So, if you’ve been noticing that your once pretty-looking lawn or garden has suddenly become rich with soil piles, you might have a gopher situation on your hands.
That said, you might also be having a gopher issue if you have suddenly lost or damaged plants (or portions of plants).
This is due to gophers being as mobile as your garden plants during this process as they come over from an adjacent property through their tunnel system.
Gophers inflict a lot of damage to crops and beyond – and also agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation lines! You want to manage and control the circumstances as they arise to minimize the onset of damage.
Initially – You may not detect the damages until you notice these damages progress. In the case of gophers, their tunnels are not always present – and add to that they live below the ground, it is much more difficult to catch them.
There are many methods and approaches to rid your property of gophers, trapping is one of the safest and most effective methods.
If you now also have confirmed gophers on your property, then here are some gopher traps that you can get your hands on.
Best Gopher Traps
1. Victor the Black Box Gopher Trap
The box trap is one of the most effective gopher traps on the market.
This trap is different from other types of traps because it uses a loop style chocker that will trip and catch the gophers instantly.
The downside to this trap is that it only works if you set it up properly. Therefore, you need to follow the directions properly.
First, find the tunnel with the probe when setting it up. Next, dig a hole to the tunnel and set the trap.
Make sure to align the trap with the straight section of the tunnel. Then, you can cover the hole with soil to make it look like part of the tunnel.
Another great thing about this trap is that the quality is great. The use of a weather-proof plastic and galvanized steel means you can reuse the trap several times for a long time.
Better yet, you can use this trap on all types of soil including sandy soils.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Highly effective
- Made of long-lasting materials
- Usable on any soil type
- Reusable
Cons
- You have to cover any holes to block light
You can also relax about the safety of your kids and pets as they walk around your lawn or garden.
This is because the moving parts of the trap are underground, plus it’s non-toxic.
2. GopherHawk Gopher Trapping Set
If you’re after a pretty easy trap to use, this great trap is good.
To setup the trap is a breeze. First, you need to find what tunnel system you are going to be using the probe.
Second, you need to use the wedge to make a hole at the number two position, and then set the trap and pull the black tube.
At this stage, you know the trap will have activated once you see a yellow indicator.
The visibility of the trap is both bad and good. Good for the farmer because now they can easily find it in the yard.
Unfortunately, it may also encourage kids and pets to be curious, which will result in them trying to pull it out, causing injury.
Therefore, you need to keep children and pets away from that part of the lawn where these traps are set.
Pros
- Easy to use
- The set comes with everything you need
- Durable material
- Easy to locate
- It can be used many times
Cons
- May be dangerous to pets and children
This trap from Gopherhawk is constructed out of durable plastic that resists corrosion and the elements. The stainless steel springs will not rust.
You can release and reset this trap as often as you want until you are gopher-free on your property!
3. Victor 0611 Easy Set Gopher Trap
We like the size of this trap as it makes it easy to use.
The trap has a narrow frame and short base, allowing it to easily fit in any confined gopher tunnel.
You just set it and forget it – without having to dig through the soil. The trap arrives with all its components attached and pretty close to ready to use.
The trap can be used in any season, made of galvanized steel that is sturdy and rust-free.
Soil type is also not a problem, as the trap activates perfectly on any soil type that may be in your lawn.
Pros
- Made with durable galvanized steel
- Requires little effort to set up
- Compatible with all soil types
- Active parts are hidden underground
Cons
- The trap is too sensitive. It may require multiple attempts to place it.
You don’t have to agonize about potential injuries as the active parts of this trap are all tucked underground.
4. Cinch Gopher Trap with Marking Tunnels Flag Heavy-Duty
This trap will eliminate your gopher problem and other rodents including moles, instead of you calling pest control.
The trap is a quick cinch type that provides a clean and fast capture. It takes some initial work to get it ready to use.
You will need to widen the hole before you can place it, so you will be using a shovel or spade to use it.
You will also need to place it in as deep in the hole as possible to have the maximum effectiveness.
The trap is built from heavy duty steel, which gives it a very durable quality in all weather conditions, you can use it to catch numerous gophers over a period of time.
Pros
- Heavy-duty metal
- Can catch other rodents
- Fast and clean killing mechanism
- Since it’s underground, its safe for kids
Cons
- Requires digging before set up
- The mechanism is highly-sensitive. Setup may take long.
The product kit also comes with flags for you to mark the placement spots.
5. The Original Black Hole Rodent and Gopher Trap
Because of the cylindrical shape of this trap, it is easy to locate the product directly into the gopher tunnel.
This makes it appear to be an extension of the tunnel making it ideal for trapping gophers.
Once the gopher enters the hole, the trap will activate and it will quickly kill the gopher with the metal wire.
This trap does not even require a bait. In addition to that, after you have caught a gopher, you clean it out and set it back up again.
This black hole trap is tough plastic that resists rapid temperature changes, corrosion, and water.
This means you can set it when it is freezing or during a heavy rainfall. The metal springs are also all stainless steel and rugged.
Pros
- Quick set up
- No bait needed
- Weather-proof plastic and galvanized steel
- Can capture other animals
Cons
- Cleaning it up maybe a messy affair
Apart from catching gophers, you can also use their products to capture rats, moles, and other burrowing animals.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Gopher Trap
Here is what you need to look out for when picking your best gopher traps.
The Material Used for traps
Most gopher traps are either made of plastic or metal, with galvanized iron or stainless steel being the strongest and most durable (both are also better at killing rodents, instantly).
The plastic gopher traps are more humane, as they trap the rodent (and subsequently need to be released by the user).
Plastic gopher traps are usually cheaper than metal gopher traps.
Plastic gopher traps are typically not as durable and will require more frequent replacements.
However, good quality plastic gopher traps are good in bad weather. Some of the traps, such as The Original Blackhole, combine the use of plastic and metal.
We recommend also wearing gloves when around or handling the traps in the yard.
Traps Size
If a trap is too big, gophers may manage to escape the noose. It is best to ensure that the trap you buy is sized for gophers.
Types of Traps
Wire Traps
A wire trap basically a bunch of metal mixed with wires, which trigger to ensure you get the gophers, when they touch a specific wire in the trap.
The gorgeous, brownish colored item in the middle of the wire trap creates the gopher hole.
Find the gopher hole, then cover a part of the top of the tunnel with the wire. Be careful when setting this up and closely following the how to stairs. They are not that easy to set up and you won’t get pinched in the process.
Box Traps
Box gopher traps are the traps where the cute little blokes will be caught. As for the way you set it up, simple, it just sits there and the gopher goes in. The box trap is best at a gopher tunnel.
Sensitivity
With a trap that is more sensitive you have more chance of catching the gophers. Stainless steel traps have very high sensitivity and the traps work.
What happens is as the animal goes in the closing mechanism of the trap will close the door and you have yourself a gopher in a mini cage.
Safety
If you have kids or pets, go with a trap that is more safe. With how quick the traps react, they can do a lot of damage to anyone who isn’t aware.
One trap that is mostly buried is optimum. No traps that needs chemicals or poisons.
This poisons is also not only with the kids nor pets in mind.
They threaten other organisms in the soil that could be beneficial.
If your pets ran into the poison, they could die.
When Is The Best Time To Set a Gopher Trap?
Gophers are basically most active when it’s moderately hot. Late spring to early summer is the perfect time to set your trap.
Since gophers become less active as temperatures cool, they are stationary. When they are stationary it makes it difficult to trap them.
In addition, they make holes and underground tunnels by displacing dirt out of the ground within your yard, and handling the dirt is also not easy until you’re able to find the best gopher trap for your yard.
What Baits Can I Use In My Gopher Trap?
These pesky gophers usually eat grass, shrubs, and trees. If you’re going to bait your trap use alfalfa greens, dandelion, or prickly pear cactus.
If you can’t find any of these things use everyday food items like lettuce, carrots, apples, or peanut butter.
Whatever bait you use make sure it is the only food source. You want the gophers to be attracted to your bait.
Think about the weather when picking your gopher trap bait. If it has been raining carrots and peanut butter will last a little longer than some of the options.
Where Do You Place The Gopher Trap?
You wanna set your gopher trap at the top opening of the tunnel hole.
Depending on the size and kind of your trap, you may need to dig through the soil first.
Also, it’s a good plan to set two traps, one in each direction of the tunnel, because you might not know which direction the gophers will head.
How Often Should I Check The Gopher Traps?
Various traps can become effective at different amounts of time.
Read the manual for your traps to measure how long the first catch will take.
If I may advise you, you should check your traps at least once a day; every other day; is giving the traps a lot of time to catch.
After two days and you have not caught a gopher, it is best to move the trap to a different location.
Gopher control can take a few attempts of trial and error to place traps in the right tunnel, but once you have the equipment located where the gophers are traveling, trapping will be the best way to remove the animal without making another hole in the ground.
What Is Attracting Gophers To My Property?
The gophers are drawn to places that have food sources. Some of their preferred plants include potatoes, radishes, and carrots.
They also like shrubs, grasses, and flowers like tulips.
Gophers very much like clay soil because of the moisture it provides, which the gophers love.
It also makes sense for burrowing activity, as clay soil has fewer chances of caving in.
Meanwhile sandy soils have poor moisture retention, and have a proclivity to cave in. For this reason, gophers tend to avoid these areas.
What Plants Won’t Gophers Eat?
Simply planting crops that gophers won’t eat would be an effective way to keep gophers from burrowing in your soil.
Mint, for example, would work great as gophers won’t eat it. Onions or garlic also might work if you plant them.
In terms of a flower garden, daffodils would be a good solution as gophers won’t bother daffodils.
The next best pest control would be to plant crops that repel gophers.
They include roman chamomile, lavender, gopher spurge, catmint, and marigolds.
Not only will gophers repel, but they will also repel other insects like the annoying mosquito.
What Type Of Damage Do Gophers Cause?
- A gopher damages your plants by eating the roots. If the gopher is uncontrolled, it could kill the plants. Additionally, it could eat the bulb plants that may be present in your landscape.
- In addition to causing plant damage, gophers can also chew through irrigation systems as well as electric lines.
- Gophers are a carrier of disease. If a person is bitten by a gopher, rabies is a possibility as they carry the disease asymptomatically. Other diseases include monkeypox, plague, and hantavirus. However, gophers have a low potential for human transmission of these diseases since gophers are always underground.
- Gophers can carry ticks and fleas which can attach to your outdoor pets.
- The dirt mounds can create a tripping hazard. You may twist an ankle as you stumble through your lawn and landscape area using every gopher hole as a possible foot trap.
Conclusion
With any of our five best gopher traps, you should be able to solve your gopher trap problem before long. Pick the top trap you like considering the factors mentioned.
It should be pointed out that this is not a quick method but it is very effective. Be prepared to be patient until you get them all caught in your area.
Also, if you have a large property and it is taking too long to get rid of them, you can consider adding some other control methods alongside trapping.
Lastly, there’s always the option of contacting a gopher control professional who should be able to give you advice tailored specifically to you.