Non-Toxic Gopher Control

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026; 9:00AM - 12PM
Location: UCSC Hay Barn; park in the Hay Barn parking lot
Format: In person
Instructor: Thomas Wittman
Cost: Based on your ability to pay. Workshop fees go to support the Center for Agroecology. Please select the price that works for you. Students may attend for free, please email agroecology@ucsc.edu to register as a student.

Gophers! Every backyard gardener’s nemesis. Join Thomas Wittman for this informative class on effective gopher control methods that are safe for humans and the environment.

Gophers and other vertebrate pests take a huge toll in agriculture as well as your own backyard; as much as 10 to 50% of crops can be lost to animal pests. Thomas Wittman has been working on this issue for over 35 years and has come up with innovative methods and tools to reduce crop damage by managing pest populations in several ways. The most effective lethal traps and techniques will be presented along with exclusion barriers, integrating pest predators, and crop rotation.

If there’s time, Thomas will answer questions about rats, deer, and squirrels. Towards the end of the class he will do a hands-on demonstration to identify gopher activity, find the run, and set a few traps (weather permitting).

About the Instructor

Thomas Wittman, the founder of Gophers Limited, has been involved with non-toxic pest control for over three decades. His experience ranges from pest control on his own organic farm (Molino Creek Farming Collective), consulting and working at the UC Santa Cruz Center For Agroecology—specifically on gophers and ground squirrels and residential and commercial pest control—as well as leading interactive training sessions for UC Extension, vineyards, farms and institutions. He holds licenses from the California Department of Fish and Game to trap nuisance animals, a Department of Pesticide Regulation Pest Control Qualified Applicator license in grades A and B, and a California Pest Control Operator’s license. Thomas’ mission in his business is to reduce or eliminate the use of poisons. He has a degree in Environmental Studies with an ecology minor from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Things to Bring

Gardening gloves, layered clothing, sturdy shoes, and rain gear depending on the weather. This event takes place rain or shine. We will be walking up to the farm’s greenhouse after a presentation in the Hay Barn, which features a small incline/slope.

Pre-registration is required for this workshop. Presented by the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden. Members receive a 10% discount on workshop costs. Learn more about becoming a member and sign up at: https://agroecology.ucsc.edu/get-involved/join-the-friends/index.html

This workshop is open to all members of the public who purchase a ticket consistent with state and federal law. We strive to make our programming accessible to all. Email accommodation requests to agroecology.ucsc.edu.