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Presents: Gophers

Presents: Gophers. 6 to 10 inches long. Gopher Introduction. Gophers reach sexual maturity at about 1 year of age and can live up to 3 years. Gophers feed on roots they encounter while digging . They will surface feed around 6-10 inches from their tunnel opening.

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Presents: Gophers

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  1. Presents:Gophers

  2. 6 to 10 inches long

  3. Gopher Introduction • Gophers reach sexual maturity at about 1 year of age and can live up to 3 years. • Gophers feed on roots they encounter while digging. • They will surface feed around 6-10 inches from their tunnel opening. • They lead an almost total subterranean life, except: • to push dirt out • seek new territory • to graze • Gophers pull vegetation into the tunnel from below.

  4. The gopher's lips can be closed behind the four large incisor teeth to keep dirt out of its mouth when it is using its teeth for digging.

  5. Gopher Behavior • Gophers do not hibernate and are active year-round. • Fresh mounding may not be seen. • They can also be active at all hours of the day. • They may occur in densities of up to 16 to 20 gophers per acre.

  6. Gopher Reproduction • Females produce 1 to 3 litters per year. • 5 to 6 gophers per litter • Breeding usually occurs in late winter and early spring. • Don’t irrigate! • In irrigated areas females can have up to 3 litters per year. • Under irrigated conditions they can breed year-round. • Litter size may be as high as 10.

  7. Gopher Burrows • Burrows extend 6 inches to 6 feet in depth depending on climate and are 2.5 to 3.5 inches in diameter. • Burrows are generally plugged to keep temperature, humidity and even predators out. • Territories range from: • 200 square feet for young gophers • 2200 square feet for old established gophers • Non-social except during breeding season. • Intruding gophers are violently repelled.

  8. Plug

  9. Each gopher can push one to three mounds per day. • The mounds give an indication of areas with the greatest feeding or nesting activity.

  10. Gopher Burrows (A) Seen from above: Shaded portions are filled with excavated soil (B) Vertical profile: Showing nest and food chambers

  11. Do Not Bait These Areas Gopher Nest Feeding Hole

  12. Damage • Gophers gnaw plastic water lines, lawn sprinkler systems and yard lights. • Their tunnels can divert and carry off irrigation water and lead to soil erosion. • Mounds on lawns interfere with mowing equipment. • Mounds ruin golf course aesthetics of well-kept turf grass. • Gophers can cause problems with driveways made of interlocking pavers.

  13. Damage to weed control cover Damage to hill slopes

  14. Damage around paving stones Landscape pavers sinking

  15. Damage to Sprinklers

  16. Gopher Traps Mole Traps

  17. Locating Runways

  18. Kills Gopher Bait is a first generation anticoagulant rodenticide.

  19. Bait Placement

  20. First Aid

  21. Benefits of Gophers • Many mammals, large birds, and snakes eat gophers and depend on their activities to create suitable living conditions. • Salamanders, toads, lizards and other creatures take refuge in unoccupied gopher burrows. • Gophers offer free soil aeration, and help with improved quality of soil.

  22. Questions?

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