How to Control Moles and Gophers

Co-authored by Chris Parker

Last Updated: March 4, 2023 References

You may have started to see dirt hills in your yard, garden, or farm. Plants might be unexpectedly uprooted. These are signs of gophers and/or moles. Gophers and moles are rodents that live in underground tunnels and create frustrating chaos around your house. Take control before the problem gets out of hand.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Differentiating Between Gophers and Moles

1
Identify the rodents. Moles and gophers are often confused because they both form tunnels and destroy grass, plants, and soil. Understand the difference between the two so that you know what kind of problem you are facing.
- Moles are about six to eight inches long with slim snouts and small eyes and ears. They have gray or black fur and flat feet that look a bit like human hands.^{[1]
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- Gophers have gray, brown, or white fur, tiny eyes, ears, and whiskers. They do not have the same flat feet that characterize moles. ^{[2]
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2
Identify the damages. Moles and gophers tear up your garden and lawn from beneath the ground. Both rodents create tunnels, but gophers can be more destructive. They are known to destroy utility cables and water lines in addition to your plants.
- Moles create tunnels often along the edge of a concrete road or a house. The tunnels can sometimes be seen from above ground, but are often invisible and beneath the surface. Tunnel exits show dirt piles that are circular and look like small volcanoes. ^{[3]
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- Gopher tunnels are flatter than mole tunnels and do not run along the edge of man-made surfaces. The dirt mounds are shaped like semi-circles and often appear with a small hole in the center. ^{[4]
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3
Decide on a control method. Moles and gophers can be controlled in various ways. There are ways to gently repel the rodents from your area. However, you may also consider removing these pests with traps or poisons.
- Poisons can be dangerous to your plants and other animals. Be careful and strategic with lethal chemicals.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Repelling Gophers and Moles

1
Do not overwater your soil. Gophers and moles are attracted to certain environments. While you may not be able to change aspects of your garden, understanding what attracts rodents can help you get rid of them.
- Gophers are attracted to most plants. They are herbivores, and eat any type of plant including garden weeds. They will quickly take advantage of old tunnels, so check your garden for gophers that have moved out.
- Moles prefer moist and fertile soil where they can feed off insects, worms, and snails. Don’t attract moles by over watering. Moles especially like grub worms. Manage wet climates by removing grub worms in your soil. ^{[5]
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2
Use plants. Both moles and gophers tend to stay away from daffodils, marigolds, and castor bean plants. Be careful with castor bean around pets and children. It is considered a poisonous plant. ^{[6]
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3
Use smells and repellants. Both moles and gophers dislike castor oil. Create a rodent repellant using six ounces of castor oil, two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, and a gallon of water. Spray the concentrate throughout the garden, especially after rain.
- Gophers are particularly sensitive to smells and sounds. Try putting coffee grounds, fish, or pet waste in the gopher holes. These are all smells that drive gophers away. Additionally, consider using a noise-maker like wind chimes or radios to scare off gophers.
4
Create barriers. Build a fence around the affected area. The fence should stretch two to three feet below the ground and about six to 12 inches above ground.
- Use malleable wire fencing. The fence needs to extend beyond the vertical depth of the trench to create a curved “L” shape under ground. This will discourage rodents from digging deeper into your space! The fencing above ground will keep gophers from feasting on your plants. ^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing Gophers and Moles

1
Use traps. Once you locate the main tunnels, determine the right trap for your rodent. Some traps require digging, while others can simply be placed near the entrance of the hole. Traps kill the rodent and are recommended for gardens or farms. Traps are reusable, and, unlike baits, they do not present the risk of poisoning other living beings or harming your crops. ^{[8]
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- Try pincher traps, box traps, and black hole traps for gophers. These traps will either choke or smash the gopher causing it to die.^{[9]
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- Try cinch traps, scissor traps, and choker loop traps for moles. These traps will either smash, choke, or impale the gopher as it passes through. ^{[10]
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- Avoid live traps. Live traps are not recommended because rodents often urinate and carry lice or ticks. This may later spread disease throughout your area.
- Gophers have an acute sense of smell. Wear gloves to cover up your human scent when setting a trap. Wash the trap with dish soap right before placing it in the hole. Afterward, cover the trap with leaves. ^{[11]
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2
Try poisonous baits. There are a number of companies that sell baits for gophers and moles. When used correctly, the rodent will eat the bait and die. Although baits are known to be effective, many warn against the use of chemicals, especially since traps and natural repellants are safer.
- Be very careful with poisons. You may accidentally poison your pets or other harmless animals in your area. Poisons may also be dangerous for your crops or flowers.^{[12]
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3
Attract predators. Cats, dogs, snakes, and owls may help you catch a mole or gopher. Predators alone will not always get rid of gophers and moles but they can be used in combination with natural repellants and traps.
- Set up an owl box or purchase a gopher snake. Gopher snakes are non-venomous and can be placed in mole and gopher tunnels. Be careful when attracting snakes or owls, as they can be harmful to smaller cats and dogs.^{[13]
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- Cats and dogs may scare off rodents with only their smell. Cats and dogs can be very effective but only if your pet has the personality for it. If you have several active pets, they may catch enough rodents to control the issue.^{[14]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What is a home remedy to get rid of moles in your yard?

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker

Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

A simple way to make a trap is to dig a hole, then put a bucket in the hole with a little water. The animal will fall in and drown. However, it's a good idea to check the local laws in your area before you set any traps, since a number of traps are illegal in many places.
Question

What is the fastest way to get rid of moles in your yard?

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker

Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If you buy caster oil granules, simply spread them across the lawn, then add water to activate them. If you do that once a week, the gophers and moles will move to your neighbor's yard.
Question

Wearing gloves, I set traps one going in each direction, tied to a stake. The gophers just moved over a few inches. How could I de-scent my traps?

Cc_046

Community Answer

The gophers will not leave you if you smell bad. Using lotions and scent sprays and spraying the gophers with them could work. Exercise no caution because the gophers cannot effectively injure you. Maybe also pour molasses in their dens to get them to leave.