Varmint Controls for California Natives, Please!

Good morning All!

I woke up this morning and immediately went outside to our hummingbrd/butterfly garden only to see arustling behind my Achillea and Salvia Clevelandii.

As I approached, it flew back into it's hole alongwith some unknown vegetation!

I am a person who appreciates the value thatthey provide in aerating the soil; we've got 3.5acres available to them, yet the chose to invadeand desecrate the sanctity of this area!

Regretably, I've had to set the dreaded trap, as I havefound another hole. I do not wish to use the poisonwhich could have far reaching consequences, in theevent that a raptor found the dead rodent.

Has anyone had good success with any other treatmentfor these necessary but devastating-to-our-nativeplants adversaries! Already have two raptor polesinstalled in the area.

Many thanks for taking the time to respond!

Alain in Valley CenterSunset # 19, USDA # 9B</p>

Alain - I am only guessing that you are talking about gophers or rats. Some folks I know use fish emulsion sprayed through a garden feeder attached to a hose, others have used soda bottles buried half way in the ground I think the noise of the wind over the bottles causes below ground noiseyou could try cats, traps and at a gasp from others a pellet rifle, which unless you have the time to sit and wait is probably least effective and from some view points inhumane. There are also sonic devices that operate via batteries available at hardware stores. Good luck. Ben</p>

Hi Alain,

I have heard from people that swear by the sonic gizmo but I have also heard others say they don't work at all. I had a gopher that came and took my Lavatera, onions, and Bloomeria and then left maybe a neighbor took care of it. I have heard putting chile peppers down the holes is effective but haven't had the opportunity to test that solution.

Did you ever identify that salmon penstemon?? I don't know of that color penstemon in this area. The only salmon flowers I could thing of are Mimulus auranticus Monkeyflower and Collinsia.Cindy</p>

Alain,Sorry, my friend.I have no knowledge of a magical method, but have heard and seen and even tried a few way-out ones myself. My father was convinced that a stick of Juicy Fruit gum, carefully rolled into a ball No fingers touching it! would be eaten by the gopher when left in his hole and the gum would ruin his digestion-curtains for Mr. Gopher. Others I have know swore by the spinning sunflowers or the gopher purge plant planted in a row around the property line. Forget it. Trapping is a quick end for the little buggers and although it takes a bit of effort to set them correctly and check them, etc., its still the best method I know short of using a rodenticide or other objectionable means.Keep plugging away, and save the Salvia!Dan</p>

Hi Cindy,

Thanks for the 'varmint' report. It has been 3 dayssince I posted that. There has been no return of the little critter! I've written to the 'other' Calif.Native discussion group most of whom are from thenorthern part of the state. Most say the mostsuccessful deterent is household cats!

Yes! Thank you for assisting me in identifying theMimulus. As I drive into Escondido, the hillsides along Lake Wolford Road are just full of thesebright, salmon-yellow-orange as they matureflowers

Merci encore!

Alain</p>

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the suggestions. By the way, how is your 'catalog' of native plant nurseries comming along?

A couple of weeks ago I was inSacramento, stopping off at the 'home office'of CNPS and noticed that a guide to nurseries was printed in 'Fremontia' way back in July, 1978. It wasupdated in October, 1990.

All The Best!

Alain </p>

Hello Alain,The 'List' of nursery names, locations, etc., is coming along nicely, Thank you very much. It won't be long before the state office will have a list based on regions of the state. I'll check out the 1990 Fremontia, just in case some nurseries are in there that I have missed.Thanks again-DanPS Good luck with the gophers.</p>