Gopher Pest Control and Exterminators

Gophers may seem harmless at first glance, but if they’ve set their sights on your yard, you know how much of a headache they can be. In Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, and Santa Clara County, gophers are a common problem for homeowners and businesses. These small rodents are expert diggers, and while they spend most of their lives underground, the damage they cause can be seen on the surface in the form of mounds, dead plants, and uprooted trees. At 101 Exterminators, we specialize in gopher control services designed to protect your property from these burrowing pests.

Understanding Gophers

California is home to five species of gophers, with the Botta’s pocket gopher being the most common in the northern central coast. These rodents are typically between 6-10 inches long and have powerful claws and teeth, making them prolific diggers. Gophers spend 99% of their lives underground, constructing extensive tunnel systems 6 to 12 inches below the surface. Over the course of a year, a single gopher can move up to a ton of dirt, creating an elaborate network of tunnels under your lawn, garden, or farm.

Gopher Habits and Damage

Gophers may be small, but the damage they cause can be significant:

  • Yard Destruction: Gophers dig burrows, leaving unsightly dirt mounds scattered across your lawn. Their tunneling can disrupt the root systems of plants and grass, causing patches of dead vegetation.
  • Harm to Plants and Trees: Gophers are herbivores with a fondness for roots, bulbs, and tender plants. They can quickly devastate gardens and young trees, causing costly damage.
  • Injury Hazards: Gopher burrows create holes in your yard, which can lead to injuries if someone steps into one, especially children and pets.

While gophers prefer to live in natural, open spaces, they’re often drawn to the well-maintained lawns and lush gardens of residential properties, where food is plentiful and the soil is easy to dig.

Signs of a Gopher Infestation

Since gophers live underground, it can be easy to miss the early stages of an infestation. However, there are several telltale signs to watch for:

  • Dirt Mounds: Gophers create crescent-shaped mounds of dirt as they dig their tunnels. These mounds are typically found scattered across the lawn or garden.
  • Damaged Plants: If plants in your garden suddenly start wilting or dying, it may be because gophers are eating their roots from below.
  • Chewing Damage: Gophers have strong teeth and may gnaw on irrigation systems, tree roots, and underground cables.
  • Tunnels: While most of the tunneling happens underground, you may spot small openings in the soil where gophers enter and exit their burrows.

If left unchecked, gopher populations can grow quickly. They breed year-round and produce litters of 2 to 5 pups. This means a small infestation can turn into a big problem before you know it.

How 101 Exterminators Treats Gopher Infestations

Gophers are tough to control because of their underground lifestyle, but at 101 Exterminators, we have the knowledge and tools to take care of your gopher problem effectively and humanely.

1. Inspection

Our expert technicians begin with a thorough inspection of your property to:

  • Identify Active Burrows: We locate gopher tunnels and assess the extent of the infestation.
  • Determine Entry Points: Understanding how gophers are accessing your yard helps us create a more effective treatment plan.
  • Evaluate Damage: We assess the level of damage to your landscaping, plants, and irrigation systems.

2. Customized Treatment Plan

Once the inspection is complete, we create a customized plan to remove the gophers from your property and prevent them from returning. Our treatments include:

  • Trapping: We use effective and humane trapping techniques to capture gophers. This method is ideal for targeting small infestations and preventing further damage.
  • Rodenticides: For larger or more persistent infestations, we use pet-safe, noninvasive rodenticides designed specifically for gophers. These are placed strategically in burrow systems to eliminate gophers without harming other wildlife or pets.
  • Ongoing Maintenance: Gophers don’t hibernate, and they breed continuously throughout the year. To ensure long-term results, we provide ongoing maintenance treatments to keep gophers from returning.

3. Prevention and Property Protection

In addition to removing gophers, we focus on preventing future infestations. We’ll provide you with practical tips to make your property less attractive to gophers, such as:

  • Soil Barriers: Installing wire mesh or soil barriers in garden beds and around the roots of young trees can prevent gophers from burrowing and feeding.
  • Landscaping Adjustments: We’ll advise on landscape modifications to deter gophers, such as reducing water sources or planting gopher-resistant plants.

Why Choose 101 Exterminators for Gopher Control?

  • Experienced Professionals: Our technicians are skilled in dealing with gopher infestations of all sizes and complexities.
  • Safe and Humane Methods: We prioritize safe, humane, and eco-friendly gopher control methods to protect your property, family, and pets.
  • Long-Term Solutions: Our approach isn’t just about eliminating the current problem—we focus on preventing future infestations with ongoing maintenance and prevention strategies.
  • Local Expertise: As experts in the northern central coast region, we understand the unique challenges posed by gophers and other local pests.

Gophers may be cute to some, but when they invade your property, they can cause costly damage to your yard and garden. At 101 Exterminators, we’re here to provide effective, humane, and long-lasting gopher control solutions. Let us help you protect your home from these destructive rodents and restore your yard to its full potential.