Magnum "Gophinator" Lethal Gopher Trap

Thumbnail Filmstrip of Magnum "Gophinator" Lethal Gopher Trap Images

The design of the trap further reduces trap avoidance by providing the gopher with a clear path to the trigger--if the gopher walks mostly on dirt rather than wire on its approach to the trap trigger, it will be less likely to identify the trap as a potentially dangerous foreign object in its tunnel system, and thus will be more likely to enter the trap. Finally, the trap is constructed entirely out of high temper stainless steel wire, so unlike other gopher traps, The Gophinator will not lose power or trigger sensitivity due to rust. And it will stay effective through many years of use.

Placement of the Gophinator Gopher Trap

Step One. Locate tunnels by using a 10 to12 inch long screwdriver or other metal rod to probe into soil and feel for the “give” when you hit a tunnel. For best results, probe along the perimeter of a 1 to 2 foot diameter circle around freshest mounds, or probe a transect half way between freshest mounds. Most tunnels are between 4 inches and 12 inches below surface. If activity is located on a slope, the tunnel will almost always be located on the uphill side of the mounds(when cleaning out a tunnel, they push the dirt down hill as miners push out tailings from a mine shaft).

Step Two. Using a trowel or shovel, dig a roughly six to eight inch diameter hole down to the tunnel. Clean out loose dirt from tunnels. If you have dug into the side of a tunnel, you must set traps in both directions. If you have by chance dug into the end of dead end section of tunnel, then you only need to set a single trap. If you feel that tunnels fork in the first six or eight inches into a tunnel, then dig back to the fork, and set traps in both forks of the tunnel. The traps should be inserted tines first and tines pointed upwards into the tunnels. Traps should be inserted far enough that the whole trap including the spring are inside the tunnel. Finally, I recommend a small dab of peanut butter be used as bait, which can be applied on the spring of the trap, or on the side of the tunnel near the spring of the trap. This will encourage the gopher to come through the tines of the set trap, and push his way through the trigger mechanism.

Step Three. After traps are set and baited, use a piece of cardboard or dirt clod to block off open end of tunnel behind trap, and fill in above this blockage with loose dirt so as to block off light from entering the tunnel. Gophers are often caught in the traps within a matter of hours, but for best results, check traps after 24 hours, and reset on any new activity.