Sleepy Time Gopher
What is the PERC & How do we do it?
At Sleepy Time Gopher, we use a machine called the PERC (Presurized Exhaust Rodent Control). The PERC is manufactured in California by H&M Rodent Control. This machine uses concentrated carbon monoxide to humanely put ground pests to sleep.
The process takes a minimum of three minutes per hole. A probe is inserted into a ground squirrel, pocket gopher, mole or vole hole and covered with dirt; then, the gas is turned on for three minutes.
On average, six holes can be treated within eight minutes.
If any rodents come back out of the hole for whatever reason and perish, there is no worry if your dog or other wildlife gets a hold of it.
When can I have my ground pests controlled?
As soon as male ground squirrels emerge in mid-spring, they remain active until July. September is when the females and young enter hibernation.
Unlike poison, which has a time restriction and is limited to the early spring months before the grass starts growing. There is a larger window of opportunity when using the PERC, from early spring, mid-March to mid-September.
How much does this Cost?
$125/hour
On average, with an intense gopher population, it is an average of 4-5.5 hours per acre.
What can be done in a day?
The outcome largely depends on the severity of the infestation. In one case, it took 16 hours to work on just 3 acres of wheat crop. The ground squirrels caused significant damage, resulting in the complete destruction of all three acres. In contrast, another location involved approximately 20 acres of pasture and also required 16 hours of work.