An evaluation of two traps and sets for trapping the plains pocket gopher

Authors

Stephen M. Vantassel, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Andrew J. Tyre, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Scott E. Hygnstrom, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

Spring 2014

Citation

Human–Wildlife Interactions 8(1):100–107, Spring 2014

Abstract

We investigated the efficiency of DK-1 and Macabee® pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) traps placed in lateral tunnels in both open and closed tunnel sets in rangeland and nonirrigated alfalfa fields in Nebraska. We observed no statistical difference between the traps in capture efficiency when used in open, versus closed, tunnel sets. Trapping of pocket gophers was more effective in rangeland (probability of capture in a single tunnel system using 3 traps; 63%) than nonirrigated alfalfa fields (26%). We did not determine whether this variance was due to behavioral differences between Geomys bursarius and Geomys lutescens. We found that trapping pocket gophers was species specific with only 1 nontarget animal harmed. We suggest modifications to the traps to improve gopher capture rate and lethality.