Gopher Control in Montana: A Complete Guide

What to look for

Pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) are widespread across Montana. They are fossorial, meaning they spend most of their lives underground, digging extensive tunnel systems that can cover hundreds of square feet. Each tunnel system typically houses a single gopher, as they are highly territorial. Their mounds are crescent-shaped or fan-shaped, with the burrow plug off to one side — a key difference from molehills. Gophers feed on roots, tubers, and vegetation, often pulling entire plants underground from below. This can devastate gardens, kill trees and shrubs, and damage underground sprinkler systems and utility lines. In agricultural settings, they reduce crop yields and create hazards for livestock and machinery.

• 1Fan-shaped or crescent-shaped soil mounds, typically 6–12 inches wide, with a plugged hole off-center.
• 2Fresh mounds appearing daily or every few days, especially after rain or irrigation.
• 3Wilting or dying plants, shrubs, or trees — roots have been gnawed.
• 4Visible surface tunnels (raised ridges) in lawns or soft soil.
• 5Damage to irrigation drip lines or underground cables (gnaw marks).
• 6Gopher holes (burrow openings) that are plugged with soil — rarely left open.
• 7Sudden collapse of soil when walking across a lawn, indicating shallow tunnels.

Treatment options and typical costs

Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.

Understanding Gopher Behavior and Biology.

Gophers have several unique adaptations for life underground. Their lips close behind their incisors, allowing them to gnaw roots without ingesting soil. They also have fur-lined cheek pouches (pockets) used to carry food — hence the name. These pouches are external, turning inside-out for cleaning. Gophers are strictly herbivorous, feeding on roots, bulbs, and occasionally above-ground vegetation pulled into their burrows. Pocket gophers are solitary fossorial rodents known for their extensive burrowing. Each gopher digs a system of tunnels that can cover up to 2,000 square feet, with separate areas for food storage, nesting, and waste. They are most active in spring and fall when soil moisture is optimal for digging. In Montana, two species dominate: the northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides) and the plains pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae). The northern species is more widespread, inhabiting grasslands, meadows, and agricultural areas across the state.

Gopher Control Methods: Trapping vs. Baiting vs. Fumigation.

Baiting with toxicants like strychnine or zinc phosphide is common in large agricultural settings, but it carries risks. Non-target animals, including pets and raptors, can be poisoned by consuming poisoned gophers or bait. In Montana, some baits are restricted and require a pesticide applicator license for purchase. Fumigation using gas cartridges is less common, as gophers can quickly seal off tunnels, rendering the gas ineffective. For most homeowners, trapping — either DIY or professional — is the recommended approach. Trapping remains the most effective and environmentally responsible method for gopher control in Montana. The Macabee trap, Cinch trap, and GopherHawk are popular choices. Traps must be set in active tunnels — usually identified by probing the soil to find a depression or by locating the main runway. Setting traps in the main tunnel, not just a lateral, is crucial. Check traps every 24–48 hours and relocate or dispose of the carcass promptly.

Montana's Regional Gopher Variations.

In central Montana (Great Falls, Lewistown), gophers thrive in the mixed-grass prairies and agricultural fields, often causing significant crop damage. Eastern Montana (Billings, Miles City) has drier conditions, but gophers concentrate in irrigated areas along rivers and around farmsteads. The plains pocket gopher is more common in the east, while the northern pocket gopher dominates the west and central regions. Gopher pressure varies across Montana's diverse landscapes. In the western mountainous regions (e.g., Missoula, Kalispell, Bozeman), gophers are common in irrigated lawns and pastures, with activity peaking in the wet spring and early summer. The heavy clay soils in parts of the Bitterroot Valley can make tunneling easier when moist but harder when dry.

The research on gophers in U.S. homes.

In Montana, because each gopher is solitary, a yard with several fresh mounds usually means several animals, each with its own network. In Montana, count the active mounds during your walk-through — that number, not a national average, is what should drive a treatment plan. In Montana, state wildlife agencies put a single pocket gopher at roughly a ton of soil moved per year, and mounds are the first thing most people notice. In Montana, tunnel systems typically run 6 to 12 inches below the surface, with deeper nesting and food-storage chambers.

Simple ways to keep gophers away

• Maintain a healthy lawn with deep, infrequent watering to discourage tunneling.
• Remove food sources like dandelions, clover, and other tap-rooted weeds.
• Install underground fencing (galvanized hardware cloth, 24 inches deep) around gardens.
• Use gopher-repellent plants like gopher spurge or marigolds (limited effectiveness).
• Encourage natural predators like owls, hawks, and snakes by installing perches.
• Flood tunnels occasionally with a hose to collapse them and deter re-entry.
• Keep grass mowed short to reduce cover for gophers.

Questions people ask

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