Common household and garden pests differ across the country, but in Utah they typically include rats, mice, voles, pocket gophers, skunks, raccoons, foxes, deer, and birds like woodpeckers and starlings. Utah State University Extension keeps a large library of resources on these species — just visit extension.usu.edu and search the animal you need help with. Below are quick links to a few of the most common conflict species on our own site.
Pocket gophers live in extensive underground tunnel systems and can damage grass, tree roots, and crops. They're common in backyards and schoolyards, but they're also the number one vertebrate pest in alfalfa production — research shows gopher populations can run four times higher in alfalfa fields than in natural vegetation.
Pocket gophers and voles are two common species that damage households and yards alike. Gophers tunnel underground and damage roots; voles forage above ground and damage grass and gardens. This video covers both species and how to manage them around homes and schools.
Utah Extension professionals have studied pocket gopher management in agricultural fields for nearly two decades. This video overviews damage management in alfalfa, and our fact sheet summarizes the research findings and available management techniques.
A field case study evaluating techniques to reduce pocket gopher damage in alfalfa production.
Read the Case Study ↗Utah is home to three species of prairie dog and several species of ground squirrel — and telling them apart matters, because they're managed very differently. Piute ground squirrels aren't protected in any way, but Utah prairie dogs are a federally threatened species with strict legal protections. Since young prairie dogs and Piute ground squirrels can look nearly identical, that's the first thing to sort out before deciding how to handle a conflict.
A side-by-side guide to spotting the difference between these look-alike species — the first step before deciding how to manage them.
Download the ID Guide ↗
Ground squirrels live underground and are active roughly April through September. Most cause little trouble, but populations of Piute ground squirrels — found in just a few Utah counties — can grow large enough to conflict with agriculture. If you use a rodenticide, always check the label to make sure it's approved for your target species.
Download the Guide ↗ Download the Guide
Utah has three prairie dog species, each with its own legal protections that limit lethal control in different ways. Start here for an overview of management options on agricultural land.
Download the Guide ↗Think you have Utah prairie dogs on your property?
Utah prairie dogs (Cynomys parvidens) are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, so special protections and extra care apply to any conflict involving them. Contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for guidance: (435) 865-6100. You can also visit our full Utah Prairie Dog Conservation page for more presentations and videos.
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In this video, the students are using a piece of rebar to poke around the soil pile. They press down onto the rebar as they place it about 12 inches from the center of the soil pile. When the rebar finds the burrow, it will sink quickly down into the opening. From there, one would use a shovel to dig straight down until one can see the burrow and there is room to insert a trap.
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In this video, a student has already found the burrow and made an opening to place 2 pocket gopher traps. The pocket gopher could be on either side of the opening created by the student. By placing a trap in each direction of the burrow, one increases the chances of capturing the pocket gopher. This is a demonstration. Had we actually been setting the traps, they would be connected to a stake, via a piece of wire. Once we set the traps, we would hammer the stake into the ground. By doing so, we can ensure that a predator does not dig out the captured pocket gopher and run away with the trap.
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In this video we demonstrate how to set a Macabee pocket gopher trap. Notice how the little hook on the very front has to catch the bar in order to set the trap.
When setting the trap in the burrow, keep all fingers behind the silver tension plate. |
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In this video we demonstrate how to set a DK-1 pocket gopher trap. These traps can be a little trickier to set until you get hang of it.
Notice the direction in which you need to swivel the swing. When setting the trap in the burrow, keep all fingers behind the vertical(ish) bar. |
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