0
Some gardeners swear by marigolds and green onions, for which gophers are purported to have a particular distaste. Experiment by planting marigolds and green onions amongst your prized edible and ornamental garden delicacies. No repellents currently available will reliably protect lawns or other plantings from gophers. Mothballs, garlic, spearmint leaves, predator urine placed in tunnels, and a perimeter of mole plant or castor bean planted around gardens have all provided mixed results. Such control strategies may be experimented with where gophers are an occasional problem, but not a long-term threat. Raptors, non-venemous bullsnakes (or "gopher snakes"), weasels, skunks, coyotes, dogs, and cats are all known to prey on gophers. Please consider using natural means rather than traps that maim or kill inhumanely.If you are considering the use of "live" traps, do NOT use glue-traps; they're death-traps and you'll never get the little guy off of them (unless you are extremely patient and have some hair conditioner and olive oil to loosen the glue with Q-tips and GENTLY pry the legs off the sticky substance). There are plenty of live-traps that capture but do not hurt the gophers. CHECK LIVE-TRAPS REGULARLY so your trapped gopher does not starve, die of thirst, or freeze. Find a place to release your gophers where they will have food and protection in a nice field away from residential areas. Do not release in areas likey to be developed or poisoned with ground toxins of any kind.
When we pull all the weeds in our gardens, gophers have no choice but to eat what we plant. That's when they become our competitors, rather than our helpers.
If you're losing a carrot or a couple of bulbs here or there, please, consider allowing your gophers to live in peace. Truth be told, they may be doing more good than harm. The ecological services of pocket gophers, which are substantial, are often not appreciated, particularly when the animals make their presence known by eating garden crops or damaging orchard or ornamental trees. For homeowners and gardeners, gophers may be only an occasional (or seasonal) nuisance in lawns and garden beds, and not a long-term problem or threat. Where these animals are not so numerous as to be causing heavy damage, they should be considered neutral.
Gophers can do minor damage to underground wiring; they simply don't know the difference between a wire and a root. They'll chew anything to discover what it is or to remove an obstacle when creating their matrix of underground burrows. Gophers may not frighten easily because they're used to noises from sprinklers, power equipment, foot-traffic, livestock, and other city or rural sounds. Avoid products that use sonic and vibration means to "frighten" gophers, as they probably won't do much good. Before you resort to killing gophers, please read: Gophers eat roots, bulbs, and other fleshy portions of plants they encounter while digging underground. This includes many "pest" plants, such as a variety of weeds and obnoxious non-native shrubs that would otherwise over-use valuable water and soil resources from native plants in your region. Some species of gohpers are protected, because they've been trapped into near extinction; so before you try to kill them as a VERY LAST resort, do a little research about gophers in your area. References: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/gophers.htm Previous article: "I've heard they don't like Marigolds or green onions. Believe it or not one secret of avid gardeners is to plants Marigolds or green onions amongst their flowers. Gophers are just as destructive as the moles we have here in British Columbia. You basically have to nail the little suckers in the holes. If you have a long haired cat when you groom it save the fur! Then put a bit of the cat fur down the holes. Also aspirin works. Short of that you have to kill them or, the war is on just like moles and myself! LOL"
What else can I help you with?
What do gophers eat?
Gophers only eat plants and vegetables. They are herbivores.
Do gophers eat birch tree roots?
NO. ** i disagree gophers will eat just about any root . even ones that are reported that they dont like.
Do gophers eat chickens?
Gophers are small animals. They like to eat plants, and this includes grass. They are also tunneling animals so they tend to ruin lawns by burrowing.
Will gophers eat yarrow root?
Gophers prefer to eat other plants than yarrow. Plant nurseries call it gopher resistant but not gopher proof.
Do gophers help plants?
Gophers can have a negative impact on plants by feeding on roots and vegetation, which can lead to stunted growth or even death of the plant. They can also create tunnel systems that disturb plant roots and soil structure. Overall, gophers are usually considered pests in gardens and agricultural fields.
Do gophers eat roots of camellias?
Yes, gophers can eat the roots of camellias. These rodents are known for their burrowing habits and will dig up various plant roots, including those of ornamental plants like camellias, in search of food. Protecting the roots with barriers or traps can help prevent damage to these plants from gophers.
Do gophers eat parsley plants?
Yep, gophers (groundhogs etc) love to eat the leaves. They will chomp it off and there will be only the stem left. You can solve this with a chicken wire fence.
Do gophers moles eat oleanders roots?
Gophers and moles are known to eat a variety of plants, but they typically do not target oleander roots specifically. Oleander is toxic to many animals, including rodents, which may deter them from consuming it. However, gophers are more likely to feed on roots of other plants and crops. Moles primarily eat insects and earthworms, so they wouldn’t be interested in oleander roots either.
Do gophers eat plastic?
gophers do not eat plastic for a living but they might eat plastic sometimes
Do gophers eat bougainvillea roots?
Gophers are known to eat a variety of plant roots, and while they typically prefer more nutrient-rich plants, they may occasionally target bougainvillea roots if they are accessible. Bougainvillea plants are not a primary food source for gophers, but the roots can be consumed if other food options are scarce. It's best to protect bougainvillea plants with barriers or repellents if gopher activity is a concern in your garden.
What do gophers eat you catch them as pets and you dont know what to feed them?
Gophers are not pets! They can bite and even carry rabies. Kill humanely or call local animal control to relocate or euthanize.
Will gophers eat onions?
Yes. Gophers will eat onions. At least the gophers in my garden. They don't seem to be too picky. They took our most of our onion patch.
