Pocket Gophers: Pocket Gophers: Biology and Biology and Damage Damage Management Management Jeff Schalau Jeff Schalau Associate Agent, ANR Associate Agent, ANR University of Arizona Cooperative University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Extension Yavapai County Yavapai County
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Pocket Gophers: Biology and Damage Management Jeff Schalau Associate Agent, ANR University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County.
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Pocket Gophers: Pocket Gophers: Biology and Biology and
Damage Damage ManagementManagement
Jeff SchalauJeff SchalauAssociate Agent, ANRAssociate Agent, ANRUniversity of Arizona Cooperative ExtensionUniversity of Arizona Cooperative ExtensionYavapai CountyYavapai County
Gopher BiologyGopher Biology
Live in the soil, spending a small amount of time above ground to feed, find new territory, or get around obstacles
3 species in Arizona 5-7 inches long (without tail) Large head Long, sharp, chisel-like teeth Powerful front legs with long claws
Gopher Biology (cont.)Gopher Biology (cont.) Short tail with tactile hairs Pouches on both sides of
head to hold food and soil Have one or two litters per
year (usually 3-4 per litter) Soon after weaning, the
young leave the nest and disperse above ground
Adults live solitarily (except when mating)
FeedingFeeding Plant Feeders
Roots encountered underground Surface feeding a body length or so
away from burrow openings Pulling plants into burrow from below
Preferred Foods Include:alfalfa, grasses, root crops, tap rooted weeds, shrub roots, tree roots, garden crops
Gopher BurrowsGopher Burrows
Control MethodsControl Methods Trapping – excellent Exclusion – good where applicable Biocontrol – cats, dogs, snakes Fumigants – marginal Toxicants – not recommended for
residential areas, secondary poisoning Flooding – rarely effective for residential
Sonic Devices Are Not Sonic Devices Are Not EffectiveEffective
TrappingTrapping Lethal traps are the only effective Lethal traps are the only effective
methodmethod
How To Set A TrapHow To Set A Trap
Two traps wired to a stakeTwo traps wired to a stake Locate main tunnel using probeLocate main tunnel using probe Set one trap in each directionSet one trap in each direction Cover the holeCover the hole Obliterate fresh moundsObliterate fresh mounds Check the following dayCheck the following day Reset as neededReset as needed
Box TrapsBox Traps
ExclusionExclusion
ToxicantsToxicants Strychnine on Strychnine on
graingrain Other products Other products
tootoo Can be dangerous Can be dangerous
to non-target to non-target organisms if not organisms if not used correctlyused correctly
Cultural ControlsCultural Controls
Weed ControlWeed Control Flooding only Flooding only
works when:works when: The entire field is The entire field is
floodedflooded Soils are porousSoils are porous Gophers are below Gophers are below