Dan Curtin Agricultural Biologist/Standards Specialist Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
Dec 17, 2015
Dan Curtin Agricultural Biologist/Standards SpecialistSonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
Pocket Gopher
Legal StatusLegal Status Control MeasuresControl Measures Services and Products available through the Services and Products available through the
Agricultural Commissioner’s Office and the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office and the U.C. Cooperative ExtensionU.C. Cooperative Extension
Legal Status
Pocket Gophers are classified as nongame Pocket Gophers are classified as nongame mammals by the California Fish and Game mammals by the California Fish and Game Code.Code.
Nongame animals which are found to be Nongame animals which are found to be injuring growing crops or other property injuring growing crops or other property may be taken at any time in any legal may be taken at any time in any legal manner by the owner or tenant of the manner by the owner or tenant of the property.property.
Control Measures StrychnineStrychnine
Hand BaitHand Bait Burrow BuilderBurrow Builder
TrappingTrapping Wire TrapsWire Traps
Cinch TrapCinch Trap MacabeeMacabee
Box TrapsBox Traps GuardianGuardian Black HoleBlack Hole
Control Measures Continued
ExclusionExclusion BarriersBarriers
Poisonous gasesPoisonous gases Aluminum PhosphideAluminum Phosphide
Propane GunPropane Gun
Capture Efficiency
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1st Qtr
BlackholeMacabeeCinch
Information courtesy of: Michael J. Pipas, George H Matscke, and Geraldine R. McCann USDA National Wildlife Research Center. Evaluation Of The Efficiency Of Three Types Of Traps For Capturing Pocket Gophers.
Trapping
Wire or Box TrapsWire or Box Traps Best to place two traps in opposite Best to place two traps in opposite
directions in main runwaysdirections in main runways Or place one trap in lateral runwayOr place one trap in lateral runway Or bothOr both
Strychnine Hand Bait
Good control for:Good control for: Small outbreaksSmall outbreaks Garden areasGarden areas
Procedure for Hand Baiting
Locate main runways between mounds with a rod or stick Locate main runways between mounds with a rod or stick with pointed tipwith pointed tip
Once runway is located, bore hole out with rod or stick Once runway is located, bore hole out with rod or stick Insert the hand probe or use a teaspoon to drop bait Insert the hand probe or use a teaspoon to drop bait
through a funnel into runwaythrough a funnel into runway Cover opening with dirt or rock to eliminate lightCover opening with dirt or rock to eliminate light Monitor area for activity (look for fresh mounds)Monitor area for activity (look for fresh mounds) Readminister bait as necessaryReadminister bait as necessary
Best time to use a Burrow Builder
When there is sufficient soil When there is sufficient soil moisture to hold a tunnel moisture to hold a tunnel because: because:
Too wet:Too wet:Take a chance of getting your machine Take a chance of getting your machine stuck stuck Bait gets wet which makes it less Bait gets wet which makes it less effectiveeffectiveMud sticks to torpedo and blocks baitMud sticks to torpedo and blocks bait
Too dry:Too dry:Difficult to get torpedo into the groundDifficult to get torpedo into the groundTunnels will collapse and bury the baitTunnels will collapse and bury the bait
Hints for a successful Burrow Builder application Set the “torpedo” the same Set the “torpedo” the same
depth as the main runways of depth as the main runways of the gophers or a little deeperthe gophers or a little deeper
Angle of “torpedo” should be Angle of “torpedo” should be parallel with the surface of the parallel with the surface of the groundground
Raise Burrow Builder out of Raise Burrow Builder out of ground before turning cornersground before turning corners
Don’t backup with Burrow Don’t backup with Burrow Builder in ground or roll Builder in ground or roll backwards downhill (will plug backwards downhill (will plug torpedo with soil)torpedo with soil)
More Helpful Hints
If you have an overhead irrigation system you can If you have an overhead irrigation system you can create the soil moisture you needcreate the soil moisture you need
Only treat the area where the infestation is Only treat the area where the infestation is occurring (may artificially spread gophers)occurring (may artificially spread gophers)
Adjust tractor speed to apply the required label Adjust tractor speed to apply the required label amount of bait per acre (2 pounds per acre)amount of bait per acre (2 pounds per acre)
Use Use CautionCaution to avoid dropping bait above ground to avoid dropping bait above ground where non target species can consume itwhere non target species can consume it
Interesting facts Gophers are herbivoresGophers are herbivores
forbs (broadleaf herbs)forbs (broadleaf herbs) grassesgrasses shrubsshrubs treestrees
Voles (meadow mice) are Voles (meadow mice) are herbivoresherbivores
cloverclover alfalfaalfalfa
Moles are insectivoresMoles are insectivores primarily wormsprimarily worms
*Pictures taken from the University of California Integrated Pest Management Website
Know your opponent
Gopher mounds are generally Gopher mounds are generally crescent shaped and have the crescent shaped and have the plug toward the flatter side of plug toward the flatter side of the crescent.the crescent.
Moles make a mound which is Moles make a mound which is more round in shape more round in shape resembling a small volcano and resembling a small volcano and the plug is more in the center.the plug is more in the center.
Voles (meadow mice) make Voles (meadow mice) make small holes in the ground with small holes in the ground with no mound and create runways no mound and create runways in the vegetation.in the vegetation.
*Gopher Mound
*Mole Mound
*Pictures taken from the University of California Integrated Pest Management Website
*Vole Burrows
Wild Turkey Legal Status
Classified as an Classified as an uplandupland gamegame birdbird by the by the California Fish and Game CodeCalifornia Fish and Game Code
Can be harvested during regular hunting Can be harvested during regular hunting seasons and:seasons and: January 2005January 2005: Added to the list of animals for: Added to the list of animals for which one can which one can
request a depredation permit.request a depredation permit. Depredation permits are issued through the California Department Depredation permits are issued through the California Department
of Fish and Game.of Fish and Game.
Good Sources of Information fromthe U.C. Cooperative Extension
UCCE Sonoma County
133 Aviation Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565 - 2621
Wonderful Publications
U.C. Cooperative Extension Website http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/
U.C. Integrated Pest Management Website http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/
Services available through the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
We carry Diphacinone Bait for vertebrate pest control. We carry Diphacinone Bait for vertebrate pest control. Our Diphacinone Baits are listed for use on rats, mice, Our Diphacinone Baits are listed for use on rats, mice,
voles (meadow mice), ground squirrels, jack rabbits, and voles (meadow mice), ground squirrels, jack rabbits, and muskrats.muskrats.
We sell Strychnine treated grain for gopher control. We sell Strychnine treated grain for gopher control. We also have bait stations for rats and mice and helpful We also have bait stations for rats and mice and helpful
brochures about different vertebrate pests and control brochures about different vertebrate pests and control measures.measures.
Words of Caution
Always read and follow label directionsAlways read and follow label directions Don’t use the product unless the pest you are Don’t use the product unless the pest you are
attempting to control is on the label.attempting to control is on the label. Pick up any strychnine bait that spills on the Pick up any strychnine bait that spills on the
ground where non target species can find it.ground where non target species can find it. (Above ground use has been illegal since 1989)(Above ground use has been illegal since 1989)