Pest Abatement Services

Eligibility for Service: Your Ada County property tax bill will indicate whether your residence qualifies for pest abatement district services. Look for “Pest Extermination” in your annual list of levies found on your bill.

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The Ada County Pest Abatement Department uses three primary methods for controlling pocket gophers: baiting, trapping, and smoke cartridges.

• Underground baiting is the primary method used to control gophers. This involves using strychnine, or a product known as RCO Avalon. Baiting is the most cost-effective manner to control gophers. All Ada County crew leads must be professionally licensed through the Idaho State Department of Agriculture to apply pesticides for the pest abatement district.
• Trapping is the next most commonly used technique for gopher control measures. Ada County Pest Abatement primarily uses the DK1 trap. While crews can set between 100 and 200 traps per day, trapping is a time-consuming and labor-intensive method. Trapping is most effective in small areas and the preferred method when domestic pets are present on a property. Licensing is not required in order to set traps.
• Smoke cartridges are also used, but this process requires more time than baiting.  Crews must open the tunnel system of a new mound and place a lit, gas cartridge in the main runway. The cartridges used are similar to smoke bombs that may be purchased at most home improvement stores.

• At present, baiting is the only control method used to remove rock chucks.
• Bating is done with a zinc phosphate concentrate. Apples and potatoes have tested as the most effective forms of bait. Applicators of zinc phosphate must be licensed.