Hello Everybody-
We live in Portland but have acreage out in the McMinnville area, where we just started our orchard-to-be with our first little trees this March. Our acreage is close to the area called Gopher Valley, coincidentally, and we do see evidence of these critters on the property! How much should I be concerned that our trees will succumb to the ravages of these rodents?
I see some mounds perhaps 20 feet from our prized possessions, and am wondering if I should contact one of the local gopher getters (I suppose they might be moles-I will examine the mounds and compare to the illustrations in the extension service publication I downloaded).
Advice anyone?
Thanks!
Cynthia
Welcome Cynthia,
Here I found a guide to distinguish mole vs. gopher presence. For us its moles and I just ignore their holes (except as an easy source of loose soil to back fill a tree planting).
My understanding is that any damage from moles is incidental while gophers can be very destructive.
The shape of the hole looks different. Mole hill looks like a tiny volcano, but a gopher hole looks like a crescent. Moles eat animals. Gophers eat roots. They also benefit by loosening up our heavy clay soils. Best thing is to not overwater your orchard.
John S
PDX OR
Gophers in Gopher Valley ...welcome to Yamhill County
We get ‘em at the north end, too…
Yes, watch for the crescent shaped, ‘kicked out’ mounds with a slightly plugged hole. I’ve tried flooding them out, digging them out, smoking them out and trapping them ...but my only consistent defence has been an antique ‘mole/ gopher gun.’
Since ya can’t buy such shotgun shell equipped gopher guns anymore, I suggest getting real good with the ‘pinch’ traps… I think that’s what the ‘professionals’ use around here. There’s a knack to it though, so prepare to get down & dirty.
Another key for me has been to get them early; once they’ve established collines and multiple tunnels they’ve too many places to hide. They will destroy a young orchard, so plan your attack.
Hey John, I had to search the old forum to find this, “Here is their description of Terad3: TERAD3 Ag Pellets is the first and only rodenticide in pellet form approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for organic production. With its unique active ingredient, Vitamin D3, TERAD3 Ag Pellets can be used by farmers operating under the guidelines of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to control rats and mice. No secondary poisoning for birds of prey.”
That’s the stuff, I’m not sure how to bait gophers with it, but it worked wonders on their miniature rodent cousins, voles…
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
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