gassing tunnels.
Exclusion - Use 2-foot-deep trenches filled with aggregate or coarse gravel. Use gopher baskets or underground ½ to ¾ inch mesh aviary wire placed at least 2 feet deep and extending 6-12 inches above grade for plants and trees. Use galvanized or stainless-steel wire mesh under raised beds to extend life of barrier. |  Table credit: David Headrick |
Trapping
Basic principles - Trap in areas of fresh mounds with dark moist soil; focus on one area at a time, work with neighbors, progress to adjacent areas setting up a perimeter of control. Set traps in early morning or late afternoon, no bait used in traps, flag and stake traps to keep secure and to locate, wear gloves, check traps often, collapse mounds to monitor activity.
Photo credit: David Headrick
Box trap - Requires the least digging once tunnel is located; easiest to set as it is placed into tunnel opening.
Cinch Trap - Takes hand strength to set. Once tunnel exposed, easy to set in place due to long neck on trap. Easy release to dispose of trapped gopher without touching rodent. Medium size, best for trapping.
Macabee - Commonly used trap. Easy to set once technique is learned. Low profile of trap allows maneuvering in tunnel. Can push into tunnel without risk of springing trap. This trap will rust over time which can impede effectiveness.
Gopher Hawk - Easy to set, does not require digging. It is set above tunnel with a probe into the ground along with a wire that will trap the gopher. Requires skill in locating tunnel.
Gophers can repopulate tunnels within hours or days. Control requires consistent monitoring for activity and persistent management.
Baits - available but can pose a threat to non-target animals. Bait placement is only allowed directly into a tunnel. Placement above ground is illegal. Gopher probe is used to place strychnine pellets directly below ground into a tunnel; effective with one feeding.
References
Gophers- Pests in Gardens and Landscapes: Quick Tips. UC IPM. UC ANR. Gophers--UC IPM (ucanr.edu)
Headrick, David. 2022. Vertebrate Pest Management. Presentation to UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County, training class.
Thoerner, Jutta. Gophers and Pets. Diggin’ It In SLO. UC Master Gardeners, SLO County. 2017. Gophers And Pets - UC Master Gardeners- Diggin' it in SLO - ANR Blogs (ucanr.edu)
Pocket Gophers. Pests in Gardens and Landscapes. UC IPM. UC ANR. Pocket Gophers Management Guidelines--UC IPM (ucanr.edu)
Von Rosenberg, Suzanne. Gophers. Napa Master Gardener Column. 2019. Gophers. - Napa Master Gardener Column - ANR Blogs (ucanr.edu)