Pocket gopher

A predator odor affected a pocket gopher, Thomomys talpoides, population in western Canada. First live-trapping removed the gophers from plots of 4ha area in an orchard. Then synthetic sulfur compounds from stoat, Mustek erminea anal glands (1 1 mixture of 2-propylthietane and 3-propyl-l,2-dithiolane) were... 

Sullivan, T. P., Crump, D. R., Wieser, H. and Dixon, E. A. (1990). Response of pocket gophers [Thomomys talpoides) to an operational application of synthetic semiochem-icals of stoat [Mustela erminea). Journal of ChemicalEcobgy 16,941-949. 

Sullivan, T.P. and E.J. Hogue (1987). Influence of orchard floor management on voles and pocket gopher populations and damage in apple orchards. J. Amer. Soc. Hortic. Sci., 112 972-977. 

Heavy weed growth creates a favorable habitat for rodents such as pine and meadow voles and pocket gophers, which chew and girdle both deciduous plants and conifers (Crouch, 1979 Cole et al., 1998). Providing weed-free conditions or low-growing vegetation around these plants allows predation by hawks, owls, foxes, and coyotes, which helps to keep the rodents in check. 

Crouch, G.L. (1979). Atrazine improves survival and growth of ponderosa pine threatened by vegetative competition and pocket gophers. For. Sci., 25 99-111. 

J. Evans, Efficacy and Hazards of Strychnine Baiting for Forest Pocket Gophers, in Animal Damage Management in Pacific Northwest Forests. Pullman, WA, p. 81, Washington State University, 1987. 

Strychnine was first registered as a pesticide in the USA in 1947 however, this natural toxin had been used in many coimtries to control vertebrate animals for many years prior to 1947. Currently, strychnine is registered for use only below ground as a bait application to control pocket gophers. The end-use products are formulated as a grain-based bait or a paste. Baiting can be done manually, or with the use of application equipment. 

Texas pocket gopher, Geomys personatus, 802 Thomomys spp., 233... 

Vleck, D. 1979. The energy cost of burrowing by the pocket gopher Thomomys bottae. Physiol. Zool., 52, 122-125. 

Sullivan, T.R, Crump, D.R. Sullivan, D.S. 1988b. Use of predator odors as repellents to reduce feeding damage by herbivores. IV. Northern pocket gophers Thomomys talpoides). J. Chem. Ecol, 14, 379—389. 

AVOIDANCE RESPONSE OF POCKET GOPHERS (THOMOMYS TALPOIDES) TO MUSTELID ANAL GLAND COMPOUNDS... 

Gopher populations. Pocket gopher populations were monitored on control and treatment areas at the Agriculture Canada Research Station, Summerland, B.C. from Septemter 1983 to July 1984 and on control, pulse-removal control, and pulse-removal treatment areas in Kalamalka Lake Park, Vernon, B.C. from April 1984 to May 1985. These study areas were located in natural habitats near extensive blocks of orchards. 

Fig. 3. Avoidance behavior responses ("capture" in live-traps) of pocket gophers to mustelid anal gland compounds and a novel odor in the laboratory bioassay arena. p < 0.05 p < 0.01 significant difference by chi-square. + p = 0.75 ...

Table 1. Number of pocket gophers captured on control and treatment grids at Summerland prior to and during trials of Experiment B. 

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