How can I remove a gopher from my yard without killing it?

Question

I have a gopher in my front yard (and, no, that's not a euphemism). He used to stay confined to a corner of a planter, with his one and only gopher hole tucked nearly invisibly behind a bush, and that was fine. Lately, however, he's begun cutting zig-zagging tunnels across my front walk, tearing up the yard and creating big mounds of dirt in the process. My wife is an animal lover (also not a euphemism) and would rather I didn't kill him (she's even named him: "Wally"). In fact, saying "she'd rather" is probably not quite strong enough. I'm guessing the truth is much closer to "she would divorce me if..."

You see my dilemma.

Anyway, I'm not too big on unnecessary killing either, so I'm hoping someone out there knows of a way to encourage a gopher to relocate...

Answer 1

Go to a hardware store or home depot or lowes, you should be able to find a ultrasonic gopher post. That is not the actual name, but it goes in the ground and the ultrasonic sound
repels the gophers, but It does not kill them or hurt them.

Answer 2

I have the same problem and my heart goes out to you (oops, sorry...I was just answering questions in the "relationship" section.)

My wife is a birder, or bird-watcher, and she puts out seed for the birds in our backyard. Gophers love the birdseed and have tunneled in from the fields that our yard backs up to. From experience, I can tell you humane "solutions" that DON'T work:

1) Bubble gum, chewing gum, or any other non-toxic food substance. Just like in the movie, they eat it and laugh at you.
2) Sonic devices into which you stuff large batteries and sink them into the ground. I think it they enjoy the vibrations - at least the kinky ones do.
3) Flooding. If golphers can survive heavy rains - and they do - what makes us think that stuffing a hose down the burrows will work? (idiot writing this question raises hand)

Solution: sit down with your adorable and animal-loving wife and have a talk. Tell her that while you share her values, you have to make a choice: the yard or the gopher(s). Yes, they were here first, and, yes, they don't deserve such a fate, but it's time to say nite-nite to the little beasts. You promise to make their demise as quick and painless as possible by using a product known as the "black box". You can get it at nursery and feed stores. It costs about $15 and is the only trap that I know that does the job. Just make sure that you set the traps and remove the dead gophers at a time when your wife is not present so that she doesn't get emotionally involved. Promise to make a contribution to PITA for every gopher whose ticket you punch.

And, by the way, you will never completely rid yourself of gophers. New ones will find their way into your yard and use the old burrows, so have your black box at the ready for the imigrants.

Answer 3

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RE:
How can I remove a gopher from my yard without killing it?
I have a gopher in my front yard (and, no, that's not a euphemism). He used to stay confined to a corner of a planter, with his one and only gopher hole tucked nearly invisibly behind a bush, and that was fine. Lately, however, he's begun cutting zig-zagging tunnels across my front walk,...

Answer 4

How To Catch Gophers

Answer 5

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Answer 6

we have ground squirrels that tear up my mom's rock wall. every year we go to the fish and game warden and pick up a trap. You put food in the trap and the squirrel runs in and then the door shuts. No harm to the squirrel. But the warden said that we had to release the squirrel at least 10 miles away from our house, or else it would come back. This year we actually took them about 15 miles and they never came back.

Answer 7

Okay, this is disgusting, but if you purchase (yes they do sell this) coyote (or another predators) urine and sprinkle that about - you should be rid of him/her soon.

I mean, I am sure that your yard is lovely, but who wants to be a coyotes supper?

Either that or Bill Murray as the other guy said - but those explosions are hell on your lawn

Answer 8

Are you sure it's not a mole? moles tunnel just under the ground, not gophers, they make holes, that's about all usually just the one. Moles will drive you crazy. See if your animal shelter has live traps they'll borrow you.

Answer 9

if you care more about the gopher than your yard, then let him be, if you kill him, another will take his place,

Answer 10

Call Bill Murray