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Identifying & Controlling Moles, Pocket Gophers & Ground Squirrels

Question: Moles/gophers everywhere in backyard. Baits failed. Sonic devices ignored. Tunnels everywhere—can't tell new from old. Help!

Answer: "Gopher" Means Different Things Regionally

You must identify the species first—control methods differ completely.

Species Possibilities & Resources

If You Mean...	Key Traits	Info Links
Moles	Insectivores; raised ridges & mounds; don't eat plants	Mole Handbook \| Mole Control
Pocket Gophers	Rodents; sealed mounds (no open holes); eat roots	Pocket Gopher \| Handbook
Ground Squirrels	Open holes; diurnal; various species (13-lined, woodchuck, CA ground squirrel, chipmunk)	13-lined \| Woodchuck \| CA Ground Squirrel \| Chipmunk

Next Steps

Identify species via hole type, mounds, sightings, damage pattern
Visit ICWDM publications for detailed control guides
Email high-res photos (with scale) to svantassel2@unl.edu for ID help

Sonic devices don't work—save your money. Trapping is the most reliable method once species is confirmed.

Pests: Possible Bed Bugs on Couch: Inconclusive Photos—Inspect Thoroughly, Monitor; Moles or Pocket Gophers? Mound Shape Tells the Truth; Mole Control: Trapping Beats Poisons and Grub Treatments; Lawn Holes: Voles, Not Moles—Perfectly Round Holes Indicate Voles; Stopping Nightly Mulch Digging: Turkeys, Raccoons, or Skunks?; Chipmunk Tunnels? Likely Voles or Moles—Control Strategies; Red Fox Family Damaging Gardens: Fencing & Trapping; Mole and Gopher Control in Washington State: Legal Trapping and Effective Strategies; Comprehensive Control Strategies for Ground Squirrels, Moles, and Gophers; Mole Control: Traps Beat Repellents & Indirect Methods

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