what to do about gophers on a golf course

by Isaias Carter Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

6 creative ways golf courses control pests, according to superintendents

Owls for gophers. With all due respect to Carl Spackler, dynamite is no way to deal with gophers. ...
Javalinas as tipsters. Greenkeepers hate grubs. ...
Drones and falcons as bird control. ...
Bats for bugs. ...
Minnows for mosquito larvae. ...
Natural oils instead of pesticides. ...

The most practical and efficient method of controlling large numbers of pocket gophers (such as on golf courses) is to place toxic baits by hand in active burrow systems. Proper baiting requires that you place the baits beneath the ground in main runways—so they are not exposed to children, pets, or nontarget species.

Full Answer

How do you get rid of Gophers?

Besides being one of the least involved methods, trapping also ranks as one of the most effective way to get rid of gophers or other rodent intruders. You can pick up a live trap at your local hardware store or even online ( view example on Amazon ).

Are Gophers bad for your yard?

Gophers’ network of tunnels create sinkholes in your yard that are as potentially dangerous for pedestrians as they are unsightly. Gophers also spell trouble for other animals, since, like all wild rodents, gophers tend to carry lice, fleas, ticks, and mites, often passing those along to pets who spend time in your yard.

How do you deal with bad holes in golf?

If a ball is carving out to the right, there’s no chance of it getting left, so don’t pretend like there is. 3. Not picking up on bad holes Have some awareness. If it’s taking you eight shots to get to the green, don’t slow the whole group down and make them watch all that. Pick up your ball, sit this one out, and move on. 4.

How many gophers can you get per acre?

Gophers are very territorial and solitary, so you’ll rarely get more than one critter per acre. But even the one can do a fair amount of damage. He can dig up 10 to 30 mounds of dirt in your yard every month, eating through roots, vegetables, stems, and just about anything else in its underground path, edible or not.

Do gophers live on golf courses?

The lush landscape and rich soil are also an attractant to wildlife, particularly those that like to burrow and dig. Moles and gophers are a golf course's worst enemy, so golf courses will typically spend a lot of time and money to get rid of and drive them away.

How do I permanently get rid of gophers?

2:194:31How to Get Rid of Gophers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe additional traps should be set facing opposite directions in the main burrow. Check your trapsMoreThe additional traps should be set facing opposite directions in the main burrow. Check your traps in the morning and evening if the traps have not been visited within 48 hours move the trucks.

What is a good deterrent for gophers?

You can place all sorts of natural deterrents around your property to repel gophers. Growing plants with strong smells such as sage, daffodils, iris, thyme, and geranium will repel them, for example, as will placing fish oil, peppermint oil, coffee grounds, or tabasco sauce on the ground near gopher tunnels.

What is the easiest way to get rid of gophers?

For a homemade remedy, mix three parts castor oil and one part dish soap. Add four tablespoons of the mixture to a gallon of water. Soak the tunnels and entrances to evict the moles and soak the holes to evict gophers. Castor oil is one of the most effective home remedies to get rid of these animals.

What do gophers hate the most?

Gophers hate strong scents such as rosemary, sage, thyme, eucalyptus, geranium, pine, lavender, coffee grounds, peppermint oil, and castor oil. These scents mask potential food sources and irritate a gophers senses. Read on for more about what scents gophers hate and how to use them on your property to repel them.

What time of day are gophers active?

Gophers are active during the day and are fossorial, which means they live most of their lives underground. They eat, forage, sleep and have their babies underground. They do all of this alone, though. Gophers are not social creatures, at least with their own kind.

Do coffee grounds repel gophers?

*Do coffee grounds keep critters away? Now, you might be wondering if the coffee grounds you easily throw away can help reduce or eliminate a gopher infestation. Yes, coffee grounds can be used on gophers, but not just gophers, other burrowing animals too. Fresh coffee grounds instantly repel garden moles as well.

Do Sonic Spikes work on gophers?

When placed in the ground and activated, sonic pulses penetrate the soil, emitting a sound that is highly irritating to moles and gophers who are virtually blind and sensitive to sound and vibrations. Climate permitting, leave the Sonic Spike in the ground to repel new generations of pests.

What will gophers not eat?

Plants. Plants gophers won't eat: Gophers usually won't eat daffodils (Narcissus) and most allium, onion or garlic plants, so you're safe planting as many of those as you want.

Can you flood a gopher hole?

Flooding and Fumigating Though it sometimes get the job done, flooding gopher tunnels with water harms the lawn and doesn't guarantee success. Water simply loosens the dirt, making your land easier to tunnel through. Until the water recedes, the gopher can easily retreat to higher ground.

How far down do gophers dig?

Pocket gophers live in a burrow system that can cover an area that is 200 to 2,000 square feet. The burrows are about 2½ to 3½ inches in diameter. Feeding burrows are usually 6 to 12 inches below ground, and the nest and food storage chamber can be as deep as 6 feet, depending on soil type.

Do gopher bombs work?

The chemicals present in this smoke can prove toxic to humans and house pets. They have to be placed in identified rodent burrows a minimum of six inches. Once lit, the burrow opening must be closed. However, despite their effectiveness, rodent smoke bombs do not get rid of rodents long term.

What is an animal hole in golf?

The rules that went into effect at that time were rewritten to remove any distinction between burrowing animals and any other animals on a golf course. Currently, the Rules of Golf provide a definition of "animal hole" and that is the term used at various points in the 2019 edition of the rules .

When did burrowing animals get removed from golf?

As of January 1, 2019, the term "burrowing animal" was removed from the Rules of Golf.

Who wrote the rules of golf?

The official Rules of Golf are written by the USGA and the R&A, and the definition of "burrowing animal" that appeared in the rules before being superseded by "animal holes" was this:

What to do if you see a gopher in your yard?

The best thing to do is act swiftly, using one of the following three methods: Bait the gopher into a live trap and release it far from your property.

How to get rid of a gopher?

The best thing to do is act swiftly, using one of the following three methods: 1 Bait the gopher into a live trap and release it far from your property. 2 Repel the gopher by placing castor oil pellets, peppermint oil, and fabric softener sheets in the burrows nearest your home. 3 As a last resort, poison the gopher with toxic pellets featuring zinc phosphide.

How to get rid of gophers in my house?

First, plan an exit route you hope they follow out and away from your property. Then, place castor oil pellets, peppermint oil, or fabric softener sheets in the burrows nearest your house to start.

How to keep gophers out of my garden?

Finally, if extra concerned, place a solar- or battery-powered ultrasonic emitter in your yard to keep gophers and any other rodents at bay.

What is the chemical in gopher bait?

Disguised as a tasty grain to attract gophers and other outdoor rodents, poisonous gopher bait often utilizes a toxic chemical like zinc phosphide. Homeowners report success with products from manufacturers like JT Eaton and Bonide. (Avoid any that list strychnine on the label as an active ingredient, because this poison remains in the gopher’s system and may poison any predator who feasts on a poisoned gopher’s remains.)

Can a gopher tunnel be flooded?

Flooding and Fumigating. Though it sometimes get the job done, flooding gopher tunnels with water harms the lawn and doesn’t guarantee success. Water simply loosens the dirt, making your land easier to tunnel through. Until the water recedes, the gopher can easily retreat to higher ground.

Do gophers carry lice?

What is the difference between a mole and a gopher?

So, a caretaker must know the difference between the two. Gophers leave kidney-shaped mounds, while mole mounds are shaped like a volcano and smaller than those of gophers.

How to get rid of moles on golf course?

Put a shovel into the ground, behind the mole, and bring the mole to the surface. Or, bury a container in the mole’s tunnel. Then block one side of the tunnel and shut out any light at the top with a board; the mole should fall into the container. Whatever way possible, ensure that the golf course turf is flawless.

Why do moles burrow in golf?

Moles are often destructive in sports turf because they burrow their homes underneath the ground and feed mostly on earthworms, grubs and insects. A mole that decides to make its home in a golf course may leave ridged soil above his tunnels on the surface and mounds of soil up to two feet tall. These ridges and mounds will undoubtedly leave ...

How to catch moles in a tunnel?

When setting a trap, select a spot in the surface tunnels where there has been recent and straight mole burrowing. Dig into the burrow, locate the tunnel, replace the dirt and put the trigger of the trap just on top of the soil. It’s also possible to catch the mole alive.

When to get rid of moles in the yard?

If one must get rid of the moles, it is best to do so in late winter or early spring before they reproduce. One tactic for eliminating moles is making the course less appealing to them. One can cut off the moles’ food supply by using insecticide and drying the soil.

Mole Control Through Insect Reduction

Moles love to eat insects, worms and grubs, so limiting their food source with the use of an effective insect control program for your soil can also help to provide golf course mole control.

Control Moles with Trapping

Trapping can be a highly effective method of golf course mole control, but the traps must be placed along active runways to their tunnel entrances. To determine if a runway is active, press down on its raised ridges and check back in about three days to see if the moles have made repairs.

Which Traps Are Best for Golf Course Control of Moles?

I’ve tried a lot of traps in my 30 years of animal control, but I’ve found that Havahart® Easy Set® Animal Traps work best for capturing moles effectively and humanely. The smaller varieties of these traps are ideal for catching smaller critters like moles.

How to be a good golfer?

10. Standing over the ball forever. Standing over the ball for a long time is annoying for golfers at every level, so don’t do it . 11. Walking slowly. Walk quickly, play quickly, and people will give you a lot of leeway for other things. 12. Bragging about good rounds during their bad rounds.

What are the most annoying things about golf?

The 34 most annoying things that golfers do on the course. It all comes down to three things: Show up on time, play fast, and be considerate of others. Golf is a strange but wonderful game, full of rules both written and unwritten. The ability to navigate those waters determines whether you’re a good playing partner or not, ...

Do people hate you for making putts?

Look, no one is actually going to hate you for making putts. But it is worth noting that if you’re dropping bombs on the green and winning your match because of it, don’t go overboard with the gloating, because then people absolutely will start hating you for making putts.

Is golf a good game?

Golf is a strange but wonderful game, full of rules both written and unwritten. The ability to navigate those waters determines whether you’re a good playing partner or not, which is arguably an even more desirable status than your ability to play the game itself. If you’re a pleasant person to play with, you’ll find yourself getting all ...