Pocket gopher control is a topic that comes up time and again among farmers and homeowners across Nevada. On a recent farm visit, I saw substantial signs of their damage—fresh soil mounds and chewed roots, and heard the familiar question: “What can I do about them?” These burrowing pests can be costly and persistent, but with the right mix of strategies, they can be kept in check.

Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents that live almost entirely underground and feed on roots, bulbs, and other plant parts. Their tunneling and feeding can cause serious damage to hay, grain, and orchard crops. Effective management requires correct identification, an integrated approach that combines cultural practices, trapping and baiting, and careful timing. 

What are pocket gophers and why are they a problem?

Pocket gophers are stout-bodied rodents, about 6–8 inches long, with large clawed front paws and fur-lined cheek pouches used for carrying food. They rarely come above ground; instead, they build tunnel systems 6–12 inches below the surface. The presence of flattened, fan-shaped mounds of soil with a distinct plug at one end is the most obvious sign of a gopher infestation. As they feed, pocket gophers clip roots of fruit trees, alfalfa, and other crops, and pull vegetation into their burrows. Soil and rocks from their mounds damage harvesting equipment and reduce crop quality.

How do I tell pocket gophers from moles, voles or squirrels?

1. Mound shape: Gopher mounds are flattened or fan-shaped and usually have a soil plug at one edge; moles make taller, volcano-shaped mounds without a side plug. Gopher mounds are often clumped in tight groups, whereas mole mounds occur singly in a line. 
2. Burrow openings: Meadow voles leave small open holes (about the size of a 50-cent piece) and surface runways, but no mounds. Squirrels strip bark from trees and leave no burrow openings. 
3. Feeding damage: Gophers clip off roots and rootlets; voles girdle stems at or near the soil surface. Examining damaged roots and the pattern of mounds can help you identify the pest.

Are pocket gophers ever beneficial?

Yes–gophers mix and aerate soils by burrowing, bringing mineral soil to the surface, and allowing deeper penetration of water. They also serve as prey for hawks, owls, coyotes, badgers, and snakes. When deciding whether to control gophers, consider their ecological benefits alongside crop damage.

Are pocket gophers protected?

In Nevada and many other U.S. states, pocket gophers are classified as nongame wildlife and are not specifically protected; landowners can control them on their property. However, pesticides and fumigants used for gopher control are regulated, and some are restricted-use products that require permits and must be applied in compliance with label directions.

What safety precautions should I take when using pesticides?

Always read and follow pesticide labels. Wear protective clothing and safety devices, and bathe or shower after use. Avoid bait spillage; if bait spills, bury it immediately to protect non-target wildlife. Follow all safety instructions, and train bait applicators to correctly identify open tunnels and avoid back-filled tunnels.

How can I modify the habitat to discourage pocket gophers?

1. Flood irrigation: Where possible, flood irrigating fields in spring and early summer forces gophers to leave their burrows or drown, providing nearly complete control. Flooding is not possible with sprinkler irrigation, and reinvasion from adjacent dry areas can occur, so treat surrounding areas as well. 
2. Vegetation and crop management: Removing vegetation that gophers feed on can reduce damage by about 50%. Apply herbicides to control forbs in orchards or non-crop borders. When alfalfa stands decline, plow and replant with alternate crops rather than keeping low-yielding stands because deep tilling disrupts burrows and removes food. Also, according to a study by the University of Nebraska, planting alfalfa varieties with several large roots rather than a single tap-root reduced gopher damage, and buffer strips of grain (≈50 ft) around hay fields helped deter gopher immigration. 
3. Deep tillage: Deep tilling when fields are taken out of production can destroy burrow systems and kill some gophers. The University of California Integrated Pest Management (IPM) notes that deep tillage slows reinvasion and buys time for other control methods.

Can exclusion help?

Fencing may protect small, high-value plantings. Use 1/4- to 1/2-inch (6–13 mm) mesh hardware cloth buried at least 18 inches deep. Cylindrical plastic netting placed over individual seedlings reduces damage. To protect buried irrigation lines or cables, enclose them in a pipe at least 2.9 inches (7.4 cm) in outside diameter or surround cables with 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) of coarse gravel; gophers cannot open their mouths wide enough to chew through larger diameters.

When should I start control efforts?

Monitor fields regularly for fresh mounds, especially in fall and spring when the soil is moist and mounding activity peaks. Look for darker, moist soil indicating new mounds. Mark fresh mounds by flattening them; return in a day or two to see where new mounds appear and treat only active burrow systems. For effective results, carry out most control operations in late fall through early winter because gopher numbers are lowest then. Removing a single female pocket gopher at this stage can stop multiple offspring from being born, preventing a larger infestation later on.

What are my options for trapping gophers?

Trapping is very effective for small infestations or where toxicants cannot be used. Set traps in the main or lateral tunnels. To find a main tunnel, dig 12–18 inches (30–46 cm) from the plug side of a fresh mound; place one or two traps facing opposite directions in the opened burrow, and close the opening. Gopher trap types include Macabee®, Victor® Gopher Getter, Death-Klutch, and box-type traps. Trapping requires diligence: check traps within 48 hours and move them if there is no catch, and place multiple traps per mound. Because of the labor involved, trapping alone is usually impractical on large acreages. For more information on proper trap placement, you can watch a video produced by the University of California Cooperative Extension at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGLGQigAYZI. 

How do I use poison baits effectively and safely?

1. Choose the right toxicant: Single-dose baits containing strychnine (0.25–0.5% on grain) or zinc phosphide are historically effective. Multiple-dose anticoagulants such as diphacinone and chlorophacinone are also available. Bait shyness may occur if sublethal doses are eaten, and decomposition in damp burrows can reduce efficacy. Note: Strychnine Alkaloid Paste is classified as a restricted-use pesticide for managing pocket gophers, yellow-bellied marmots, and ground squirrels. To purchase this product, visit the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s website and complete the order form available at: http://agri.nv.gov/Plant/Environmental_Services/Strychnine_Order_Form/. Also, Zinc phosphide is available for controlling certain vertebrate pests, including gophers. For additional details, contact Jack Sengl, Staff Biologist with USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, at (775) 851-4848.
2. Apply during optimum soil conditions: Baiting is most effective in late winter or early spring when the soil softens and before females give birth. Fall applications can remove adults and their young ones born earlier in the season. Avoid baiting when the soil is hard and dry because gophers are less active near the surface and more likely to be in deeper tunnels, making bait placement less effective. 
3. Hand baiting: After locating a main tunnel, place about a tablespoon (15 mL) of grain bait in each direction and close the tunnel with sod to prevent the gopher from pushing soil over the bait. For anticoagulant baits, larger quantities (½ cup) may be needed at two or three locations in each burrow system. 
4. Probe-bait dispensers: Hand-held probes that locate burrows and dispense a metered amount of bait greatly reduce labor. Place three to five baits in the runways, positioning them 2 to 4 inches below ground level, around each cluster of fresh mounds. Probe-bait dispensers are suitable for infestations on 2–5-acre fields. 
5. Mechanical burrow builders: For large acreages (≥10 acres), use a tractor-drawn burrow builder that forms an artificial burrow 6–10 inches deep and deposits bait every 18–48 inches. Operate at 2½–3½ mph and space artificial burrows 20–25 feet apart. Check the torpedo regularly to ensure bait is being dispensed, and build two additional burrows around field perimeters to deter reinvasion. 
6. Follow-up: Revisit treated areas 2–3 days after baiting. Flatten new mounds to identify untreated burrows and re-bait or trap where needed. Continue to monitor regularly because gophers quickly reinvade cleared areas.

Are fumigants an option?

Burrow fumigation with aluminum phosphide is considered to be one of the most consistently effective gopher-control methods when soil moisture is adequate. Because aluminum phosphide is a restricted-use pesticide, applicators must be certified and follow strict safety guidelines. Fumigants work best when the soil is moist enough to hold the gas and when the main tunnel is located correctly.

Using carbon monoxide from a vehicle’s exhaust is often more effective than other fumigation methods because it is delivered at higher volume and pressure. To apply, attach a hose or pipe to the exhaust pipe of the engine and insert the other end into a gopher tunnel close to a fresh mound. Seal the area around the hose with soil, then run the engine for roughly three minutes. This technique typically achieves about 90% control. Newer vehicles equipped with emission-control systems may require a longer running time, as they produce less carbon monoxide. No special registration is needed to use this method.

Do predators provide control?

Natural predators (snakes, owls, hawks, coyotes) eat gophers, but their predation usually does not keep gopher populations below damaging levels. Encouraging predators can complement other control methods, but cannot replace them.

How much damage can pocket gophers cause?

Pocket gophers reduce forage yields by 21–49% in hay meadows and alfalfa fields. They chew irrigation lines and electrical cables, causing leaks and expensive repairs. Calculating the cost of control versus loss should include crop value, repair costs, and the ecological benefits of gophers.

Is control cost-effective?

Control costs vary with method, infestation level, and labor. For high-value crops, the value of saved forage or prevented tree loss often exceeds the cost of control. A study by the University of Nebraska noted that benefits from gopher control can appear within months; hay yields in a fibrous-rooted alfalfa variety increased 16% three months after control. In orchards and vineyards, preventing girdling of young trees and avoiding irrigation-line damage usually justifies control costs.

What is the best way to manage pocket gophers?

No single method provides complete control. Deploy an integrated control approach that combines monitoring, habitat modification, baiting, trapping, and in some situations, fumigation or deep tillage. Remove vegetative cover and alternate to less susceptible crops; trap or bait new infestations promptly; use burrow builders for large areas; and maintain perimeter treatments to discourage reinvasion. Always follow current pesticide regulations and safety guidelines, and consider the ecological role of pocket gophers when making management decisions.

References

1. Baldwin, R.?A. (2025, July 16). Pocket gophers. In plum pest management guidelines. University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.  
2. Case, R.?M., & Jasch, B.?A. (1994). Pocket gophers. In the handbook: Prevention and control of wildlife damage (Paper No. 13). University of Nebraska–Lincoln.  
3. Edge, W.?D., & Loegering, J.?P. (1999). Controlling pocket gopher damage to agricultural crops (Publication No. EC 1117; reprint May 1999). Oregon State University Extension Service.  
4. Gunn, D., Hirnyck, R., Shewmaker, G., Takatori, S., & Ellis, L. (2011). Meadow voles and pocket gophers: Management in lawns, gardens, and cropland (PNW 627). University of Idaho.