Some Advice on NOT Living With Gophers
in Your Vegetable Garden

Advice for the Home Gardener from the Contra Costa Master Gardeners Help Desk

Client's Problem & Questions:

Client called and MG volunteer discussed her gopher problems… and that she didn't want to kill the gophers, possibly using cinch traps. Discussed the information on the UC Pest Note on gopher management and the various “home remedies” readily found on the web and that basically they were “snake oil”. For a “permanent” solution only exclusion, baiting, fumigation or trapping will work. Most gardeners usually end up using exclusion and/or trapping …or getting a gopher service. 

CCMG Help Desk Response
Following up on our phone conversation earlier today, you will find below the information we discussed and/or promised on the phone. I did some additional research and have included wht I found as well below. In one instance, I came across a research paper regarding gopher management in California almond orchards. The almond orchard research showed that trapping plus additional fumigation had the highest efficacy. The reason that these two methods were combined was because the research showed that as the gophers become trap shy, the additional fumigation targeted the gophers that the traps missed. I believe the lesson learned from that research it that it will probably take more than one “solution” to get effective control of your gopher population.

In your case, because you are trying to protect your vegetable patch, and your hesitation to “trap and kill” the gophers, exclusion is most likely going to be the best, most effective method. You mentioned that this was a project you might take on next spring. Here is some information on gopher wire to line your raised beds or bury around your in-ground vegetable beds. Gopher wire is specifically designed for gopher exclusion. Look for a wire mesh measuring no more than 3/4” square or diagonally. The reason for the 3/4" spacing is the holes must be small enough to keep young gophers out. This size is determined by a young gopher's shoulder girth at the weaned age of about 8 weeks. The mesh should be 20 gauge wire (thick enough to resist the chewing of gophers). Really high quality mesh will be “double galvanized” which gives it a much longer life when buried in the ground. You must either bury the wire mesh at least 2 feet deep with some surface wire barrier showing as well when encirciling in-ground plantings. For raised beds you would line the bottom and some of the side walls (see Pest Note below).

You also mentioned that you were putting in a cover crop of clover. In my research I found information about clovers and gophers that would be helpful to you. Gophers are attracted to most clovers, especially crimson clover, which is a popular cover crop. Try substituting sour clover from the family Melilotus indica. Sour clover is high in coumarin, the original source of the blood thinner Coumadin. Gophers avoid ingesting sour clover, possibly because the coumarin adversely affects their blood chemistry. Sour clover also fixes nitrogen, reseeds easily, and has flowers that attract bees. Several plants are often called sour clover, including oxalis (gophers love oxalis), so be sure to get Melilotus indica.

If you should decide to trap and are going to use a cinch trap, be sure to buy the best quality you can afford. Cheaper models may not work at best, and will maim the animal at worst. One method I read for disposal was to release the gopher from the cinch trap back into the gopher hole and bury the gopher in place, there seems to be some evidence that there is some deterrent effect to this method and has the added benefit of (maybe) adding nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. As we discussed on the phone if you use this method do a web search on setting cinch traps and get familiar with the method before you begin.
(e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz2GplXB-9s).

The link below is the UC Davis IPM link to information on gopher management. It is comprehensive and will help you understand all the pros and cons of the various management options.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7433.html#MANAGEMENT

Thanks for contacting us with your garden question, if we can be of further assistance please call us again. 

Contra Costa Master Gardeners Help Desk

---

Note: The Contra Costa Master Gardener Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions.  Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA  94523. We can also be reached via telephone:  (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/