Top 5 Best Gopher Traps: Expert Reviews

Wire, box, and blackhole traps are the best gopher traps ideal for ridding rodents and unwanted pests. These traps function in different ways, and we will discuss each more in-depth below:

1.  Wire traps

These traps with similar looks to Chinese twister puzzles are efficient and effective in trapping these animals. You’ll find claws and prongs on these wire traps. Furthermore, these claws and prongs squeeze animals when they walk into the trap.

2. Box traps

Suppose you’re in the market for a piece of efficient equipment made of plastic or wood to catch moles and gophers. Consider box traps. These traps operate with a spring-loaded wire bar. Furthermore, these traps prevent animal escape and squeeze trapped rodents with the wire bar.

3. Black Hole traps

This trap is an updated version of box traps. A black hole trap features a spring-loaded noose mechanism to trap gophers and a plastic cylinder resistant to extreme weather. Furthermore, these are the best traps with cylinders that imitate the gopher’s tunnel, making them ideal to set for effective results.

These tools are live capture traps enticing gophers and other rodents with bait. Baits are consumable items attracting animals to the traps. When a gopher walks into the trap to get or remove the bait, the equipment traps the animal with a spring force.

Most traps that eliminate gophers have a catch, spring, and hammer with a platform holding them together. Furthermore, these traps work with a hammer, bar, or arm and will solve your gopher problem with an instant kill. When rodents step in, the arm unlocks the hammer using the spring force to choke animals, causing instant death. You can use more than one trap for desired results.

When to set up gopher traps?

Most gophers perform various activities year-round, but you’ll often see them during early summer and late spring. Therefore, spring or fall is the right time to set up the best gopher traps. Furthermore, these animals are active in these periods due to the moisture in the soil that enables digging. Gopher’s activity depends on temperature and is more likely to retain its position in unfavorable weather.

1. Find a gopher tunnel and fresh mound

Your first task is finding a fresh gopher mound. Mounds are specks of dirt with dark color and are looser than an older mound. Next, consider finding fresh tracks before utilizing the best gopher traps for effective results. Fresh tracks mean gophers still perform activities in the area.

2. Get a long stick

It’s time to get a long stick into the tunnel to determine the depth. Furthermore, the long stick helps determine the direction of the tunnel. Dig off dirt on the surface until you locate the tunnel.

3. Rub dirt in the trap

Consider rubbing dirt inside and outside of the trap to entice these creatures. Furthermore, leave dirt inside the equipment during setup and place it in the tunnel.

4. Cover dead gopher and all holes

Cover all available holes to prevent light from getting into the tunnel. Gophers are sensitive animals, and a light in the tunnel gives them a wrong impression. As a result, most gophers turn back and run away from the lights in the tunnel.

These creatures are herbivorous animals, and vegetation and grains are the best gopher baits. So if you’re setting traps for these rodents, consider using succulent stems and vegetable roots as gopher baits. While peanut butter, apples, and carrot sticks attract these creatures, they eat oats or corn grain the best. So unlike using a macabee trap that requires no bait, consider pre-soaking the corn grain for desirable results.

1. Consider preparing your trap at dusk because you’ll find most gophers in the morning. Place your trap close to gophers holes early in the morning.
2. Keep the equipment rust-free with a WD-40. Spray the trap after removing the dead gopher or rodent from the trap.
3. Use the handle to stake your trap for gophers and ensure it sits well. The stake prevents rodents from pulling your trap into the hole, especially when digging.
4. Consider marking the location for setting your trap so you can recognize it the next day. You can misplace your trap location, leaving your yard with nasty smells if there are dead animals. 
5. Get protective gear before setting these traps. Consider getting hand gloves to prevent scratches in your field or garden. Never pick the trap with your bare hands.
6. Use poisonous bait to entice and attract gophers. Consider adding a soaked corn grain, oats, or vegetable roots for gopher control.
7. Trapping gophers requires patience and time, especially on a large field. 
8. Consider checking the trap in the early hours of the day. Then, you’ll have enough time to determine the bait and equipment’s effectiveness.
9. If you’re a first-timer, check your traps more frequently. For example, consider checking the trap twice a day and relocating if ineffective in a position.
10. Never pack dirt or put too much weight on the trap, especially in the active tunnel opening. Weight affects the trap spring mechanism and affects its efficiency.

The best way to prevent these animals from coming back is by placing gopher repellents on your property. Consider growing thyme, sage, iris, or geranium plants for gopher control. These animals detest the smell of these plants and maintain a safe distance. Furthermore, gophers tend to detest the scents of these plants. But you can repel these creatures by placing coffee grounds, peppermint, or fish oil close to their tunnels.

Do gopher traps really work?

These traps are reliable, durable, versatile, and can trap or kill gophers and other pests. But if gophers are wreaking havoc in your garden or home, it’s time to trap or kill these animals. Furthermore, gopher traps have sturdy materials to trap rats, cats, and other rodents efficiently.

How often to check gopher traps?

The trap takes around 24 hours to capture animals based on your setup location. Read the trap instructions before setting it and check the trap every day. Consider checking once per day, but check the trap more often if you’re a newbie. It’s best to check the trap twice a day as a first-timer.

Vegetable roots, succulent stems, and plants attract gophers to your garden. Unlike many gopher traps reviewed, the Cinch Gopher Trap is your best solution. This gopher trap has a galvanized steel construction and comes with protective gloves and gardening tools. This trap works with a sensitive spring mechanism, is easy to set up, and is suitable for first-timers. In addition, this model built with high-quality materials can trap these animals without mortal wounds.