Re: Varmint's
Richard Starkeson wrote:
> I sympathize with you. No easy solutions. Even if you can totally
> eliminate gophers, as soon as you stop an eradication program, they will
> migrate in again from your neighbor's land.
Yes, like the fire ants and leaf-cutter ants, another big problem.
Expensive and time-consuming as
> it is, you have probably found the only total effective solution - wire
> mesh. One solution is to put wire mesh underground (and underneath) a
> planted area, and keep this a "gopher free" zone, and give up on the rest of
> your land.
WAH! I have 17 acres but leave most of it wild. I am gardening in
about 5 of them and nature can have the rest. Because of the gophers I
gave up years ago on growing vegetables. Now I tuck a few here and
there in the perennial beds and sometimes the gophers miss them.
My property is covered in Hickory and Post Oaks which don't like their
roots disturbed. If I dig a large area out the tree dies.
you
> plant a mass of certain euphorbes (which have poisonous roots) around your
> desired plants, that will protect them from the tunneling gophers, since the
> gophers wont eat the roots.
Would you happen to know which euphorbes? I have planted artemesia all
over the place, especially around roses, since it is said that they
deter gophers also. They actually might help with gophers, not sure
yet, but doesn't phase the moles.
This would probably NOT work for moles, which
> are eating little insects and other critters under the ground, and not
> roots.
I have found a few grubs in my diggings so I'm sure the moles are after
them. I would rather have insects. <G>
If you're out in the country, you can encourage 22-carrying
> teenagers to use them as target practice.
Uh, I'm a 22-carrying grandma!! The problem is that you never find them
above ground and they plug their holes very quickly. I have sat by an
open hole waiting for them to start pushing dirt up and shot a few but
an entire day for one gopher (if you are lucky) isn't practical.
Most people use poisonous baits,
> which are reasonably effective, and must be constantly put out
Maybe I should go back to trying various baits. I've even tossed moth
balls down tunnels, added water and plugged the holes hoping the fumes
would nail them.
(and traps
> for moles - there is this type of trap that is sensitive to the vibrations
> moles make in their tunnels, and is set above ground, and springs and
> impales them as they pass under.)
Never heard of this type of trap, definitely worth checking out!! I
have the kind you put down the hole, a spring trap. Last year I dug a
huge hole, went to get the hose, came back and the hole was filled up
with sand. I dug it out again and again a gopher filled it back in. I
uncovered the tunnel and put the trap in. Went back and not only was
the hole full of sand again but my trap was buried so deep I couldn't
pull it out by it's chain! No dead gopher either. Sigh.
If you had enough hawks or coyotes, you
> probably wouldn't have such a big problem. (Do your fellow South Texans
> regard coyotes as an asset, or as a varmit? )
Definitely varmits!! We are eat up with coyotes here and the (&$#@! got
two of my geese, all my ducks, and a guinea hen sitting on eggs. This
all happened in the last month! I have asked Santa for infrared goggles
so I can stay out at night and deal with them.
I am told, though I have no
> actual experience, that Abyssinian cats will eliminate a large part of a
> gopher problem. Of course that means keeping them outside, and I imagine
> they would have to have been trained by their mother to hunt. (They may
> themselves become the meal of a coyote if they are around, and they may also
> take a few birds with the gophers)
I have two barn cats, tho spoiled and have to be fed plus various strays
that have moved in with us. They seem to go after lizards and birds
more then gophers. Of course that irritates me since I love lizards and
have planted especially to attract birds, have feeders everywhere and
lots of bird baths and water features.
I'm thinking about getting a Dachund or a ferret. <G>
Thanks for the advice, will look for that trap!
Linda
