If you are talking pocket gophers, traps are the most effective. At least with some experience setting them. The beginner might not do as well. And you need to start trapping in the spring and keep after them.

JD:

Agree enthusiastically with Fruitnut. I don't have pocket gophers, but sure have groundhogs, which are larger and even more destructive. I trap them with an organic trap, then shoot them with organic bullets from my organic pistol. Just a big organic celebration, and very effective.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Every few years I have a groundhog problem. They dig under the fence around my garden and eat my melons, tomatoes and (this year) my sweet potato leaves.

I've tried to trap them by putting the traps near their burrows, and near the fruit, but never had any luck. Then one day I got the bright idea to not try to cover up their entry way into the garden with rocks and dirt (because they just dig another hole a few feet over), but to place the trap inside the garden at the exit of the groundhog hole.

Works every time! I put some leaves and dirt down inside the trap to cover up the metal cage and use rocks and stakes on the front sides to ensure that the groundhog can only go into the trap and not around it.

When I first discovered this method, I think I got 6 or 7 groundhogs that summer. Then I didn't have any for 2 years. Then this year I started losing fruit and leaves and traped one and (so far) my troubles have ended.

It's amazing how small a hole they need to get into the garden. The one I caught this year was a pretty good size but the hole it crawled through only looked big enough for a rabbit.

I also use Don's organic disposal method except I use an organic pellet rifle.

As long as you compost that groundhog I think you're ok. Just for my own amusement, I like waiting them out and knocking them off with my .50 caliber muzzleloader. If the bullet misses, the smoke and thunder has them relocating anyway.

Brook

Organic disposal - hilarious. The fight ended up with 1/2 melons to me, and 1/2 melons to the gophers. (Just the early silver line).

Now, I have TWENTY other patches of exotic melons growing, so I think I shall look into some organic traps. The only organic firearm I have is a .41 Sturm Ruger Blackhawk - so I think I will place the critter either on the compost pile or in its grave before shooting, as there will likely be to many pieces to pick up afterwards

However, EXTREMELY satisfying after they got the PRIZE oriental melon.

Thanks for posts.

I grow my vegetables in raised beds with a wire barrier underground to keep gophers from tunneling up and eating the roots of the plants. Usually they won't stay up above the ground long enough to eat up there, though it sounds as though yours are braver than mine. They are vulnerable to owls and other predators when they are above ground.

If you have raised beds, you can arc over them with panels of concrete reinforcing wire, then cover that with aviary wire that you can take off to tend or harvest.

Yes, we sometimes have to do this to protect vegetable plants, though the birds (young leaves) and the squirrels (fruits) are often the culprits here.

Rosefolly

Organic disposal very hilarious. I trap squirrels but don't shoot them I relocate them to some Federal wooded land 45 miles away. My biggest problem is wasps who are enjoying my Figs and Grapes. I bag the fruit but it is very time consuming and costly.

I can't speak for other parts of the country but in our area it is illegal to transport trapped animals off your own property for release into the wild. You can release them on your own property, dispose of them, or I suppose, keep them as pets!

(I'm actually not sure that keeping them as pets is legal. Certainly it isn't wise. I was being facetious.)