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My first entreprenurial endevour was a gopher control buisness when I was 12. I actually built up a pretty large sized client base and ended up with 4 other guys working for me while I organized the operation, spring work while in grade school, and it was my second summer job untill I turned 16.
As a farm kid, I learned to shoot a .22 using gophers as targets. I don't know if you would have a safe range, or the firearms rules in your area, or how you feel about guns for that matter; but a few sunny spring afternoons, set up with a braced .22 rifle and a book will make short work of gopher population. Also great entertainment for the right personality.
Drowning them out is another option. If you ahve recent plantings, you likely have a hose that can reach the area. Running water into the holes for a few minutes every time you water the tress will help get rid of them. Depending on the slope, it might not be very effective, but it won't hurt. I have set up water running into a hole near the top of the slope, left it run for half an hour, and watched half of dozen gophers flee from several lower holes.
Traps work, but are messier then shooting. Baiting and reseting traps is terrible work.
Poison is really the most effective, but with pets it is simply not an option. Even if you can be sure that the pets won't eat the grain/bait, you can't be sure that they won't get at the dead gopher. Besides (although Strychnine is theoretically safe), do you really want to be placing more chemicals in the ground where you're growing things?
You can get blood-thining type poison that takes a few doses (while strychnine should just take one), that wouldn't be too harmful if your cat had a meal of a gopher that was under the effects/dead from it. I could be wrong but I don't think strychnine is such an agent (more of a toxic-kill-now poison then a slow anti-cougulant). I've never used poision other then strychinine, but I can vouch for its effectiveness.
However you do get rid of the existing population, you need to put at least as much effort in preventing new ones. Burying a fence might work, if you want to put the effort in. Just use a smaller mesh then standard chain-link. If a gopher can squeeze its head through the hole, the rest of the body is easy. A double mesh of chicken wire works though. Most importantly, fill the existing system of holes. Fill it with gravel and completly cover the top with packed soil. If you suspect the system crosses property lines, get permission and fill every hole you can find.
As far as deterring a return is concerned, you don't have many options. The fence will work, as long as its deep enough (I'd say 4-6 feet) and tall enough/can't be scrambled by rodents. In theory you should also run another fence horizontally as much as you run it vertically, 18" below grade.
The electronic devices work with young gophers and moles but not with most gophers though.
Another method I've had success with is powdered urine. Fox powder. It will probably drive your dog insane, but it seems to be an effective deterrant.
I should be able to field any questions that come up. Good luck.
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