GOPHER REMOVAL
Minnesota has 2 species of gophers, the Plains Pocket Gopher and the Northern Pocket Gopher. Adult Plains pocket Gophers are about 10 ½ to 12 “long and weigh up to one pound. The fur color ranges from sandy brown to a chocolate brown. In central Minnesota the female gives birth to 1 litter from one to six young. Southern Minnesota gophers can have 2 litters. Gophers spend most of their time underground; they are hardly ever seen so the best identification method is to examine the dirt mounds that almost always accompany their activity. As they dig their tunnels, pocket gophers periodically shove dirt out to the surface forming mounds. The dirt is pushed to the surface from tunnels that are at an angle to the surface, so the mounds form in a crescent or horseshoe shape. This helps distinguish them from mounds made by moles which are volcano shaped. Pocket gopher burrows are almost always plugged. This helps to distinguish them from other burrowing rodents like ground squirrels or meadow mice. On average, a gopher makes about 1 to 3 mounds per day.  Over a year a Gopher can bring 2 ¼ tons of dirt to the surface. Gophers are non social animal and only allow another adult gopher in its tunnel system for breeding. A heavy infestation of Gophers can have six to eight per acre. Most homeowners have 1-3.

Damage
Although gophers can be serious agricultural pests, in Minnesota most of the damage they cause is to landscaping and turf. They feed on many varieties of ornamental plants, and the mounds they make can be unsightly, damaging to turf, and even pose a quite real trip hazard on athletic fields. These mounds can damage lawn mowers and makes mowing your lawn a challenge. The tunnels they create can cause concrete and tar driveways to collapse.
 
Minnesota Gopher Control
TThe most effective control method that Nuisances Wildlife Control uses for gophers is trapping. Trapping is the only way you know that the animal is removed. Trapping is the most effective and practical method of gopher control and removal. In general, Nuisance Bat and Wildlife Control has greater success in the spring and fall, especially after rain or in lawns that are watered regularly. Remember, poison baits can pose a risk to pets and wildlife if used improperly. NBWC  has a plan to fit all property owners, the regular plan for 2 acres or less  is a setup fee and a per mole (remember the average yard has 1-3 gopher/acre). We have yearly contracts or we can trap by the week or month. These are priced per site. Or more information on Gopher removal call 763-227-9888