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Which Critter is Destroying my Landscaping?
Alamo Today ~ April 2016 - Page 15
By Nate Rubin, Tri Valley Trapper
Spring is here and there is an outcropping of new plant growth and people preparing their gardens. Below is information to help you understand the most common landscape pests, what their activity looks like, and the most productive deterrent or removal methods. GOPHERS: This tiny herbivore can wreak havoc in all areas of your landscaping and lawn. Gophers are basically an underground rat with massive beaver-like teeth meant to chew thru roots and plants. The activity we see are holes and mounds of dirt caused by the gopher excavating surface tunnels. At least one new hole or mound is created each day as he extends the surface burrow Stop by to find more food. The gophers’ hole is approxiour new office in the mately three inches across. He throws dirt off to Alamo Courtyard one side of the surface hole in a fan shaped mound. 3195 Danville Blvd #4, When finished excavating, he pushes a dirt plug Alamo into the hole to seal off his burrow from light and predators. If you have multiple dirt mounds and dirt plugged holes, you probably have at least one gopher. Bubble gum, gassing or flooding can work, but most of my customers prefer to see the gopher caught, proving to them he is gone. MOLE: This blind miniature carnivorous shrew causes damage primarily in lawns, behind/under retaining walls, around paver stones, or anywhere it pleases. Mainly we see his surface tunneling which looks like an animal has swam right under the surface, pushing up soil in a continuous ridge. These ridges commonly run along the edge of a lawn next to a border. Moles do make mounds as well, which means he is working deeper. The mole does not push dirt out of an open surface hole, instead pushing dirt straight up and causing a mound that resembles a volcano. Most of the time, it is only one or two moles causing all the damage. Reducing their food source (worms and grubs) is a great way to deter moles, but if you have a persistent one, nothing works like having it trapped and removed. VOLE: Also known as a field mouse, the vole is basically a cross between a gopher and a mouse. Once a burrowing animal (gopher, mole) has left a burrow, voles will move in and use the network of tunnels to live in and store their food. Grains from wild grass make up most of their diet, but voles won’t hesitate to prey upon your vegetables or herbs. A vole hole is about two inches across and almost perfectly round. Often a one inch ring of grass is chewed down perfectly around the hole like a doughnut. There can be NEW YEAR dozens of vole holes in a lawn; sometimes the holes are left open, and sometimes they plug the hole with dirt similar to a gopher. • CARPET NEW FLOORS! Some deterrents from the hardware store and castor oil may help reduce activity. In my experience a process of elimination trapping • HARDWOOD effort by a pro is more successful. RUGS RACCOON: We all know what these masked bandits look like. Particularly in late summer raccoons tear up lawns in search for • CARPET worms and grubs. When it’s hot and dry the only moisture and food source available is in your lawn. After the raccoon has done • HARDWOOD CUSTOM RUGS their work, your turf will look as though it has been peeled or rolled back like carpet. Keeping worms and grubs under control is • RUGS LINOLEUM the best way to discourage this. An electric wire around the lawn’s perimeter can help too. When all else fails, having the animal • LINOLEUM TILE removed by a professional trapper is the answer. SKUNKS: Everyone knows that smell. Skunks search for worms and grubs In your lawn, and they wont hesitate to dig after a gopher or mole to eat. Their digging looks like medium sized cone shaped holes three or four inches deep and across. Discourage Family Owned Business skunks by eliminating their food sources, grubs, worms, gophers, moles, mice and voles. Be careful if you choose to have a skunk Since 1989 trapped; correct procedure is key to an un-smelly outcome. 3344 Mt. Diablo Blvd. I hope I have helped identify your problem animal. A combination of deterrents and eliminating the problem animals Lafayette, CA food source is your start to being critter free. If 925.284.4440 problem animals persist nothing beats hiring a profession trapper who can deliver the problem www.LamorindaFloors.com License# 708486 critter “in-hand.” After a few days seeing that there’s no new activity proves he’s gone. Most importantly you have peace of mind knowing that you didn’t use poison, which could cause secondary poisoning to wild animals further up the food chain, or $50 OFF 1st month’s service for new worst case your family and pets. To help customers & $50 OFF any repair or with your critter removal call Nate at (925) installation for new & existing customers Advertorial 765-4209.
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