Operator`s manual

Rev. 11/07/2006
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© 2007 E.B. Meyer, Inc
Fan Shaped Mounds - Muddy Appearance or Globular Composition
A mound that has a muddy or globular composition is the result of a gopher clearing out
flooded tunnels.
An application to this type of mound may not produce effective results due to excessive
moisture in the gopher tunnels, blockages and diversions placed by the gopher.
The application should be delayed until normal mounding with granular soil is observed.
Large Fan Shaped Mounds or Clustered Mounds (Den Sites)
Typically in the spring or late fall, pocket gophers will excavate deep tunnel systems and
prepare for winter by digging den site deep underground or to clean out their den after
weaning their offspring and preparing for another litter.
This type of excavation gives the appearance to be a group of large mounds close
together or an abnormally large gopher mound. This indicates the location of a gopher
den site. These den sites can go as deep as 12 feet below the surface, depending on
geographic locations, climate and soil.
In moderate climates, a pocket gopher will burrow a den site approximately 4 to 6 feet
below the surface in a comfortable location that offers a ambient temperature of 57° and is
well below the saturation point of surface water and above the groundwater table.
In extreme northern climates where there is a frost line, pocket gophers will burrow a den
site approximately 5 to 7 feet below the frost line, or as deep at 12 feet below the surface
in order to survive the cold climates.
Small Dome Shaped Mounds
Small dome shaped mounds or “boils” are usually created by the pocket gopher for
immediate access to food at the surface. These are typically located directly above the
main runway or between two mounds.
Pocket gophers use these like a hatch to quickly poke out to gather food or nesting
material. A small plug is pushed back up by the gopher, creating the “boil”. These plugs
are normally weak and can be opened with a finger or the gopher shovel.
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