Moles or gophers: how to rid my yard of them?

[Dirt's72]

This is the trap we use we get em at Dans or Millers Feed stores on 4th st.

We buy the chain and anchor separate. Dig out the mound to find the tunnels. Most of the time there are two tunnels at one mound which is best to set a trap in each as the gopher will come from one side or the other. Most likely its only one or two doing all the damage. Once you find the tunnel use a screwdriver to enlarge the holes and its important to set the trap pretty far in the tunnel as possible. You dirt appears soft so your tunnels may collapse. If so go outside your yard if possible to some more solid dirt. We use a rake and level all the mounds and the next day you will see exactly where they are active. The most recent mounds the dirt is darker colored. Be persistent and don't give up as a lot of times these sob's will trip your trap and get away and cover up the hole. Keep at it and you will get them sometimes it takes several times to get em but these traps work. Good luck.
Ok back to getting the swamp coolers going....

[DeadheadNM]

Thanks buddy! Do you want me to ship the tails to you for beer money?

[Llay R. Rac]

an old timer once showed me a trick that worked well. Probe between the mounds for the "run" tunnel, then dig down into it and place a victor trap in each direction and leave the hole you dug uncovered. The rodent will quickly want to know where the hot dry air is coming from and rush to find out, triggering the trap. on a few instances i would set traps and catch a gopher within minutes.

[1976gmc20]

A whole bunch of cats seem to clean them out eventually but your neighbors may like that even less than you shooting them

[Terrysch]

Had moles at 2 different homes.
Did a lot of research. Found a great article from an agricultural university.
It went through each of the options to try and eliminate moles.
The answer really surprised me.

Find a mole hunter in your area.
The only fool proof way to get rid of them.
It explained why all of the other methods, water, smoke, the poison gummy worms do not work, and why a mole hunter.

So we have done this at the 2 different homes and they got rid of them.
Highly recommend doing this. But might have trouble finding one.

Why, how do they do it? Skill and experience. They study the mole runs. Which runs are active. They used 3- 4 traps each time. The ones with the spikes. We paid per mole. First one costs more. Of you can, get your neighbors to do with you and split the costs. Moles don't care about yard boundaries. LOL.

Plus you might have grubs in your lawn. Moles feed on worms and grubs. They go to where there is the most food. Areas with both. Eliminate the grubs and they don't come back. Go stay in lawns with both.

If you find and hire a mole hunter, you will not regret it.

[davischevy]

Pete, I just got back from Albuquerque and I didn't see any Moles out there.

I use Grub control on my yard and when the Grubs are gone, the Moles move on.

Good luck.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by davischevy

Pete, I just got back from Albuquerque and I didn't see any Moles out there.

I use Grub control on my yard and when the Grubs are gone, the Moles move on.

Good luck.

The gophers too have left Albuquerque I suspect. As of yesterday there were 114 shootings in 112 days in ABQ. They've trailed me up here because I make good red chile

Thanks for the tip. We are on a well - I wonder if the grub pesticide would percolate into our water and pose a health risk.

[DeadheadNM]

Thanks for all the other feedback guys - I should have traps to set by this weekend. Will post back.

[davischevy]

Even if my life weren't in danger, the traffic would be enough to get me to leave Albuquerque Pete. Pulling a trailer through there with an RV was interesting.

We pulled into the Denny's @ I-25 and hwy 550 and a couple were slapping the fire out of each other in a car in the parking lot. The words weren't nice either.

Somebody had lost a trailer and it hit a car at the I-25 exit. Tow rig was no where in sight.

[DeadheadNM]

Today I had a chance to try the traps. The Gophinator trap worked well and I had one in a matter of hours.

https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies....l/WCSGOPH.html

[DeadheadNM]

The Blackhole gopher trap was defeated by a gopher. I tried this one at a burrow entrance that I uncovered and thought I had adequately covered it to keep out sunlight. Apparently not as it piled dirt inside the bore of the trap deploying it sans gopher.

https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies....WCSBHGT-1.html

[DeadheadNM]

I’ve got several others deployed. Will check these tomorrow.

[DeadheadNM]

Interesting related local story I found in my research:

https://www.weau.com/home/headlines/...212034301.html

[Terrysch]

Just a FYI
Both of the mole trappers that took care of our moles used
plunger style traps.

I realize one of your traps has already worked.

Good luck,
Terry

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Interesting related local story I found in my research:

https://www.weau.com/home/headlines/...212034301.html

I was asked, "What yew in prison for, son?" I replied, "Stealin' gopher feet." And everyone on that bench moved away from me. /Alice's Restaurant

[WorkinLonghorn]

When we were kids and our lawn or a neighbor's had a gopher problem, we would go out and catch the biggest snake we could find and feed it down a hole. Of course we never saw the results, that was left to our fertile imaginations. For some reason, one neighbor I remember wasn't too thrilled with our technique, which baffled us at the time.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by WorkinLonghorn

When we were kids and our lawn or a neighbor's had a gopher problem, we would go out and catch the biggest snake we could find and feed it down a hole. Of course we never saw the results, that was left to our fertile imaginations. For some reason, one neighbor I remember wasn't too thrilled with out technique, which baffled us at the time.

Some people would complain about being hanged by a scratchy new rope, too.

[davischevy]

Well I went out to get the trash cans and noticed I have some moles again. I guess I'll be referring to this thread in the coming days.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

I was asked, "What yew in prison for, son?" I replied, "Stealin' gopher feet." And everyone on that bench moved away from me. /Alice's Restaurant

HaHa... You were on the Group "W" bench I bet.

LockDoc

[mrtoni]

Fyi
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost....rmot-meat/amp/

[DeadheadNM]

I got two more gophers and see no new mounds so I'm good for now. Thanks for all the good recommendations.

Funny - the thought of using snakes did cross my mind. Fox snakes are the best local choice. I've not found any yet.

I read that marmot article - unbelievable. New Mexico has endemic plague as well - the rock squirrels serve as the reservoir and every so often someone is diagnosed with it.

[Terrysch]

Total of three. Awesome.
You have a potential career as a mole hunter. LOL
Actually with getting three you should be good.
The mole hunters told us it is usually 2 - 3 moles.
Just watch for new runs, or old runs being used again.
One thing I recommend is just walking on the existing runs.
Then it is easier to see if a run is being used again.
Terry

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

HaHa... You were on the Group "W" bench I bet.

LockDoc

Actually, I enlisted of my own accord, no letter from Uncle Sam. They never found out about the hubcaps either, because I got a security clearance.