Gophers and their increasing numbers are cause for concern for some Penhold residents.
Concerned citizens brought the issue to council's attention at the June 27 regular council meeting and highlighted their reasons for concern.
After discussing several ideas that were put on the table, council agreed with a motion by Coun. Michael Yargeau to have public works look into the town's options regarding the gopher issue and report back to council.
"They're around the schools, they're around the (outdoor rink)," said Penhold resident and concerned father Mike Klitch. "You got kids playing in there and they're running all over the place. All it takes is one of them to trip in this (gopher) hole and they're breaking an ankle or breaking a leg or they fall down and break an arm."
Klitch noted areas of concern include open fields behind Jesse Duncan Elementary School, the splash park and fields along Mann Drive in the south end of town.
"It's horrendous. There's hundreds of gophers in there," he said, adding he has spoken to public works officials who informed him they trap gophers every spring.
"I haven't seen them out there trapping anything, and I'm pretty sure nobody else along our street has seen any activity back there to control gophers."
Penhold mayor Dennis Cooper pointed out that gophers can have up to six litters a year and that trapping them in the spring doesn't always have an impact on their population. He informed Klitch and others in attendance the town can't use poison to control them, as it has affected other wildlife and domestic animals in the past.
Trapping them also poses challenges because they can only be nabbed one at a time, said Cooper.
Chief administrative officer Rick Binnendyk said the town has looked at several ways of trapping gophers in the past.
"There was another formula (method) that was used for two years but it was shut down because it was declared inhumane," said Binnendyk. "Any time you have fields, you have gophers usually."
Klitch restated his concerns for his family and others and inquired whether the town could trap gophers throughout the year.
"I'm not just worried about my yard, I'm worried about my son playing around there too,” he said. “It's getting to be a huge problem and honestly trapping them isn't working."
He noted that while other ways of controlling gophers may seem inhumane, the same could be said about the concerns they pose for children and families.
"You can say it's inhumane, but what's inhumane -- killing a gopher or letting somebody's kid break their leg or their arm,” said Klitch. “That's a huge difference to me."
Cooper said the town will inquire about control measures with exterminator companies that may have improved technology or new ideas that can assist in controlling the pesky varmints.
"It's a problem and it needs to be addressed," Klitch concluded.
Mike Klitch, Penhold resident
"They're around the schools, they're around the (outdoor rink). It's horrendous. There's hundreds of gophers in there."
