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

Trap Types

CinchCinch

BlackholeBlackhole

MacabeeMacabee

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

Burrow Builder

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 TurkeysMeleagris gallopavo

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.

Turkey Damage

Suspected Turkey Damage

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)

Thank You

Dan Curtin Agricultural Biologists/Standards Specialist

Durned gophers anyhow!