There are many methods that can be done at home to treat pocket gopher or rock chuck infestations. Eliminating habitat on your own will greatly increase the effectiveness of pest abatement treatments whether you reside in the Ada County Extermination Tax District, or not.
For video tutorials on at-home pest removal, visit the Ada County Weed, Pest and Mosquito YouTube Channel.
Fresh gopher mounds indicate recent gopher activity. Typically, you will notice a small circle or depression on the mound representing the plugged lateral tunnel. The plug is generally bordered on one side with soil, making the mound crescent-shaped as indicated in the picture below.
REMEMBER: Always wear gloves when handling a dead gopher. Bury or place deceased gophers in plastic bags in a trash receptacle for proper disposal.
Once you locate the mound, use a hand shovel to dig down into the hole and remove the dirt. Do NOT stick your hand inside the hole. Gophers do bite and you could leave your scent in the hole. If a trap is set in the evening, check in the morning to see if a gopher has been caught. Check traps often and reset them when necessary. If no gopher is trapped within three days, reset your trap in a new location.
The following list includes the most frequently utilized traps for targeting gophers:
- The DK-1 Trap: To set the trap properly, place down inside the main entrance to the hole. Spray the trap with WD-40 to remove the human scent.
- Box Traps: Locate the main tunnel and open with a shovel. Place box traps in pairs facing in opposite directions. The placement will intercept a gopher from either end of the burrow.
Contact our office at (208) 577-4646 to have one of our staff members demonstrate how to properly set a gopher trap.
Trapping Supplies:
- Gloves
- Hand shovel
- WD 40
- Stakes (metal or wood)
- Plastic bags
Helpful tips for trapping gophers:
- Wire traps to stakes to avoid losing track of them
- Do not try to flush a gopher out with a hose
- Water will NOT kill the gopher and may cause the ground to collapse
- Traps can be purchased at local hardware stores
- Exclusion: Fencing can help reduce rock chuck damage of prized horticultural plants and small personal gardens. Fences should be at least 3 feet high and made of heavy poultry wire or 2-inch mesh woven wire. Bury the lower edge 10 to 12 inches into the ground, or bend the lower edge at an L-shaped angle leading outward and bury it in the ground 2-inches.
- Remove habitat: As rock chucks tend to inhabit large piles of rocks or wood, try to limit the debris piles on your property.
- Trapping: Steel leghold traps and cage traps can be used to reduce rock chuck damage, especially near buildings. Consult your wildlife services representative, or call our office at (208) 577-4646 for trapping consultations. Do not employ traps in areas where there is a possibility of capturing pets or livestock.
To learn more about pest abatement methods, visit the websites listed below.
- University of Idaho Integrated Pest Management: Educational information and resources for the pest management needs of Idaho.
- Pocket Gopher Control: Educational video by the University of Nebraska on at-home control methods for pocket gophers.
- UC Integrated Pest Management Program: An ecosystem-based approach to managing pocket gopher damage.
- Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management: An online hub for preventing damage from pest species (including pocket gophers and marmots).
