Gophers In Your Garden? Get The Facts

No homeowner likes having any type of pest in their garden, with gophers one of the most annoying critters that you could ever have to deal with. These annoying animals can wreak havoc with your plants and vegetables if left unchecked. Here is a closer look at gophers for those homeowners who are facing this problem.

Description

When people refer to "gophers" they are usually talking about the pocket gopher, which is the most common type. Gophers are rodents and are typically about 5 to 14 inches long, according to the LiveScience website. They are called pocket gophers because of the large pouches, or pockets, on their cheeks. Gophers use these pouches to carry food that they have collected from gardens and landscapes.

One distinctive feature of pocket gophers is the claws on their front legs, which aid them in digging and burrowing. They also have very large incisors that help them tear off the roots of plants.

Identification

Although it's possible you might spot a gopher in your yard or garden, it's not very likely because gophers are burrowing animals that rarely travel above ground. So, it might not be obvious whether you have a gopher problem or are facing a threat from a similar pest, such as a mole.

Perhaps the best way to determine if any gophers have invaded your property is to look for mounds of upturned dirt on your lawn. Since moles leave long trails of dirt rather than intermittent stacks of soil, mounds are a clear sign that you have a gopher issue.

Food Sources

Gophers are plant-eaters and will feed on a wide variety of plants, including garden plants such as flowers and vegetables. They usually eat the roots of the plant, since they rarely go above ground. When they do grab vegetation above ground, the gophers will try to bring the entire plant underground and consume it there. Gophers will also eat the roots of landscape plants such as trees and shrubs.

Control

Getting the gopher problem under control is not an easy task, as it often involves setting traps or using poisoned bait and hoping that the gopher falls into the trap or eats the bait. Many homeowners will not want to attempt to resolve the problem themselves, as it involves working with complicated traps or handling toxic materials. For that reason, the best plan for controlling your gopher invasion is to obtain the services of professional gopher control services.