Gopher Control & Removal in Southern California

Destructive  Pests

 

Anyone who has seen the popular movie, Caddyshack, knows how difficult it can be to catch one of these yard destroying pests. Gophers usually live alone in their burrow system 6 to 12 inches below the surface. Their burrow system can range from 200 to 2,000 square feet. They mainly feed on the roots of plants, shrubs, and trees. Because they almost exclusively spend their time underground, efforts to catch them yourself can prove impossible. Rely on experts who are trained to find their burrow systems and bait, trap or introduce carbon monoxide that will effectively kill them. Many homeowners think they can buy a trap at their local garden box store or place the garden hose in a gopher hole. These attempts at gopher control are usually futile because rather than use the main tunnels, homeowners often access the lateral tunnels where they see the mounds or holes. These lateral tunnels are often unused branches of the main tunnel system and may not be visited often by the gophers.

 

Trapping

 

Trapping a gopher can be the most efficient and effective way to confirm that the gopher has been caught.  The traps we utilize allow anyone to see that the trap has been sprung without physically pulling the trap from the ground.  Our technicians are trained to find the main tunnel system and set the traps for optimal performance.  We monitor the trap every few days and relocate it as needed.  In most cases, we catch the gopher within a couple of days, but in some circumstances, we’ve even caught the gopher the same day we set the trap!  Call us for a free inspection.

 

Baiting

 

The key to an effective baiting program is bait placement.  Our trained technicians find the main burrow system and place bait specifically tailored to be attractive to the biology of the gopher.  We have tested many types of gopher baits over the years and are confident that the bait we currently use is the most effective in controlling gophers in your yard and planter beds.  Bait can also be an effective solution to use for ongoing or extensive gopher infestations for homes that live near wildlands where gophers thrive unchecked.  This is not an option for families that have pets that might dig up the bait themselves.

 

Carbon Monoxide Machine

 

When multiple tunnel systems are in one area and trapping or baiting are not suitable solutions, our pet-friendly, poison-free, our carbon monoxide (CO) machine could be the answer.  The treatment consists of filling the gopher tunnel system with colorless and odorless gas (the same gas that comes from a vehicle exhaust system).  Smoke oil is added to the machine so the technician can see the direction the gas travels.  The gas quickly asphyxiates any gophers in their burrow system and then the gas quickly dissipates. 

Voles (Meadow Mice)

Voles are mouse-like rodents somewhat similar in appearance to gophers. They spend most of their time below ground in their burrow system, but seeing them scurrying about during the day is not uncommon. Normally found in areas with dense vegetation, their burrow systems are easily identified by the tell-tale runways between their openings. Voles can significantly damage flower and vegetable gardens and will even gnaw on the trunks of fruit trees. They are unlikely to enter a building, but their increasing numbers and the damage they can cause in the yard can be alarming to a homeowner.

Moles

Moles live almost entirely underground in their interconnected tunnels. They make their tunnels just below the surface where they capture worms and insects. They can quickly damage a lawn or garden area through their burrowing activity. Baiting or trapping are effective to control methods should you find a mole in your garden.

Ground Squirrels

Sometimes confused with their fluffy-tailed cousins, the tree squirrel, these burrowing pests can wreak havoc in a garden or on fruit-bearing trees. While their tails are bushy, they are much less so than a tree squirrel. They can climb a tree to avoid a predator but are much more likely to scurry into one of their burrows. Ground squirrels can harbor diseases which are harmful to humans, so they should not be handled. They also are a frequent carrier of fleas. Trapping is an effective way to control ground squirrel populations in residential areas.