Gopher Control & Management Edmonton

Gopher or Richardson's Ground Squirrel​​  

Gophers are a type of ground squirrel, named as Richardson's Ground Squirrel, also known as prairie gophers, yellow gophers, flickertails, or picket pins. Compared to common or tree squirrels, gophers (Richardson's ground squirrels) are found in colonies at open terrain, therefore more social, similarly their main food source is ground vegetation, while burrowing tunnels underground where they live and ​hibernate. 
Gopher as a Pest: ​​​​​Gophers' main damage is the creation of tunnel systems and building earth mounds at their entrance along with foraging on cereal field crops. For farmers, the main concern is earth mounds that could damage machinery and interfere with harvests. In residential and recreational areas, such damages are very cumbersome for landscapers and golf course owners. Not frequently, but open spaces around residential structures could have a permanent gopher colony, and population swelling forced them to move inside fenced areas. Once established, damage landscapes, sidewalks, and driveways by creating tunnels and earth mounds; importantly, encourage other rodents by providing burrow spaces. ​​​​We offer professional, safe & effective gopher control in Edmonton & areas, for fast & affordable gopher removal: call our certified technician at 780-707-6119.

Gophers Control

Prevention: 

Prevention: Gopher prevention is the long-term gopher control strategy, especially at cultivated land areas. The following two points are the bases of the prevention control method.

• Covering open land areas with tall vegetation, especially along the edges of cultivated land, makes land less suitable and attractive for gophers (Richardson's ground squirrel) because gophers prefer open habitats, especially to detect approaching predators.
• By providing nesting platforms for flying predators, e.g., hawks, and tall grass along the edges of the field, it provides a hiding place for predators to ambush prey, e.g., badgers and coyotes, ultimately contributing to reducing gopher numbers or maintaining numbers at a level that does not cause economic losses.

Chemicals Application: 

The best time to control gophers is during spring when green shoots are emerging. Two application methods: hand baiting in burrow systems and protected bait stations placed every 30 to 60 meters in infested areas. A daily checking of chemical treatment is necessary to maintain bait supply for at least three weeks and dispose of dead gophers according to the label to ensure non-target animals, e.g., especially dogs, do not access the dead poisoned gophers.