Effective Gopher and Mole Control
Tips and Strategies
Burrowing rodents like gophers and moles can cause significant damage to your property, landscaping, and garden. Understanding their behavior and using the right control methods can help you manage and prevent these pests effectively. In this blog post, we'll cover how to identify gophers and moles, common myths about control, and the best tools and techniques for trapping and removal. All of these burrowing rodents (and more) are prevalent in Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Penn Valley.
Identifying Gophers and Moles
Gophers:
Damage: Gophers create horseshoe-shaped mounds with a plug. They often poke their heads out of holes.
Appearance: Brown with small paws, a tail, visible eyes, and a prominent cheek pouch. They feed on roots, shoots, and plants.
Moles:
Damage: Moles produce circular round mounds of dirt. They do not typically surface.
Appearance: Black, with no visible eyes, large front hands, a long snout, sharp teeth, and a tiny piggy nose.
Common Control Myths
Many myths circulate about controlling burrowing rodents. Here are a few that don't work:
Gum and Glass: Claims that gum or glass will deter gophers and moles are ineffective.
Feces, Hair, and Urine: Using animal waste as a deterrent is not successful; animals can coexist in the environment.
Water Hose and Car Exhaust: Methods like using a water hose or car exhaust fumes are not practical for effective control. Modern vehicles emission controls do not even allow for enough monoxide to pass into the tunnels.
Effective Control Methods
Tools You’ll Need
Traps:
Gophers: Use Trapline Products, Macabees, or Gopher Hawk traps.
Moles: Trapline Products or Victor Out of Sight traps work well.
Voles: Mouse traps with covers are effective.
Ground Squirrels: Use 5x5 cages from Tomahawk or WCS Simple Trap.
Additional Tools:
Probe: A long, slender screwdriver helps locate tunnels.
Digging Tool: A trowel or hori hori knife is ideal for digging.
Garden Staples and Flags: Use for securing and marking trap locations.
How to Set Traps
Gophers:
Setting Traps: Look for long, straight runs between mounds. Knock over a mound to check for moist dirt—damp soil indicates recent activity. Avoid setting traps directly in holes; instead, find tunnels about 18 inches from mounds. Use a hori hori knife to cut out a square of soil, place traps in the tunnel, and mark the area with flags. Check traps every few days.
Moles:
Setting Traps: Similar to gophers, set in deep runs using in-tunnel traps. Victor Out of Sight traps are an excellent option for those experienced in their use.
Voles:
Setting Traps: Place mouse traps near fresh holes. Secure traps in stations or cover with buckets for safety.
Ground Squirrels:
Setting Traps: Use 5x5 cages baited with apples, seeds, corn, or nut butters. Cover cages and check daily. For open holes, rake in dirt and set traps on top, this encourages squirrels to investigate your traps further. It will also identify active holes for you to place traps near. Fresh activity is key to ground squirrel control.
What to Expect
Effective control of gophers and moles requires ongoing maintenance. Regularly inspect and adjust traps, and address any new signs of activity. Target only the problem animals and focus on areas immediately affected.
Stay on it. . .
Managing gophers and moles effectively involves understanding their behaviors, using the right tools, and applying proven methods. If you need professional help with burrowing rodent control, Gold Country Wildlife Control offers expert services in Nevada County to keep your property safe from damage. Contact us today for a consultation and let us help you reclaim your space from these pesky rodents.
