Signs of gophers
- Crescent or fan-shaped dirt mounds with a plugged hole off to one side.
- Plants pulled down into the ground or wilting suddenly because roots were eaten.
- Chewed drip irrigation and sprinkler lines.
- Soft, sunken spots in the lawn where tunnels run underneath.
Moles are uncommon in most of Arcadia. Mounds in local yards are almost always gophers.
Why gophers are a problem
One gopher can push up dozens of mounds and wipe out a vegetable bed, young fruit trees or a new lawn. Tunnels can also divert irrigation water toward foundations and loosen soil on hillside yards in north Arcadia. Gophers live alone, so one active mound system usually means one animal, but neighboring yards often send new ones.
Seeing this at your place right now? A local technician can talk it through with you on the phone.
Call (626) 555-0142How we control gophers
Find the main tunnel
Call (626) 555-0142. The technician probes near fresh mounds to find the main runway.
Set traps in the tunnel
Traps are placed directly in the main tunnel and covered. Trapping is the most reliable method and avoids poisons in the yard.
Check and reset
Traps are checked over the next several days until the gopher is caught and activity stops.
Ongoing monitoring
Yards next to open land or neighbors with gophers often benefit from monthly checks.
Protecting your yard
- Line new garden beds with galvanized wire mesh before planting.
- Use wire baskets around the roots of young trees and shrubs.
- Act quickly on the first mound. Gophers dig more when left alone.
Gopher FAQ
Do gas cartridges or flooding work?
Rarely. Gopher tunnels are long and the animal plugs them off. Trapping is far more reliable.
Are gophers active all year?
Yes. Activity often jumps in spring and after rain when the soil is soft.