Alberta pocket gopher survey /
Marie T. Nietfeld, Laurence D. Roy · 1993
A telephone survey of Agricultural Service Board Fieldmen (ASBF) was conducted in 1990 to assess the extent and severity of pocket gopher {Thomomys talpoides) problems in Alberta.Additional agricultural data were used to estimate the area inhabited by gophers and the economic loss to Alberta farmers from pocket gopher damage.Pocket gophers occurred in 48 of 65 municipalities, and were considered a problem in 39 of these areas (15.4% of the area of Alberta).Gopher problems were distributed over 1% to 100% of the total area of municipalities, averaging 54%.Fifty-nine percent of municipalities reporting problems rated problems as moderate, and 3 1 % as severe.Pocket gopher problems were rated more severe in haylands than in pastures by 90% of ASBF.Gopher problems were also associated with sandy soil textures, and were most severe within the black soil zone.Pocket gopher control was advocated by ASBF in 95% of the problem municipalities, but only 39% were satisfied with the methods of control used.More municipalities reported trapping as a satisfactory type of control in comparison to other methods.Pocket gophers were estimated to impact on approximately 722,760 ha of available tame haylands and 729,160 ha of improved pasture, representing 14% of the area over which gophers were considered a problem.The annual economic loss associated with moderate and severe gopher problems occurring on haylands was estimated between $25 and $50 million.ix