Are you searching for the best gopher traps? Relax, I have it all covered here. Gophers will turn your beautiful lawn and garden into a nasty sight of small soil hills and destroy your grass and flowers.
Below I’ve reviewed the best gopher traps available in the market. But first, check the gopher management guideline here. So, let’s get started by checking the top gopher traps. Related: Mole Traps.
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1. Our #1 Top Pick: GopherHawk Single Garden Trap for Gophers & Moles
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When you go shopping for the best traps for gophers, you will presented with a wide range of options to choose from. All of them different but designed to trap gophers.
Most of these traps are made of metal, wood, or plastic. Galvanized iron and stainless steel are typically the best because of their strength and resistance to rust. Below are factors you should take into consideration when buying a gopher trap.
Sensitivity
The sensitivity of the trap depends on the strength of the material used to make the spring. Stainless steel makes the most sensitive springs. Choose a trap that will instantly catch the gopher once the trigger is released.
Size of the trap – Gophers come in different sizes. Consider buying traps that are not too big to let the gophers escape the noose. The ideal dimensions of a gopher should be 32’’ long, 10’’ wide, and 12 ‘’ high. Traps that largely deviate from these minimum dimensions may not be very effective in catching these creatures.
2. #2 Pick: GopherHawk Trapping Set (with Probe and Wedge)
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Bait to be used
Some traps require an accompanying bait to be effective. Most traps come with bait trays. Choose baits with the potential to lure gophers to the trap. It is important to also place the bait outside the entrance to lure the animal into the trap.
Releasing the gopher – The sight of a dead animal is quite awful to many people. Therefore, the device you choose should provide an easier way of releasing the dead or live gopher.
Most of the traps come with instructions for releasing the trapped animals or their carcasses. Always wear protective clothing when handling dead gophers.
3. #3 Pick: Victor 0611 Easy-Set Galvanized Steel Gopher Trap
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If you are tired of baits and poisons, then Victor Easy Set gopher trap can do the work for you. This is easy to use the device is constructed with galvanized steel for more strength and durability.
The mechanism’s main components include an engaging pan, the trigger bar, the trap set, and the pincher.
Its dimensions are 8 x 6 x 3 inches. The base is narrow to allow for easy penetration into the narrow gopher tunnels.
The device comes fully assembled and ready to use. To set the trap, place it in an active tunnel and cover the hole with dirt to appear as part of the tunnel.
You can increase the chance of trapping a gopher by using more than one trap placed in different locations. The reason for this is that the gopher may come from any side of the tunnel.
What’s more, Victor Easy Set Trap has a proven efficiency. It is also environmentally friendly and can be used in any soil. And with its galvanized material, you don’t have to worry about rust.
The Good:
- Easy to use
- Fully assembled and ready to use
- Durable and weatherproof
- Affordable
The Bad:
- It’s a very sensitive and may trip while setting
Related: Managing Pocket Gophers
4. Sweeney’s Gopher Trap Poison-free & Pincher design
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This is an easy to use pincher-style gopher trap. Your lawn or garden will no longer be a haven for critters like gophers and mole with these devices.
It will kill the gophers effectively without using any baits at all. You’ll not have instances where gophers escape from traps as experienced with some other cheap traps.
It’s constructed with strong steel for more strength and durability. The powder coating on its material makes it possible to perform under all weather conditions.
To set the trap, lay two sets of Sweeney’s Gopher Trap on either side of an active tunnel. The traps should be at least 12-18’’ apart.
With two traps in a tunnel, it is possible to catch a gopher whichever way it is going. If you want to trap the gopher at the tunnel entrances, place the lower side’s trap. When used correctly, this trap will give you promising results within 48 hours.
This gopher trap uses no poison and poses no danger to kids and pets. It’s cheaper and effective than some other pincher-style gopher traps. Plus, you can use it in all soil types.
The Good:
- Easy to use and set
- Features strong and durable materials
- Weather-resistant
The Bad:
- Needs to be anchored to the ground
Related: Top Ant Traps
5. Victor Black Gopher Trap Weather-Resistant & Re-usable
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Victor’s black gopher trap has been around for a long time, with the original box coming in red. The trap box is made of durable plastic, while the wires are made of galvanized steel.
But it’s not a complete box as such. It’s open at the bottom with the entrance on one end. The other end is closed with a small hole for letting air through.
Unlike conventional box traps and wire claws, these traps use a loop-style choker mechanism to kill gophers.
At the entrance is a u-shaped stiff wire which is connected at the top to a spring mechanism? When a gopher gets inside the trap, it pushes the trip plat,s causing the spring frame to pull the u-shaped wire upwards.
Thu,s the rodent is pushed by the wire against the trap’s roof, causing it to die due to choking. It comes fully assembled. All you have to do is place the trap in an active gopher tunnel, and the loop-style choker will do the rest.
Gophers are good at sensing any intrusion in their territories. So, I would advise that you seal the hole with dirt to resemble the gopher’s tunnel.
When used properly, this device proves to be the most effective gopher trap. It’s weatherproof and can be used in any soil.
The Good:
- Very effective and consistent
- Easy to set
- Less effort is required to set
The Bad:
- You have to cover the hole with mud so that the trap looks like the tunnel
6. Black Hole Gopher Trap – Non-Poison & its REUSABLE
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Another gopher trap that is receiving increased customer reviews is this black hole gopher trap.
It’s basically a cylinder whose one end is open with a hole opposite to letting air through. The trigger mechanism is principally similar to that of the black box gopher trap.
One notable difference is that unlike the black box, the black hole trap has a bottom. So you may have to place some dirt on its bottom so that the gopher does not become suspicious of the hard plastic beneath. The black hole trap’s noose is a steel cable, while the black box tap uses a rigid wire to chock the gopher.
To set the trap, place it in a tunnel where gophers are likely to pass through and seal the opening of with dirt. The cylindrical shape makes it easy to maneuver inside the tunnel. Ensure the space above the trap is enough for the trigger to operate without any obstruction.
This trap is quite affordable and easy to use. And you can as well use it on other creatures like moles and groundhogs.
The Good:
- Effective and reliable
- Easy to use and set
- Reusable
The Bad:
- Possible clogging at the entrance of the trap
7. DK-1 Gopher & Mole Traps including Pocket Gophers
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Here is another wire gopher trap to add to your rodent arsenals. Also known as the death klutch, this gopher trap is one of the simplest yet very effective.
Its steel construction makes it a strong and durable device able to serve you for quite a long period.
Setting the device is quite easy. All you have to do is dig into the gopher’s hole and fit the trap in it. The jaws should be left hanging upwards.
The trap won’t kill the gopher. So, the trap needs to be anchored to the ground to prevent the gopher from retreating further into the tunnel with the trap.
DK-1 Gopher Trap is available in a pack of six traps, each capable of lasting several seasons. Although it is meant for pocket gophers, this trap will equally be an important weapon against moles and striped gophers.
What’s more, this simple trap proves to be a reliable tool for catching gophers.
The Good:
- It’s a reliable gopher trap.
- Easy to use and set
- Strong and durable
The Bad:
- Doesn’t kill the rodent
- You have to secure it on the ground
8. Macabee Gopher Trap MGT with Extra-wide trigger
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If you are looking for a gopher trap with the easiest trigger mechanism, then Macabee Gopher Trap is such a device.
But its simplicity doesn’t compromise its ability to trap gophers. As a matter of fact, MGT is regarded as a very effective gopher trap in the market.
The trap consists of jaws and wires. However, these components are made of strong and durable steel, making the trap to withstand repeated use. In fact,t this device boasts of a lifetime warranty from its manufacturer. This gopher trap’s design and size make it easy to set and slide into an active gopher tunnel. Naturally, gophers tend to push the soil forward as they progress through the tunnel. This makes it very hard to spot the small Macabee trap.
So if a gopher comes burrowing through the tunnel, the soil’s thrusting causes the trap to trip hence seizing the gopher by the neck or chest. It’s ideally meant for trapping pocket gophers but can be used to trap other gophers and moles.
With this device, you can be sure to eliminate gophers and moles from your garden or lawn. It’s environmentally friendly and will not cause harm to kids and pets. It comes in a pack of 24 traps meaning you can use it throughout the year.
The Good:
- Easy to set up
- Reliable
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Easy to fit in the tunnel
The Bad:
- May require to be anchored to the ground
9. The Gophinator – Gopher Trap
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The gophinator has gained popularity as one of the most sturdy gopher traps in the market.
It is constructed with temper stainless steel, which gives it an upper hand in performance and durability. Unlike other cheaper traps, the gophinator is capable of withstanding more prolonged usage.
One of the salient features inherent in this device is its torsion mechanism’s greater clasping forum. It kills the rodent within the first encounter. Even the largest gopher will not survive its powerful grip. This trap’s design virtually eliminates common flaws experienced by some similar cheaper traps making it a reliable device to have around. Its design and mechanism eliminate the possibility of gophers to shy away from the trap.
A pack of the gophinator contains four traps. It is easy to set and will work effectively on all soil types. A pack of this gophinator will go a long way to help you reduce or eliminate gophers and moles from the garden or lawn.
The Good:
- Very effective
- Made with strong and durable temper stainless steel
- Withstands repeated usage
- Easy to set up
The Bad:
- You need to been very keen not to whack your fingers with the strong spring
Considerations for Gopher Trap
Number of doors/entrances
Generally, traps come with one or two doors. If you opt for a trap with a single door, everything will be done using it.
This includes setting, baiting if necessary, and releasing the animal. On the other hand, if you choose the two-door trap, the setting is typically done via the front door, while baiting and releasing is done via the back door.
However, both types of traps are suitable for gophers. But while the single door allows for easier and safer operation, the double door is better than baiting and releasing.
Conclusion
While there’s a wide range of gopher traps in the market, not all of them may be viable to solve your particular gopher problem.
They exhibit notable differences in their mechanisms, pricing, and the type and size of animal they can trap.
As you have seen from my review, some traps are ideal for both gophers and moles. Others are suited for gophers only.
Whichever way, the best gopher trap should be the one that effectively traps gophers and falls within your budget.