Gohper Identification & Prevention

What are gophers?

While gophers may be cute and furry, their destructive abilities make them a pest no homeowner wants to discover living in their yard. Large and powerful rodents, gophers have stout bodies, short necks, and blunt noses. They have tan or brown fur, and their short, front legs and claws allow them to tunnel through the soil.

Gophers also have external cheek pouches that they use to carry the food that they foraged from the earth. Another way to identify gophers is not by seeing them, but by observing the openings (entrances and exits), they create in our lawns.

Are gophers dangerous?

Gophers are herbivores, which means they only feed on plants. To feed, gophers tunnel through the ground and nibble on plant or grass roots, causing significant damage or plant death in the process. Gopher tunnels don’t just occur in our lawns and gardens (which is bad enough), but can also extend under driveways, cement slabs, and foundations.

Adding even more insult to injury, as gophers move through the soil, they can damage wires, pipes, and cables. Gophers also cause cosmetic damage by pushing the loosened soil up to the top of the ground creating a matrix of tunnels across the lawn. Also, the horseshoe-shaped mounds of dirt that build up at the entrance and exit holes make mowing difficult and can cause falls.

Why do I have a gopher problem?

Gophers may have become a problem in your yard for several different reasons. The main reason is that they were born there or nearby, and your yard provides them with everything they need, so why move?

Gophers that are looking for new real estate are attracted to yards with loose, moist soil and plenty of gardens, trees, landscaping plants, roots, and bulbs to eat. Gophers are opportunistic and will take advantage of any area that provides them with delicious food.

Where will I find gophers?

Loose, sandy soil, and areas of land with irrigation systems are both considered paradise to gophers. These rodents tend to be most problematic in yards that are close to things like meadows, fields, parks, and golf courses. Gophers live, feed, and breed outside throughout the entire year; they do not hibernate. Their burrowing systems are quite intricate and may contain hundreds of tunnels – one reason why these pests are so tricky to find and eliminate!

How do I get rid of gophers?

The first step you should take to get rid of gophers from your property is to contact a professional. At Admiral Pest Control, our professionals know the steps needed to eliminate gophers and prevent a re-infestation.

We are our area’s oldest family-run pest control company, and we take care of all our customers as if they are part of our family. If you are looking to rid your southern Los Angeles County or Orange County residential or commercial property of pests, reach out to the friendly and knowledgeable professionals at Admiral Pest Control. Call us today to learn more about our gopher control services!

How can I prevent gophers in the future?

Gophers and other pests are difficult to prevent, so the best prevention tip is always to partner with a trained and experienced professional. Gophers live outside and are very difficult to keep from moving into your yard. However, the following tips from Admiral Pest Control can help you to avoid problems with gophers:

• If possible, it may be best to use raised planting boxes in garden areas to prevent gophers from digging through your gardens and damaging the plants.
• Protect garden areas that you do have on your property by burying fencing at least 18 inches into the ground.
• Create a fence barrier of at least 6-12 inches above the ground around garden areas to protect plants located above the ground.
• Bury fencing in the ground and around the bottom of sheds and other outbuildings to prevent gophers from digging under them.
• Do not overwater your lawn; the moister the soil, the easier it is for gophers to dig.