The Ultimate Guide to Effectively Getting Rid of Gophers: Our Proven Method

If you’ve ever witnessed the devastating impact of even a single pocket gopher on your meticulously maintained lawn or vibrant pasture, try to imagine that destruction multiplied by thirty or more. This was our reality for years, as our expansive 1+ acre property became an unwitting host to what we affectionately dubbed a “gopher city.” The sheer scale of the damage was overwhelming. We embarked on a months-long journey, experimenting with countless methods for pest control, enduring considerable frustration and expense. Finally, through persistent trial and error, we discovered the definitive solution that truly works best to get rid of gophers. We are thrilled to share our hard-won knowledge with you, hoping to save you precious time, effort, and the agony of ineffective remedies.

For those who have been following our journey since we acquired and began the extensive renovation of our farmhouse fixer, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the relentless battle we’ve been waging against the multitude of gophers that populated the large yard and pasture surrounding our home. This ongoing conflict has been a frequent topic of discussion, making numerous appearances on our podcast. In fact, our struggle became so central to our property management that we even dedicated a whole episode to our experiences with these tenacious pests.

Despite our best efforts and numerous attempts, we simply couldn’t find a trap or control method that offered consistent results. The damage to our yard escalated to such an extent that it became almost unmanageable for simple activities like walking or even mowing. While we could technically mow, the landscape was so riddled with gopher mounds and tunnels that there was often more exposed dirt than green grass. When wet, our mower wheels would become completely caked with mud, and in dry conditions, the sheer volume of dust kicked up was enough to obscure the mower from view, leaving the rider coated in a thick, gritty layer of soil. It was, to put it mildly, far from enjoyable.

Beyond the aesthetic and practical inconveniences, there was a more serious concern. We had recently invested significantly in a new foundation for our home. Large gopher infestations, like the one we faced, pose a genuine threat to structural integrity. Their extensive tunneling systems can undermine foundations, creating voids and potential subsidence issues that could lead to costly repairs down the line. Protecting our investment meant actively addressing this pervasive gopher problem.

Understanding the Scope: How Many Gophers Are We Really Talking About?

Wait, how many gophers could there possibly be? Don’t most people typically encounter only one or two, much like in the classic movie “Caddyshack?”

Based on our extensive research and conversations with various experts, it seems most homeowners indeed deal with only a couple of gophers, even if the resulting damage appears more widespread. However, shortly after we moved to our property and observed the sheer magnitude of the damage across our 1+ acre lawn, we began to hear stories. We learned about the previous owners’ decades-long struggle with gophers, a testament to the established “gopher city” we had inherited.

One anecdote particularly stood out: a man who grew up in our house recounted how, as a child, he and his father caught an astonishing 40 gophers in a single summer. Forty! This wasn’t an isolated incident; it was a clear indication of the deep-seated problem. When we eventually hired a local company to assist with trapping, as our own initial attempts proved largely unsuccessful, the phone consultation began with the usual reassurances. The expert stated that while it might look like a huge infestation, it was likely only a few gophers. His perspective, however, dramatically shifted upon his first visit to our property.

Standing amidst the maze of tunnels and mounds, he simply exclaimed, “I’ve never seen anything this bad.” His genuine surprise underscored the severity of our situation. He then proceeded to trap an incredible 26 gophers within a relatively short period before the accumulating cost compelled us to pause his services. It was an eye-opening and financially challenging experience, highlighting the unprecedented scale of our gopher problem.

The Many Ways to Get Rid of Gophers that Utterly FAILED for Us

The following months were a blur of experimentation and mounting frustration. We painstakingly tried method after method, consulting countless YouTube videos in a desperate attempt to find a solution. Despite our relentless efforts, the entire subsequent year yielded a meager total of just four gophers caught – and one of those was courtesy of a friend, so it barely counts as our own success, really! During this disheartening period, the damage continued to intensify. The dirt mounds proliferated, transforming our once-green lawn into a lunar landscape.

Our discouragement grew with each passing day, fueled not only by our lack of success but also by the significant amount of time and resources we were pouring into this losing battle. Time that could have been dedicated to more rewarding projects, such as nurturing our thriving vegetable garden or continuing with our home remodel, was instead consumed by futile gopher eradication attempts. The financial cost of various ineffective traps, baits, and repellents also added to our growing despair.

We explored numerous avenues, each promising a swift end to our gopher woes, only to be met with disappointment. Sonic repellents, which claim to drive gophers away with vibrations, proved completely useless against our entrenched population. Flooding tunnels with water was messy and rarely effective, as gophers are adept at sealing off sections of their burrows. Various types of poison baits, while potentially dangerous to pets and other wildlife, also failed to make a significant dent in the numbers. We tried different styles of spring traps and box traps, often finding them sprung without a catch or simply ignored by the cunning pests. The general consensus among “gopher experts” online often suggests easy solutions, but for a truly massive and established infestation like ours, these common methods simply didn’t cut it. The sheer scale of the tunneling network meant that single-point solutions were akin to bailing out a sinking ship with a teaspoon.

But then, a glimmer of hope appeared. Brian, ever the optimist, stumbled upon one more product that he felt might finally be the answer. He purchased it, prepared it, and set it with a renewed sense of cautious optimism.

The result?

A staggering fourteen gophers caught in just a little over one month! This breakthrough was transformative. With the population significantly reduced, we were able to knock down the existing mounds, and slowly but surely, the grass began to green up, making our yard resemble a lawn once more. This success was not just about catching gophers; it was about reclaiming our property and restoring our peace of mind.

Our intention is to spare you the financial burden and wasted time we endured while trying to get rid of gophers through ineffective means. To that end, Brian has meticulously documented our journey, creating not one, but two comprehensive videos!

The first video details all the various methods we attempted that ultimately proved unsuccessful. This serves as a vital cautionary guide, so if you hear someone passionately advocating for a particular gopher control trick, you can be forewarned about its potential ineffectiveness. Crucially, this video also reveals the single, consistent method that finally delivered results:

The One Proven Way To Get Rid of Gophers Consistently and Effectively

The second video provides an invaluable, step-by-step guide, demonstrating precisely how to prepare, meticulously set, and effectively utilize the trap that consistently worked for us:

This breakthrough has allowed us to finally breathe a collective sigh of relief, knowing that we now possess a reliable method to control our long-established “gopher city.” We understand that maintaining control will be an ongoing chore, requiring vigilance and consistent effort to prevent another overwhelming resurgence. However, the task no longer feels daunting or discouraging, armed as we are with the knowledge of a strategy that genuinely works. This proven technique has transformed our approach from one of despair to one of confident, proactive management.

If you find yourself grappling with gopher problems, whether a small nuisance or a full-blown infestation, we sincerely hope these videos will empower you. Our aim is to help you regain control of your property, minimize further damage, and protect your landscape and investments. We encourage you to watch them, implement the strategies, and experience the same success we did. And if you’ve discovered an alternative method that we haven’t covered, one that has worked effectively for you, please don’t hesitate to share your insights in the comments section below. Your experiences can help others in the community facing similar challenges!