Re: Do gophers hibernate?

**"Marge Talt" m*@hort.net**

Well, it rather depends on what you intend to do with them.  Trapping
with the idea of moving an animal signs its death warrant, so you
might as well give it a fast and clean death.  If you do this before
they have a nest of young, you are saving the young from a slow death
by starvation.  If you wish to rid your garden of them and decide to
use poison, beware of the number of predators, including pets, that
will eat them and use something besides strychnine.

Here's a web page of information of these animals that you may find
of interest.

http://cecalaveras.ucdavis.edu/pocket.htm

They do not hibernate.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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From: Keith Muraoka <gardendude@jps.net>

I have heard different opinions about whether pocket gophers
hibernate or not. Specifically, I'm trying to determine whether it
would be worthwhile to begin an extensive trapping program now when
the biggest gopher problems usually are in the spring. One bit of
information I received said that gophers do hibernate, come out of
their dens in April or May and their young are born a month later. If
this is so, would it not be better to trap them now before they go
into hibernation and give birth next spring? However, I've also heard
that gophers do not hibernate, so trapping can go on year-round.
Please advise. Thank you.

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