Gophers cannot build tunnels in tilled soil because the soil will collapse. Replacing the alfalfa with corn or soybeans will make the gophers leave, as they won t feed on those roots. Grain buffer strips of 50 feet around the alfalfa field will help reduce immigration of the animals and after the producer gets rid of them, they likely will not return. Flood irrigation can be effective, too, as the gophers will be drown or flee from the area. Mud will foul their fur and claws and diffusion of grasses in the burrows.
Toxicants are generally the easiest way to get rid of gophers.
Strychnine alkaloid is a very fast-acting, effective agent, but can only be used underground. A probe should be used around the mound to find the run. After the run is found, the bait can be placed in the hole to poison the animals. Burrow builder is also available, but the applicator must be certified to use the strychnine at this strength. To apply burrow builder, the burrow-making machine is pulled behind a tractor to encircle the field with bait.