Question
We would like to work on getting our yard in order. The major problem that we have is gophers.

Originally, I thought we should cover the complete yard with gopher wire, but now I'm having second thoughts. We will put raised beds (2' high) along our back fence, and it will be easy to put wire in those. The rest of the yard will have walkways and a raised bed garden. I'm not worried about the walkways (compacted gravel, sand, and brick), and the garden can have gopher wire as well.

Besides the patio, there is one main open dirt area. We haven't decide what to put there, but I'm thinking strawberry type ground cover. I think this would be the main area at risk, but in the past, I haven't seen gophers bother with strawberries.

bottom line: Is it really possible to keep gophers out or is it even worth it to cover (down a couple of inches) the whole yard with gopher wire?

thx

Answer
With an average infestation, these little guys can move about 50 tons of soil per acre, in one year.  Plus, they live from 2 to 5 years, and have 2 litters/year with from 4 to 10 offspring.

The battle-lines are drawn.  Your choices are few: Repellant, physical Denial, Bait/Trap, or get an animal that eats them.  Badgers are by far the gopher-munching champs.  Next comes Barn Owl, then the domesticated house cat.

I think you are right, the cost of wiring your whole yard would be excessive匨aybe just under your strawberry patch?  But if you want to go the 揇enial?route, then there are pre-made baskets for trees and large shrubs, and I've even tried making my own with Chicken-wire.  Its service life is about 1 year - and in my opinion, strawberries taste better afer a few years.  

You might do better with galvanized/coated specialty wire (groworganic.com), but you're fighting the tide.  In my opinion, bait & trap is probably the better route, in the long run.  

I've also tried Ammonia (the smell is overpowering, and could damage tree roots).  I've even heard of one suggestion: to use those plastic/wire flags used for marking utilities inserted on top of the tunnels.  The flags flutter, vibrating the wire, which supposedly scares them away. But, if you've already got tunnels, it may be too late.

Some have suggested gasoline and other various flammable liquids.  I would NOT suggest that, as the residues would be harmful to plant life (plus, you don't want to find out the hard way they've tunneled under your house foundation!!)  Also a big no-no in a vegetable garden, if you want to eat these plants, later.

Having said that, if this yard is a wide-open space (like an orchard or country garden), and you have money burning a hole in your wallet, then check out this explosive gizmo - http://www.rodexindustries.com/

For the more reasonable approach, here are some University Co-op extension sites with more suggestions:

University of Montana:  http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/mt200009.html
University of California:  http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7433.html

Sorry, I have no magic solution for you?