Lastly One Of The More Invasive But Effective Methods To Kill Or Ward Off Moles And Gophers Is To Leverage The Carbon Monoxide Exhaust From Your Vehicle
These harmful emissions will persuade moles and gophers to get out of the yard or in some cases even kill them if thats OK with you. Just make sure any leaks are covered up in the moles tunnels and this is a effective way to persuade moles and gophers that your yard is not their new home.
Here is a helpful video on how to pull this off
In conclusion these are eight natural or borderline un-natural alternatives to fight the battle and ultimately win your war against moles and gophers in your yard so they no longer destroy all of your hard work on creating the perfect looking golf course quality yard.
Peppermint Oil Repels Gophers
Similar to many other animals and insects, the extremely strong smell of peppermint, specifically peppermint oil can irritate the senses of a gopher causing them to stay away from a desired source.
You can use peppermint oil to repel gophers in two ways. The first is using an essential oil concentrate, OR you can use a general, all around natural pest control spray. Naturally, youll want a spray that works for the outdoors as well.
While it doesnt specifically list gophers as an animal it repels, its an all rodent repellent. Check out Rodent Sheriff Ultra-Pure Peppermint Spray for a highly regarded peppermint pest control spray.
How To Identify Gophers
Gophers are herbivore rodents with four large incisor teeth. Theyre larger than mice, but smaller than rats. While theyre often mistaken for moles, they don’t have spade-like front paws as moles do. They form crescent-shaped mounds and plug the holes they use to enter and exit the ground. Gophers destroy everything from hydrangeas to trees by eating the plants roots. They also eat vegetables, especially carrots and potatoes. Unfortunately, they can also damage water lines and irrigation systems when digging.
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I Bet You Didnt Know Coffee Grounds Were A Natural Way To Fight The Battle Against Moles
Put another way … you can recycle those used coffee grounds by scattering them over the tunnels themselves. The best part… the scent is annoying to these varmints just as much as their tunnels in your yard annoy you. This method in conjunction with methods 6 , 3 , and 2 would be a good natural combo attack on these yard destroying varmints.
Strong Scented Geranium Repels Gophers
Geranium is a popular flowering plant that is used in a variety of ways from essential oils to perfume. The essential oil of geranium is actually distilled from the leaves. Whereas the flowers are often used for cutting flowers for landscaping.
Because of the strong scent geraniums have, these plants deter gophers from burrowing near them and snacking on them when they are in your yard.
You can use geranium in its essential oil form by mixing a spray at home or soaking cotton balls and placing them in trouble spots around your property. Just be sure to dilute your essential oil with water.
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Planting And Using Barriers To Deter Moles Or Gophers
Certain kinds of plants in your yard can help deter moles. Moles dislike the smells from plants like daffodils, marigolds and anything from the allium family. This kind of plant barrier is typically safe for children and pets, plus it makes a lovely colorful addition to your yard.
To deter gophers, plant in raised beds. You can also make gopher baskets from netted material and put bulbs or young plants in them. This will allow the bulbs and plants to grow while keeping the gophers out.
Ready-made gopher and mole barriers are also available in the form of baskets that can be placed around plants to protect them from being eaten.
What Are Pocket Gophers
- Pocket Gophers, also known plainly as gophers, are burrowing rodents that get their name from their large cheek pouches, or pockets which they use for carrying their food and nesting materials. This method of carrying food in their cheeks often get them confused to be a chipmunk, a woodchuck or a squirrel.
- Pocket gophers can cause a lot of damage, not just from burrowing but also from their eating habits. Pocket gophers eat just about anything. Most of the eating they do, however, is from underground. They yank plants down from the root and eat them underground.
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Next I Bet You Didnt Know That You Could Repurpose Your Dog’s Pet Waste To Fight The Battle Against Moles And Voles
Most people dont know this… But these critters are deterred by pet waste just as much as humans are, so placing your dog’s waste near the entry and exit points of the mole’s tunnels is a good way to naturally encourage these varmints to infest your neighbors yard and not yours.
Moreover, yet another natural way to fight moles is to strategically install plants throughout the yard that the moles naturally dislike.
Not only could this be an aesthetic way to win the battle but the good news these plants such as Castor bean, Crown imperial, and Narcissus are examples of mole-repelling plants. and are known for being effective for deterring moles and gophers out of your yard.
Dealing With Gophers In The San Francisco Bay Area Were Here To Help
Nobody wants to deal with a destructive, frustrating gopher infestation. Fortunately, Smiths Pest Management is here for you.
Our team helps residential and commercial properties in Northern California resolve gopher infestations once and for all and reclaim their outdoor spaces. We also work with parks and large facilities to eradicate gophers in an eco-conscious way.
Ready to learn more about our gopher control services or get a quote? Contact us now.
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When Will I See A Gopher Pop Out Of A Hole
Gophers prefer to stay underground as much as they can. If you see one pop up out of a hole, its usually just pushing dirt out. You may occasionally see one a few inches away from its hole, eating a plant. More often, theyll just burrow under the plant and pull it into their hole to eat. In snowy climates, you might see a gopher thats eating tree bark.
Other than during breeding season or when mothers are caring for their young, gophers live alone. You might see the young gophers leaving their birth nests to establish their own homes.
The Lowdown on Gophers
Valley Pocket Gopher
Barn Owl Nesting Boxes
Another way to control gopher populations on your property is to construct barn owl nesting boxes.
This isnt a quick fix, and it wont eradicate the gophers on your property. It can, however, help control the population of gophers and other pests over time.
Pros: Natural, organic, beneficial for the ecosystem
Cons: Long-term solution, will not eradicate gophers
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Best Ways To Get Rid Of Gophers And Moles
Youve put a lot of time and energy into creating a lawn that is lush, full, and green.
Unfortunately, there are some critters who dont share your vision. Gophers and moles can leave your beautiful lawn full of holes, divots, and tunnels. Needless to say, gophers and moles are not animals you want making your yard their home.
Fortunately, there are a few do-it-yourself pest control options that can help you get rid of these pesky critters. There are some less and more aggressive options for rodent control that you can try depending on your comfort level. Here are a few of the best ways to get rid of gophers and moles.
Eliminate The Food Source For Moles
Moles feed on soil-dwelling insects, especially grubs. You can eliminate this food source by using beneficial nematodes and milky spore to kill the grubs in your soil. The application of milky spore may take several seasons to become effective.
You can also use a more aggressive grub killer, such as an insecticide. Without food, moles will move on. However, this method is only partially effective. The moles eat earthworms along with other types of worms and insects. They may choose to feast on these instead of leaving your yard. Carefully follow the directions on any products you use.
Gophers eat vegetation, so grub killers will not get rid of them.
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What Is The Best Way To Kill Gophers Do They Come Out At Night
Gopher Control: How To Get Rid Of Gophers
This page is a general Gopher control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Gophers. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Gophers. Consult your local and state guidelines to see if Gophers are a protected species in your location before applying control.
Gophers may be funny in cartoons or even considered to be a cute animal to some people, but the type of damage they can do on a landowner’s turf can be the farthest thing from funny. These destructive rodents not only burrow through yards and leave ugly looking mounds and holes, but they also are notorious for devouring and destroying crops and plant life wherever they decide to reside.
Because Gophers spend most of their time underground in their self-created tunnel systems, these fast-moving rodents can be difficult to control or capture. If youre a gardener, a homeowner, or an agricultural farmer, Gophers can be a total nightmare and need to be eradicated immediately.
If you are experiencing Gophers on your property, the following DIY guide will give you the answers on how to tackle this frustrating pest. With the correct approach and the right control products, you can get rid of Gophers from your yard to put an end to the havoc they create.
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How To Kill Gophers With Bleach And Ammonia
You may never have seen these ground kings and queens but chances are youve seen the aftermath of their activities. They are a great problem for homeowners and can cause great damage to grass lawns of gardens. Thats not something you want, right?
As these creatures burrow underground in search of food, they can kill plants by eating their roots and even weaken the ground. Fortunately, gophers seldom stay away from their tunnel. The fact that they rarely migrate their homes underground makes it easy to kill them while in their homes.
Bleach and ammonia repel and suffocate gophers completely. A combination of bleach and ammonia, which forms a deadly gas known as chloramines gas, is an excellent method of killing them ammonia alone just suffocates them. Heres how you use the bleach-ammonia combination to kill gophers. Split the hole in half using a shovel.
Gopher Vs Prairie Dog
Gophers and prairie dogs share certain similarities and are often confused. However, they are two different animals. They are similar in size and shape. Both are classified as rodents. Both tunnel into the ground. Both are considered pests for their ability to damage plants, cause sinkholes, and harbor fleas. They do have differences in their appearance, though.
If you are able to see them up close , the most noticeable difference will be in the teeth. Gophers display huge, flattish incisors at the front of the mouth. There are two on top and two on the bottom. Sometimes only the two on top will be showing, giving this rodent a buck-toothed appearance. Also, gophers have long claws on their front paws, while prairie dogs do not.
From a distance , the more apparent difference may be in coat color. Gophers usually have dark brown fur. Prairie dogs have light brown fur.
They also differ in their habits. You are more likely to spot a prairie dog because this rodent is not shy about appearing above ground right in the middle of the day. Moreover, they are social animals, so if your property suffers from a prairie dog infestation, there will be multiple prairie dogs.
Gophers, by contrast, are shy, spending most of their time underground. Furthermore, they are solitary .
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Protects Your Yard Garden Or Farm From Damage Caused By Moles Voles Groundhogs & Rodents
- REPELS AWAY MOLES, GOPHERS, GROUNDHOGS, VOLES, MICE, RATS & OTHER RODENTS sheltering in the area. Makes the outdoors a safe place for you and your family.
- NO MORE PEST CONTROL SERVICES OR HARMFUL CHEMICALS: This 100% safe and maintenance-free device uses powerful vibrating sonic sound pulses transmitting in all directions through the ground. It will cause such disturbance to pests that they will be forced to evacuate the area.
- SOLAR ENERGY POWERED: The unit will collect energy from the sun during daytime in order to continue operating after dark to make your premises impenetrable to all these unwanted visitors 24/7.
- EASY TO USE: Choose the sunniest location for the solar panel to receive direct sunlight. Insert the spike firmly into the ground and enjoy the pest free environment you deserve.
- COVERAGE AREA: Ultrasonic sound and vibrations protect an area up to 7,000 ft2. Protect not only your garden but also your outdoor living area from reptiles and rodents
For Best Coverage, It’s Recommended That Two Units Be Installed Within 100 Feet Of Each Other. Most Customers Use Multiple Units For Maximum Protection.
What Attracted To My Yard
Gophers have eyes and they can see, although poorly. They navigate by sensing vibrations. They can sense vibrations that you probably arent aware of. For example, the water in your irrigation lines and spigots vibrate. That tells them theres moist ground, which is easy for them to dig. It also means food is growing there. Even small battery-operated devices emit vibrations that gophers find attractive.
They also have a strong sense of smell. Gophers find their food primarily by smell as theyre digging. Tuberous plants provide one of their favorite foods. They also love the leafy plants, such as lettuce, in your vegetable garden. If you have a healthy lawn, it will have a root system that provides tasty meals to gophers.
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What Attracts Gophers And Moles
They breed in early spring and are most active then and in the fall. Other than during mating season, moles prefer to be alone if you have a mole problem you are usually only dealing with one. Moles are attracted to food sources in your yard, digging through leaving behind tunnels, holes, and mounds of dirt.
Use An Electronic Repellent System
Ultrasonic pulses that emit from these systems can repel all kinds of animals in your yard, including gophers, though the research on effectiveness is inconclusive. They cost between $14 and $80 and can be found at most hardware stores and online. Many can cover areas up to 7,500 sq. ft. They claim to work by emitting a highly irritating sound below the ground to drive out the gophers. Most of these systems come in the form of spikes, which are inserted into the ground. Once the gopher has left your property, you can leave the spikes in your yard to prevent new gophers from taking up residence.
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How To Get Rid Of Gophers From Your Yard
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The Spruce / Ellen Lindner
A gopher is a burrowing, herbivorous rodent. This mammal’s native range is from Central America to Canada. In the United States, it lives in the West, the Great Plains, and the Southeast. An adult gopher becomes 6 inches long or longer, depending on the species. Most types weigh anywhere from 4 to 13 ounces.
Unfortunately, in some regions, other animals such as squirrels and moles are sometimes colloquially referred to as “gophers.” Adding to the confusion is that there is more than one genus of gophers. For example, we have the Western pocket gopher and the Eastern pocket gopher .
Fortunately, for the purpose of getting rid of gophers from your yard, it is not important to delve into distinctions between these genera. Gophers can cause extensive damage to your yard, garden, and utility lines, so you will want to get rid of them sooner rather than later.
