Let's Talk BBQ
Tips, Tricks & Just Good Advice! => Good to Know! - A collection of How-To's & Sage Advice => Garden to Table - Growing Your Own! => Topic started by: smoker pete on April 17, 2014, 03:14:09 PM
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Bummer !!!!!!!!!! A Gopher from my neighbor's yard - bad neighbor! >:( >:( - has found Nirvana ... My garden ???
Woke up this morning and found this in my spaghetti Squash bed
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/garden2014-69_zps3fc1068f.jpg)
Off to the my local Ace Hardware only to learn that I'm limited to a trap which I don't think would work, some kind of pellets to dump down a hole, or the "Giant Destroyer". As per the instructions I lit it, placed burning fuse end into the hole, covered the hole with a chunk of wood, and sealed the gas in the hole with dirt around the cover ... Sure hope it works!!! With vegetables I guess you can't use the GOOD stuff but even if I could to kill this beast the State of California would never allow me to use it. Time will tell. I got 3 more Giant Destroyers to use. Been in this house for 13 years and this is the first problem I've had with a dirty rotten low life scum bucket gopher!! ... But I mean that in a nice way
Any and all remedies would be greatly appreciated, as long as it's legal ;)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/garden2014-71_zps903d105d.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/garden2014-72_zpsf77d89a4.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/garden2014-73_zpse0f260f0.jpg)
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I hope you destroy the little varmint AND his buddies. Don't let 'em get started on that garden.
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Hope you got the dastardly little bugger!
My grandma (and others since) have sworn by putting a stick of juicy fruit gum down their hole. Apparently the gopher/mole will eat the gum and die from it (not entirely sure how that works). Might be worth Googling to see if that's an old wives tale, or if it's actually helpful!
Suppose if nothing else, your planter beds will smell fruity, or you'll have gophers with nice fresh breath? :)
We've used those granules in the past, and they do work... but the only concern is if you (or neighbors) have dogs, they might chew on the deceased pest and then themselves get sick/poisoned from the gopher bait.
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Suppose if nothing else, your planter beds will smell fruity, or you'll have gophers with nice fresh breath?
... or the lovely scent of a dead gopher you can't locate to dispose of.
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Hope you got the dastardly little bugger!
My grandma (and others since) have sworn by putting a stick of juicy fruit gum down their hole. Apparently the gopher/mole will eat the gum and die from it (not entirely sure how that works). Might be worth Googling to see if that's an old wives tale, or if it's actually helpful!
Suppose if nothing else, your planter beds will smell fruity, or you'll have gophers with nice fresh breath? :)
A few years back I had a mole problem in my backyard, so I had a chat with the pest control contractor who services our office bldg. He told me to put Juicy Fruit down one of the holes along the mole's run. But he stressed that you can't touch the gum. Open the stick carefully and by holding the stick by the wrapper drop into the hole. It must have worked as not long after there were no new mole runs.
The gum cannot be digested by the rodents and they either starve or dehydrate causing death.
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Just call Carl the groundskeeper, he will take care of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvdHXnuaho4
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A few years back I had a mole problem in my backyard, so I had a chat with the pest control contractor who services our office bldg. He told me to put Juicy Fruit down one of the holes along the mole's run. But he stressed that you can't touch the gum. Open the stick carefully and by holding the stick by the wrapper drop into the hole. It must have worked as not long after there were no new mole runs.
The gum cannot be digested by the rodents and they either starve or dehydrate causing death.
any gum or does it have to be juicy fruit. I normally go out in the morning and put a hose down a hole and hope he can swim. turn the water on full blast and leave it for 10 minutes. if it does work the 1st time try again the next morning. works all the time.
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I like a pellet gun. Have a car dealership across my back lane. Get a few every year ;D
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I didn't know he was a vegetarian.
(http://ctva.biz/US/Drama/LoveBoat_title_5_FG.JPG)
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good luck Pete.My neighbor with the 179 cats has kept our pests in check so having a cat lady isnt always a bad thing.
Hope ya get that little pest,I want to see your awesome squashes in full glory,your plants are so healthy.Oh,and I did catch a vole in one of those spring type traps a billion years ago,dont know if they are legal or not nowadays.
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Well my father had a gopher problem when I was young. First he stood outside over the hole with a 12 gauge waiting for the rodent to pop his head out. After the neighbors called the cops and then the cops had a brief discussion with my father he decided that was not the best tactic.
So then I watched him pour a couple gallons of gasoline down the hole and he waited a few minutes. Then he tossed a lit road flare by the hole and a flame shot out of it as the fumes lit :o
He later spent time digging up the yard to locate the dead gopher. After a half day of digging he finally found the partially charred remains he called me outside to show me. ::)
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I hear that M-80's will exterminate the little critters ::)
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Hook up a hose to your exhaust and fish it down in the hole. Stand at the top of the hole with a shotgun, and start your engine. You know the rest.
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I hear that M-80's will exterminate the little critters ::)
Wish that I could ... But this is California >:( :(
Just call Carl the groundskeeper, he will take care of it.
I love Carl and that movie ;D :D
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KNOCK on WOOD ... 2 days now without any sign of that rotten dirty flea bitten rodent! Do I dare hope that the "Giant Destroyer" destroyed that beast? Time will tell but right now ... it's looking hopeful :)
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KNOCK on WOOD ... 2 days now without any sign of that rotten dirty flea bitten rodent! Do I dare hope that the "Giant Destroyer" destroyed that beast? Time will tell but right now ... it's looking hopeful :)
Now you got to dig up the yard and find the remains to make sure he's dead! 8)
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KNOCK on WOOD ... 2 days now without any sign of that rotten dirty flea bitten rodent! Do I dare hope that the "Giant Destroyer" destroyed that beast? Time will tell but right now ... it's looking hopeful :)
Now you got to dig up the yard and find the remains to make sure he's dead! 8)
I'm hoping he died in my neighbor's yard ... from where he came from!!! :D :D
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Muebe is wise. Time to get out the backhoe. We have to make sure we finish the job ???
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As kids, the gophers did not stand a chance. They were all over my grandmas property. My Uncle and I, poured water down the hole, then held a glass quart jar over the hole. The critters would rush out of the hole into the jar, and we quickly put a lid on it. This was a humane way to catch them, and we always knew when we were successful.
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I'm thinking it's not a gopher but a mole cause I have not seen any mounts of dirt. Whatever this beast is he's still around munching on the roots alone. He's slowly killing off my Spaghetti Squash plants >:( >:(
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/Squash/squash1_zps4ac279f6.jpg)
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thats a shame,I hope you nail that pest!
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I've tried everything from the Giant Destroyer, traps, to even a pitchfork when I see the plants shaking, but none of those worked for me. However, I did manage to find a solution that has kept my plants gopher free for two years now, but it is a pain. I built rabbit wire cylinders and studk them in the holes where my wife intended to plant - then filled in with dirt. Essentially, each plant now has a cylinder of rabbit wire protecting it. The trouble was worth it for me because we only had a couple dozen plants.
I'm planning to build planters much like you have, and will put a rabbit wire liner in them - I doubt I'll see any of those pesky buggers in my dirt again.
One last thing that seemed to work are these gopher spikes from Harbor Freight that periodically send out a nasty (to the gopher) vibration through the dirt. Although mine were battery powered, they are now evidently solar powered.
http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-mole-chaser-94661.html
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Well my father had a gopher problem when I was young. First he stood outside over the hole with a 12 gauge waiting for the rodent to pop his head out. After the neighbors called the cops and then the cops had a brief discussion with my father he decided that was not the best tactic.
So then I watched him pour a couple gallons of gasoline down the hole and he waited a few minutes. Then he tossed a lit road flare by the hole and a flame shot out of it as the fumes lit :o
He later spent time digging up the yard to locate the dead gopher. After a half day of digging he finally found the partially charred remains he called me outside to show me. ::)
Sounds like you come from a family of recovering pacifists..... ;D
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Get the backhoe out. This is serious ???
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Get the backhoe out. This is serious ???
Wish that I could Pappy!!
I'm planning to build planters much like you have, and will put a rabbit wire liner in them - I doubt I'll see any of those pesky buggers in my dirt again.
One last thing that seemed to work are these gopher spikes from Harbor Freight that periodically send out a nasty (to the gopher) vibration through the dirt. Although mine were battery powered, they are now evidently solar powered.
http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-mole-chaser-94661.html
This Fall I'm going to do just what you suggest PZ. Going to empty the planters on the retaining wall, line them with chicken wire and fill them back up with Planter's Mix. Nothing worse than doing all that hard rewarding work only to have some low life fur ball reap the rewards!! >:( :(
Going to visit my local Harbor Freight tomorrow and pick up a couple of those Mole Chasers ... For $10 I'll try anything.
Drives away burrowing pests, moles and gophers in minutes
Works day and night
Emits sonic tone every 30 seconds
Covers 6000 sq.ft.
Environmentally friendly
No electricity required
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/moleChaser_zps16d72b13.jpg)
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One of these are great on varmints ;D
► 5:35► 5:35
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxENqNnQILE
Mar 1, 2012 - Uploaded by Brandon401401
Subscribe 105,984. 6:18 RUGER 10-22 BOLT LOCK MODIFICATION "AUTO RELEASE ...
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Hope the mole chasers, smoker pete - I've 2 battery powered units in the small garden and they seem to avoid the spot. I thought about chicken wire, but was concerned that like mice, those nasty gophers might squeeze through the wire due to their compressible bodies. The mesh I chose to use is available in rolls of various sizes at Home Depot, Lowes, etc., and I suspect just about any home/garden store. The mesh was about 1/4 x 1/4 inch and there's no way those buggers are getting through that ;D
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Hope the mole chasers, smoker pete - I've 2 battery powered units in the small garden and they seem to avoid the spot. I thought about chicken wire, but was concerned that like mice, those nasty gophers might squeeze through the wire due to their compressible bodies. The mesh I chose to use is available in rolls of various sizes at Home Depot, Lowes, etc., and I suspect just about any home/garden store. The mesh was about 1/4 x 1/4 inch and there's no way those buggers are getting through that ;D
Thanks on the update about the size of the mesh. We have a Tractor Supply down the road and they carry all sorts of stuff.
You mention that you have 2 battery powered units in a small garden and they avoid the spot -> Does that mean they avoid your garden of where the 2 units are? I'm hoping they avoid your garden!
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First 2 Spaghetti Squash flowers ... If nothing else at least they got to this stage without having their roots munched!!
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/Squash/squash11_zps45d8b4b2.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/Squash/squash9_zps76a4d619.jpg)
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You mention that you have 2 battery powered units in a small garden and they avoid the spot -> Does that mean they avoid your garden of where the 2 units are? I'm hoping they avoid your garden!
I sure am envious of your garden! We'd love to be able to grow what you have!
This small plot is an irregular shape that is likely about 200 square feet in size, with one edge close to the house. We placed the two units on the far edge when we saw the dirt piles approaching the plot and the progression of tunnels toward the garden appeared to stop. I don't know it it was just coincidence, but we haven't seen a dirt pile near that spot for the last 3 years or so. I can't say for sure the units are the absolute reason why, but it sure is nice to see a clean garden plot instead of those awful piles of tunnel dirt. Interestingly, the unit holds 2 "C" batteries, and they last the entire season before we put them away in the fall.
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SP, you've got a beautiful garden. Hope that you get a handle on them varmints (preferably a shovel handle).
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What better place for a 'Mole Chaser' than where the low life beast had his last meal!!! Thanks PZ for the info ... I'm optimistic that this will work.
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/MoleChaser/MoleChaser1_zps36cdcf1a.jpg)
Even though it says on the box that it's good for up to 600 square ft (which is larger than my garden) it does say that for best results space them out 60 ft. So since they are on sale for $9.99 I got me 2 of them and installed the second one at the other end of the squash.
I want to keep them away from Nirvana ... the main garden!
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/MoleChaser/MoleChaser3_zpse34d8067.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/MoleChaser/MoleChaser4_zps67d8adb6.jpg)
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Best of luck, smoker pete - I hope they scare away those nasty buggers!