Natural Ways to Trap a Gopher
- Purchase two non-lethal traps at a local supply store. Tie a string or wire to the top of the traps. Locate the main tunnel of the gopher. Dig into the tunnel to create a space large enough to place the traps. Use fresh vegetables such as carrots or lettuce to bait the trap. Place a trap facing in each direction down the tunnel so you will catch your gopher whether it's entering or leaving its den. Cover the top of the hole with a large piece of cardboard to block the light. Gophers are suspicious, and if they notice their tunnel has been tampered with, they are likely to close it off and build a new one. Once you have caught a gopher, use the string to lift out the trap and drive your gopher to a new location several miles away.
- If a favorite food source is eliminated, your gopher may choose to move to a new neighborhood. Use wire and concrete barriers around gardens and ornamental plants. It is easier to do this when you are first landscaping, but it can be done for a well-established area as well. Dig a narrow trench around the perimeter. It only needs to be several inches wide, but several feet deep. Use chicken wire or some other metal fencing and lay it into the trench. Reinforce it with poured concrete. Extend the wire fencing above the ground by several feet for gardens.
- Cats are a natural enemy to the gopher. So are snakes and foxes. Cats are, of course, a bit easier to keep control of. Just let your cat out during the day and allow it to hunt in its own natural fashion. The sight and smell of a predator is often enough to deter the gopher.
- When laying out your yard, plan for appropriate drainage, account for natural barriers, and install fencing. You can use commercially available gopher repellents or scent products around your yard to keep the pesky critters from moving in. Castor oil sprayed around your lawn will also help. If you've had a gopher problem and managed to evict them, remember to fill in their tunnels to prevent opportunistic friends from moving in.