Guide
Methods That Don’t Live Up to the Hype
Save time and money—skip repellents and gadgets that underperform in research.
Research reviews consistently report poor performance for:
- Ultrasonic/vibrating stakes and wind gadgets.
- Castor‑oil and other “natural” repellents; “gopher‑repellent” plants.
- Smoke bombs and most gas cartridges (gophers quickly plug tunnels).
- Flooding (gophers can hold their breath for 15+ minutes and often escape).
- Predator urine (little evidence of effectiveness).
- Surface poison baits (gophers rarely come to the surface).
- Trapping with leghold traps (inhumane, low success rates).
- Glue boards (inhumane, unreliable, and not recommended for gophers).
- Shooting (difficult and unsafe in most settings).