GETTING RID OF GOPHERS, MOLES, GROUNDHOGS, RABBITS AND OTHER RODENTS

I was recently asked in the forum how to get rid of gophers.

There are many ways to get rid of these pesky rodents.   But they aren't usually the only rodent that is giving you problems.  Mice, rabbits, groundhogs, moles, and even squirrels cause all kinds of damage to your home, lawn , and garden. There are  many wives tales and old, sometimes, proven methods.

I've heard of putting a hose from a tail pipe of a vehicle into the hole of a groundhog or other subterranean dweller. This will probably kill the rodent in it's den but not the nicest way to get rid of them, but it would probably work.  

Cayenne pepper is supposed to repel rodents of all kinds, and so are marigold flowers.  It is said that if you plant marigolds in and around your garden it will keep the rabbits and groundhogs out.  This method actually worked for me.

Moth balls are supposed to repel them also, but in my trial with them all that happens when you use this method is, they just dig another hole and do not leave.  

 There are many products out on the market to help repel these critters.  There are poisons, traps, smoke bombs, plants that they do not like, and I've even heard of giving them juicy fruit gum which messes up their insides and kills them very slowly - not very humane. Of course you could always use my favorite method of the old trusty AR-15.

But the very best method I have found is spreading castor oil  granules over the affected area.   There is a new product out that is mixed corn cob, castor oil and soap.  It is even non toxic, so it won't hurt pets or kids.  The rodents cannot stand the smell of castor oil or the soap that is mixed in with it.  It last a long time before needing to be re-applied because it is oil after all.  I'm not sure who makes it but it works well.  There is a strategy to it though, using a broadcast spreader, first spread it over the heavily trafficked area.  After a day or so spread it over the next section of your lawn, and a couple days later the next and so on until you drive the critters away from your property.

Your neighbors won't appreciate this but, oh well.

Hope this helps.

OLOE