Use of gopher traps is one of the more reliable forms of controlling gophers from ones compound. Gophers are similar to moles but their traps are somehow different and cannot be used interchangeably. Since both burrow the lawns and gardens, it is important to know which one of them one is trapping to use the right trap. Gopher feed on trees, shrubs, vines and garden crops. Gophers are also found in peri-urban towns. Below is an outline on how to set a gopher trap.
The tunnels created by gophers are from five inches from the ground to deep into the soil. Feeding tunnels are shallow as are only used to hide and feed. One will find these tunnels open most of the time. Traps are set on the deeper active ones to capture them as they move about in the tunnel.
Living tunnels are deep into the soil while feeding ones open and near the surface. The feeding ones are temporary and the gopher may abandon any of them. For deeper tunnels, gophers plug moulds into the surface. The soil deposited is asymmetrical and crescent shaped as these pests push the soil upwards when burrowing the ground. The mole on the other hand has clearly visible and symmetrical mounds. These are the best locations to set up the traps.
When you identify a tunnel, it is good to probe it to ensure it is active and set a trap deep into the network of tunnels. You can buy a gopher probe to do the job or improvise one of a metal rod. You can the dig up to a foot using the probe or a shovel. When you realize a sudden dip when probing, that is a tunnel. You can try poking deeper to look for deeper tunnels. Set the trap in the deeper tunnels.
The market is awash with several branded traps. Most of them are either two pronged pincer style traps or chocker flair box traps. All traps come with a set of instructions in the user manual on how to use them. One can place several traps to increase chances of trapping gophers.
Macabee Pincer-style trap is most common gopher trap. It works well in the feeding tunnels. It is a pocket trap and is placed directly into the tunnel. When setting it one should ensure that all steps are followed.
One should start by swinging the wire trigger from the under frame. He or she should then spread its jaws by pushing the thumbs down. From this point on uses the index finger to bring the trigger wire to the edge of the trap. Without letting the trap free, the straight end of the trigger wire is brought in through a hole in the silver plate. This puts pressure onto the wire so that it snaps when the gopher hits it.
A shovel or trowel can be used to widen the area that one is placing the traps especially when they are two. The traps are then placed on opened part. For those who would like to have two traps, they should be placed facing opposite directions to catch gophers coming from any direction.
The tunnels created by gophers are from five inches from the ground to deep into the soil. Feeding tunnels are shallow as are only used to hide and feed. One will find these tunnels open most of the time. Traps are set on the deeper active ones to capture them as they move about in the tunnel.
Living tunnels are deep into the soil while feeding ones open and near the surface. The feeding ones are temporary and the gopher may abandon any of them. For deeper tunnels, gophers plug moulds into the surface. The soil deposited is asymmetrical and crescent shaped as these pests push the soil upwards when burrowing the ground. The mole on the other hand has clearly visible and symmetrical mounds. These are the best locations to set up the traps.
When you identify a tunnel, it is good to probe it to ensure it is active and set a trap deep into the network of tunnels. You can buy a gopher probe to do the job or improvise one of a metal rod. You can the dig up to a foot using the probe or a shovel. When you realize a sudden dip when probing, that is a tunnel. You can try poking deeper to look for deeper tunnels. Set the trap in the deeper tunnels.
The market is awash with several branded traps. Most of them are either two pronged pincer style traps or chocker flair box traps. All traps come with a set of instructions in the user manual on how to use them. One can place several traps to increase chances of trapping gophers.
Macabee Pincer-style trap is most common gopher trap. It works well in the feeding tunnels. It is a pocket trap and is placed directly into the tunnel. When setting it one should ensure that all steps are followed.
One should start by swinging the wire trigger from the under frame. He or she should then spread its jaws by pushing the thumbs down. From this point on uses the index finger to bring the trigger wire to the edge of the trap. Without letting the trap free, the straight end of the trigger wire is brought in through a hole in the silver plate. This puts pressure onto the wire so that it snaps when the gopher hits it.
A shovel or trowel can be used to widen the area that one is placing the traps especially when they are two. The traps are then placed on opened part. For those who would like to have two traps, they should be placed facing opposite directions to catch gophers coming from any direction.
About the Author:
We have step-by-step tutorials on how to set a gopher trap. Protect your garden and get rid of these pests today by checking out this site http://www.traplineproducts.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment