Pocket gopher question

What is your interpretation of my recent plugged hole. Two traps - one facing each direction - gopher in one trap and hole plugged tight. Did he plug it from one side and catch him coming from the other way, or was it a second gopher? I usually pull after catching one animal so, even though I have seen this before, I haven't developed my own theory yet. This time, I stuck it out. What has been your experience?

I have caught multiple gophers out of a hole. If you are in a heavily infested area their tunnels intertwine amongst each other. Put a trap back in if it isn't bothered with in a couple of days then pull it.

I have caught a double once, and maybe two out if one hole once too, can't remember for sure.

This is a residential yard with three clusters of mounds, though many look quite old. I only had activity at only one of four locations (I set two mounds in one cluster) that resulted in the plug/catch. Will be interesting to see if ant show up at the other mounds.

A complete "coverup" of the trap set is more common in my experience for skittish gophers. Even then, digging out my traps will still result in a catch a small percent of the time. They must have other connecting tunnels that lead them to the other no-covered trap in these cases. I always probe the tunnels when I fail to catch a gopher and sometimes find they have plugged/blocked in front of the traps. If plugged or covered up, I usually re-set on another mound/tunnel one more time and without bait (PB). I set traps one day and always check them the next day.



Gophers are extremely territorial EXCEPT during the breeding season and when mama is raising her young. Doubles are more common during the breeding season and at dispersal of the young. This is only a SWAG but coverups and plugged tunnels seem to be more prevalent during the dispersal period mentioned and when males and females are "chasing each other around the room!"

Thanks for the thoughts, Aggie. My set looked just like your pic. I did not check today due to no activity at the other mounds, but will post what I find when I go back.

After 48 hours, no activity at any of the mounds. I guess the trap burier got around to the other side to get caught. Pulled out and told him if he had any mounds in the next month, I'd come back at no charge.