Facts about gophers
Gophers carry diseases such as rabies, tularemia, and leptospirosis.
Gophers can gnaw on plastic pipes and sprinkler lines, causing damage.
Females can have up to three litters per year, each consisting of 4-6 babies.
The damage they cause can be extensive, even killing small trees and shrubs.
They can multiply up to 30 gophers per acre.
They are very territorial. They don’t share tunnels unless it is during breeding season.
They create new tunnels in search of food, pushing the excess dirt above ground, which over time forms mounds of dirt.
Gophers feed on the roots of plants, shrubs, and many kinds of trees.
They like small plants and grass that they can pull down into their tunnel to consume.
New mounds of dirt appearing in your yard are signs that you may have gophers.
Gophers live for an average of 3 years.
Gophers are ready to reproduce at 1 year old.
They are most active in spring and fall, but will also be found digging in the winter if temperatures warm up and the soil is moist.
They are more active after a rain as the soil moistens, making it easy to dig new tunnels. Here, they can make several mounds a day in search of food.
Trapping is the preferred method of eliminating gophers as it ensures that they are removed from the property.
Trapping is also preferred over poisoning or fumigating because it won’t negatively affect pets or other wildlife.
A single gopher burrow system can cover 200 to 2000 square feet.
Gophers keep their tunnels sealed to avoid predators from entering.
