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PostPosted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 10:47 pm 
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Location: Hawkins,Texas
We have a 30 acre hay meadow and gopher holes are popping up everywhere. Up until this year we have leased out the meadow for hay production. Now we want to take care of it ourselves and get it ceritfied organic as down the road we would like to farm it. Previously gopher bait (strycnine) has been used. I imagine that is out of the question if we want to start organic certification. So what do we use to get rid of these little pests? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Carol Ann

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PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2004 12:07 pm 
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I've always heard that gophers were a pest, but I'm not familiar with the problems. Are they eating something or is it the holes that are the problem?

Would a Jack Russell Terrier be able to kill a gopher or is the gopher too big?

What do you plan to farm on the area in the future?

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PostPosted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 9:20 pm 
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Location: Hawkins,Texas
Currently the meadow is bailed for coastal hay. In the past they used Strychnine to poison the gophers. But this year we are starting our organic certification and I was told that using the strychnine was out of the question. The problem is the mounds. It is hard on the farm equipment when cutting and bailing the hay. Whomever we hire is concerned about it and always asks what we are going to do about the mounds. We do not have a big enough tractor to harvest the hay ourselves so we must hire someone.
Before I knew I could not use the strychnine I called the local farmers' co-op to purchase it and they told me they haven't been able to get any for almost a year because it is processed in Afghanistan and our military bombed the factories. So obviously production has come to a halt. It is a plant based poison and the plants are native to that area of the world.
We have farm collies but they are not always interested in the gophers. I have considered using a .22 but I really have other things to do all day.
So any ideas as how to kill them or run them off.
:roll:

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 16, 2004 11:20 am 
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I'm still thinking Jack Russell Terriers. Ask around in your area to see if anyone has some of those dogs on a farm. They are extremely well known for ratting. They LOVE that stuff.

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PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 12:10 am 
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Okay. Jack Russell Terriers are supposed to be great against gophers. "The gophers don't stand a chance," was one quote from another list.

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 9:33 pm 
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Location: Hawkins,Texas
Actually I was given a Rat Terrier not to long ago. She is a little hyper but gets along really well with our farm collies. They have been spending some time out in the meadow and coming home with a few gophers. I lavish them with praise and hope they go and get more. The problem is the mounds. The man we hire to cut an bail the hay asked if we had gopher mounds. He says they are hard on the equipment. Soooo I guess I will leave it to the dogs.
Thanks!!
Mrs. Carol Pinckard

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:19 pm 
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Location: Dallas,TX
A guy called into Howard a couple weeks back and suggested a novel approach for gophers and moles that he claimed worked every time.

He took an old lawn mower and added about 1/2 cup of motor oil to the gas tank. Then, he took some flexible exhaust hose (coiled kind, from an auto parts store) and attached it to the exhaust (don't know how...maybe using muffler tape).

Then he cranked it up and sequentially put the hose down holes all along the perimeter of his property. They never came back! :shock:

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PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:13 pm 
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This is quite an interesting thread! I have had the wonderful experience of getting to know gophers over this past year. Even contemplated dynamite at times to rid the field of them. :wink:

One thing I have done that doesn't get rid of them but helps to mend the fields ~ is to knock down their piles of dirt. My husband took an old chain-link fence and we weighted it down and pull it behind the tractor. It knocks down their mounds without destroying the field of grass and at least helps to keep the land a bit more level. They are maddening. I have to go now, going to buy some Jack Russell Terriers.

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PostPosted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:34 pm 
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If you're seriously considering a Jack Russell then please, please, please learn as much as you can about the breed first. I've had two of them, one currently, and they're awesome creatures, but they do require special care above and beyond your average dog pet. Especially if you plan to work them in the field. If that's the way you want to go, then you'll not find a better breed for the task at hand.

Working the Jack Russell Terrier

Great web site.

~Dave


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