There are few things more frustrating than dealing with gopher turtles. These pesky critters can wreak havoc on your yard, digging holes and destroying your landscaping.
Gopher turtles are small, brown, and hard to get rid of. They live in burrows and come out at night to eat fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
Gopher turtles can do a lot of damage to your yard in a short period. If you’re not careful, they can ruin your landscaping and leave you with a big mess to clean up.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to get rid of gopher turtles naturally.
By following these tips, you can get rid of gopher turtles without harming them or using harmful chemicals.
1. Trap them
You can buy a live trap at your local hardware store.
Be sure to bait the trap with fresh fruits or vegetables so the turtle will be attracted to it. Some of their favorite foods include earthworms, slugs, snails, insects, and berries.
Place the trap in an area where you’ve seen the turtle before and check it regularly. When you catch the turtle, simply release it into the wild far away from your home.
2. Make your yard less attractive to gopher turtles
You can also try to discourage them from staying by making your yard less hospitable for them.
Some things you can do include: filling in their burrows, removing brush and woodpiles from your yard, and eliminating their food sources.
Keep your grass short so they won’t have anywhere to hide. Pick up any fallen fruits or vegetables so they won’t have anything to eat.
And make sure to seal any holes or cracks in your foundation so they can’t get into your house.
3. Use plants that repel them
Plants like marigolds, garlic, and chilli peppers will make your yard less appealing to turtles.
You can plant these around the perimeter of your property or in areas where you’ve seen the turtle before.
4. Use fish to get rid of gopher turtles
Fish like bass or catfish will feast on turtle eggs and deter turtles from laying eggs in your pond. This is a great way to keep gophers away from your property without harming them.
5. Create your own turtle repellent
You can also make your own turtle repellent by mixing water, vinegar, and peppermint oil in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture around the perimeter of your property, and the gopher turtles will stay away.
What to Do If You Find Gopher Turtles on the Road?
1. Check for signs of life or injuries
The first thing you should do is to try and determine if the turtle is alive or not.
If it is, then your next course of action depends on whether or not you think you can safely remove the turtle from the road without putting yourself in danger.
If the turtle is dead, then your course of action is fairly simple: just remove it from the road so that other drivers don’t have to deal with it.
Again, animal control or a wildlife removal service can certainly handle this for you if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, but it’s not strictly necessary.
Gopher turtles have a hard shell that protects them from being injured by cars. However, their shells can crack or break if they’re hit hard enough.
If you see any cracks or breaks in the shell, take the turtle to a vet or wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.
2. If the turtle isn’t injured, you can release it back into the wild.
Gopher turtles like to live in wooded areas near ponds or wetlands. If you have a pond or wetland on your property, great!
The turtle will be happy there. If not, you can release it in a park or other natural area. Just make sure to release it far away from roads so it doesn’t get hit again.
3. Call your local wildlife department
They’ll be able to give you more specific instructions for releasing it back into the wild safely.
Gopher tortoises are a common sight in many parts of the world, but their curious nature often leads them into danger.
If you’re dealing with gopher turtles, don’t despair! There are plenty of ways to get rid of them without resorting to harmful chemicals or traps.
By following these tips, you can keep gophers away from your property or road and enjoy your yard again.
