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Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 16 March 2018 16 March 2018

WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu

ESPANOLA – Gophers can be a major problem once they move into the neighborhood. Controlling them can be challenging, especially when they are numerous in an area and reinvade after being removed from an area.

New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has some methods to control these destructive pests.

NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service in Rio Arriba County will host a gopher management workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 5, in La Mesilla, south of Espanola.

"There are a lot of farmers in that area battling the gophers," said Donald Martinez, Rio Arriba County Extension agricultural agent. "We are going to discuss different methods of managing the gophers so people can get a grip on all the losses due to gophers."

Sam Smallidge, NMSU Extension wildlife specialist, will present integrated wildlife damage management techniques for those who are battling the rodents in their farm environment.

"Damage caused by burrowing rodents, such as pocket gophers, is an ongoing process best addressed by improved knowledge of the species and integrating techniques to manage damage," Smallidge said. "This management approach focuses on preventing or reducing negative consequences of human-wildlife interaction. The individual circumstances determine the level of effort applied to solving the problem."

The free workshop will be at Bob Lopez's farm located at 206B State Road 399, two miles off U.S. 84.

For more information, call the Rio Arriba County Extension office at 505-685-4523.