Looking for the best gopher traps? Then you’re in the right place!
In this Pest Strategies product review you can expect to learn:
- What gopher traps are and how they work
- Simple tips about how to use and deploy them
- If traps are actually effective in eliminating a gopher problem
- And 4 traps we reviewed for homeowners
If you want to reliably get rid of gophers, you’ll definitely need traps, and we have the answers you’re looking for.
Ready to get started?
Top 4 Best Gopher Traps
- Victor Black Box Gopher Trap
- Victor Easy Set Gopher Trap
- DK-1 Gopher Traps
- Black Hole Reusable Gopher Trap
1. Victor Easy Set Gopher Trap
This small, silvery trap fits inside the tunnel without the need for any digging. Simply set the trap then slide it into the tunnel.
The narrow base is what makes this possible. If the tunnel branches, put one in each branch.
The galvanized steel construction prevents rust and keeps its strength for years of use.
The main problem is it’s too sensitive.
You can set it off trying to put it in place.
The Good:
- Excellent construction
- Rust resistant
- Simple and easy to use
The Bad:
- Too sensitive and takes too many attempts to place it.
Features:
- Instant Kill Style
- Rust Resistant
- Durable
2. DK-1 Gopher Trap
This is a choke-type of a trap.
When the gopher trips it, his head is caught in the tongs but unless they hit him just right, it doesn’t kill them.
This means you have to anchor the trap to a fence post or stake in the ground to keep the gopher from running off with your trap.
Once you pull them out you’ll have to bludgeon, shoot, behead, or stab them to death. It can get pretty gory.
This trap is definitely not for the faint of heart. The tongs can also remain loose enough for some smaller gophers to squirm out of, and you’ll never catch that gopher in this trap again.
They learn fast!
These traps have to be cleaned with soap and water after each use. Dry them completely because they definitely have issues with rust.
The Good:
- They will reliably catch gophers
The Bad:
- Usually doesn’t kill the gophers
- Have to anchor the traps to something (fence, etc)
- Need cleaning with soap and water for each use
- They rust easily
Features:
- Choke Style
- Need To Be Cleaned
- Steel Material
3. Black Hole Reusable Trap
The concept for this trap looks good on paper but its track record in the field is less impressive.
The opening seems to be too small.
As gophers move through their tunnels they’ll push dirt ahead of them. The dirt gets pushed into the trap and plugs it. Then the gopher just burrows around it and goes about his business.
The spring is weaker than it should be. Half the time when it catches a gopher it doesn’t kill them.
Then you’re back to the blood-and-gore routine.
The other half of the time they’re able to squirm free or drag the trap away to die deep down in their tunnel where you can’t find them, or your trap.
The Good:
- Good “reusable” concept
The Bad:
- Will leave the gopher alive for you to kill
- Spring can be weak
- Gets plugged with dirt easily
Features:
- Choke Style
- Small Opening
- Plastic Material
4. Victor Black Gopher Trap
The Black Box is the best, in part, because it requires the least amount of effort from you, combined with the most consistent results in killing gophers.
Follow the directions and you’ll kill lots of gophers!
The Good:
- Simple and easy to use
- Requires less effort than other traps
- Excellent and consistent results
The Bad:
- Have to cover the holes to keep out light
Features:
- Instant Kill Style
- Simple To Deploy
- Reusable
What are gopher traps?
Gopher traps are typically spring-loaded traps, similar in many respects to a mouse trap. Almost all of them are intended to kill the gopher rather than capture them alive.
How do gopher traps work?
Live capture traps rely on bait to entice the gopher to enter the cage then trip it when the animal attempts to eat or remove the bait. These have a low success rate.
Traps that kill the gopher use a hammer, a spring, a catch, an arm or bar that holds the hammer, and a platform to hold all the pieces together.
Once the catch is tripped, the arm (or bar) releases the hammer which uses spring-powered force to snap shut on the gopher. The hammer can choke the gopher, pierce them with an awl, or crush them. Death is nearly instantaneous.
How Do You Set Gopher Traps?
- Locate a fresh gopher mound. The dirt will usually be darker and looser than the dirt around an older mound. If there are fresh tracks on an older mound, it means the gopher is still using it.
- Put a long stick into the tunnel to determine which direction it is going in. About 1-2 feet in that direction, dig down until you locate the tunnel.
- Rub fresh dirt inside and outside the traps. Leave some dirt inside the traps and set them.
- Put them in the tunnel back-to-back.
- Cover up all the holes with dirt so no light shines down into the tunnel. If the gopher sees light he’ll know something is wrong and will back away.
What do gopher mounds look like?
Gopher mounds resemble small hills of fresh dirt that can appear in your yard in less than 20 minutes. They normally have a horseshoe-type of shape to them.
The open side of the horseshoe is generally the direction the tunnel goes in.
Spring Loaded vs Reusable Trap?
Don’t be fooled by marketing hype. All spring-loaded traps are, by definition, reusable.
Some manufacturers will include the “reusable” verbiage in the name of their trap but it’s like saying a flying airplane.
Do Gopher Traps Actually Work?
You betcha!
According to the University of Florida, trapping is the most effective method of controlling and/or killing gophers. This is actually one time where the opinions of the eggheads agree without our in-the-field experience.
In contrast, baits aren’t as efficient because they rely on the gophers approaching and eating the bait.
Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t.
Even if they eat the bait and die, how will you ever know it if they die underground? Over a period of weeks, you might notice the number of mounds decreasing, but that’s the only way.
Baiting works, but traps are much easier.
But again traps work well only if you follow the directions carefully and completely. Also be sure to rub plenty of dirt inside and outside the traps so they’ll smell and feel like the rest of the gopher’s tunnel.
All the best trappers will tell you to leave a layer of dirt inside the trap for exactly that reason.
How to pick the best one for your gopher problem?
The best trap should be easy to set, easy to remove the gopher from, and easy to reset.
Are you sensing a pattern here?
A trap shouldn’t require more than five minutes to place and set. It should reliably catch gophers without having to “monkey around” with the settings or setup.
