gophers!

[stckthrwr]

Is there a good way (besides trapping them) of getting rid of gophers? We have a neighbor with a huge pile of grass clippings. We go through batches of them every couple years.

This year they are going into my garages though. I've chased them out twice, but I don't want to have to keep doing this.

I'm planning on going to home depot for some traps, but can you put something on the yard to keep them away?

You'd think with all the stray cats in the area that they would be gone.

Thanks

Nathan

[fishingstar]

If they new holes a hose and a 22 go along way

[rumeye]

Hard to beat a death clutch trap.

[crothmeier]

We use sonic spikes at my place of business. Plastic housing that hold batteries, you dig them in flush with the ground and they emit a buzzing noise, we can mow right over the top and the batteries are supposed to last 4-6 months.

[stckthrwr]

And what about chipmunks?

I don't think I'll convince my wife to let me pick up a .22 to put them down. And I also don't think the neighbors would like it either.

[delcecchi]

Rat trap. The plastic ones with the large tongues. Peanut butter with a few black sunflower seeds pressed in.

The seeds stick to the PB and make it more attractive.

[stckthrwr]

Thanks! Went and got a trap today. Hopefully I can get them both quickly so they stop going in my garage!

[RebelSS]

Gophers? The smoke bombs worked well for me years ago...as long as you have ALL the holes plugged solid. http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/giant-destroyer-smoke-bombgasser-p-837.html

Chipmunks? Just caught 7 in a live trap baited with peanut butter. Transported to a nice big field.

[Tom7227]

A friend traps a lot of them and I was surprised at how complicated it is to set the things up properly. I likely will get this wrong but -

He would take the mound and open it up with his hands. There would be two tunnels and the trap had to be set in line with them so that when the critter came down the tunnel it would get caught. He then put a piece of plywood over the top of the hole and cover it with dirt so that all the light was blocked off. I think that most of the time the gopher would be caught within 24 hours. If they weren't caught within a couple of days he would remove the trap, fill the hole and tamp down the dirt and set up in a fresh spot.

I think he used a trap that had a couple of circular ends that would close around the gopher and kill it.

Maybe others can give some technique tips.

But wait - the OP didn't want to trap, and now I don't know if the concern is gophers or chipmunks.

[Tom Sawyer]

Why bother trapping, waste of time? Use the pellet form of poision. Many good brands out there, but I've had great results with Motomco Gopher Killer.

Finding the tunnel can be the biggest challenge. Dig next to the mound, slowly, until you locate it; hopefully you picked the correct side.

Drop some pellets in the tunnels, use a rock or small chunk of wood to prevent filling it in, and covering the poision.

[RebelSS]

Just do it to 'em. http://youtu.be/iR0sWU1HzTE

[stckthrwr]

I've gotten 2 chipmunks so far, wonder how many more we will get. Have the trap reset, so will check it later.

Sorry for the confusion. But I've had voles, chipmunks, mice, a muskrat and now chipmunks again. Probably only a matter of time for a gopher.

There is a huge pile of grass clippings at one of the neighbors. I'm sure that isn't helping. If I can get rid of the chipmunks I'll be happy.

Then to get someones dog to quit dropping piles on my yard. I sprinkled cayenne pepper in the yard. Not sure if that will work or not.

Nathan

[chanfish]

stc,

I used a weed spray(not roundup) that just kills dandelions and not your grass and sprayed on the area they prefer to do it on..Its usually one spot or a small area..Dogs are so scent driven that they stay away from sprayed areas..I used it on a post they lifted their legs on and that kept them away also..I also confronted the neighbors (usually young kids) and told them to pick it up..I watched and found out when they were doing it and waited for them..Usually in the early am and late pm..One of my pet peeves are pet owners who are not responsible for their pets..If i wanted to pick it up i would have my own dog!!

[stckthrwr]

I'll have to look for that. Yeah, mine is the same. Early morning and late night.

I don't have a dog anymore. I don't want to be picking up after other peoples dogs.

I don't think talking to them would help. They just let the dogs out to run and don't watch them. I've yelled at the dogs to get out of my yard, but they don't even listen much anymore.

Thanks!