How To Trap a Gopher?

If you’re tired of gophers damaging your property, then this is for you. Gophers can be easily trapped with a bit of know-how, without having to call in the experts. All you need is a simple gopher trap you can buy at any hardware store and a bit of time on your hands.

Step 1: Locating the gopher tunnels

You need to identify the exact location of the gopher tunnels. Do this by inserting a metal rod (a screwdriver will do just fine) into the ground around where the gopher mound is. Do this until you feel where the tunnels run?

Step 2: Opening Up the Tunnels

Take a small trowel or spade and use it to open up the tunnel on each side as wide as you can. Be careful not to let loose earth fall in as you do this. Carry out your soil excavation as far down the tunnel as you can reach.

Step 3: Setting the Traps

Take your traps and place them in each direction of the tunnel (a trap should face each of the exposed openings of the tunnel you‘ve breached) as you don’t know which direction they will be coming through from.

Step 4: Mark your Traps

You will need to place markings indicating the locations of your traps. Put down small flags or spikes that will be easy for you to find later. Close up the hole you made carefully, making sure your markers are firmly positioned.

Step 5: Check the Traps
Come in the next day and collect the dead gophers from the traps you’ve set.


Take note that gophers are smart creatures and will learn to evade traps if they come across them more than once. They will sometimes detect traps and redirect their burrows before the traps get them. In this case, it’s advisable to give your efforts a rest before resetting your traps. A week should be enough time for another effort. Good luck!



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