Residential service

Gopher control in the San Fernando Valley

Gopher control here targets the Botta's pocket gopher, the species we see almost everywhere in this region, with an EPA registered burrow bait applied to label down in the tunnel system and wire exclusion around plants you want to keep. The initial service covers up to 10 fresh mounds and includes up to two follow up visits over the next month if you need them.

A Facility Pest Control Toyota Tacoma parked in front of a Reseda home
30 day guarantee Gophers · since 2005
  • Family owned since 2005
  • 4.8 stars on Google
  • 30 day guarantee
  • No multi year contracts
  • Environmentally friendly products
  • Licensed, bonded, background checked
What's included

Every visit covers

  • Inspection to confirm activity is gophers and not moles or ground squirrels
  • EPA registered burrow bait applied to label, placed directly into the active tunnel system
  • Wire exclusion around planting beds and valuable landscaping
  • Guidance on wire basket planting for anything new going into the ground
  • Mapping of active mounds and burrow runs across the property
  • Initial service covering up to 10 fresh mounds
  • Up to two follow up visits over the next month if fresh mounds come back
  • Treated mounds flattened at the end of the visit so new digging is easy to spot
  • Recurring visits for properties with ongoing pressure from neighboring yards
Signs you need it

What homeowners notice first

  • Fresh horseshoe or crescent shaped dirt mounds in the lawn
  • Plants or whole seedlings pulled down into the soil overnight
  • Sudden wilting in a plant with no other obvious cause
  • Irrigation lines chewed through and leaking underground
  • Soft or sunken ground when you walk across the lawn
  • Mounding that keeps showing up after rain or after watering
  • Tunnels visible along a garden bed or fence line
How it works here

Three steps, no mystery spray

The same method on every gophers job since 2005, with a 30 day guarantee on the end of it.

  1. 101

    Inspect and confirm species

    We check mound shape and burrow pattern to confirm it is the Botta's pocket gopher and not a mole or ground squirrel, since the treatment is not the same.

  2. 202

    Treat the burrow system

    We apply EPA registered bait directly into the active tunnels rather than broadcasting anything across the surface, and install wire exclusion around beds and plants worth protecting.

  3. 303

    Guarantee and recheck

    We flatten every mound we treat before we leave, so any new digging stands out. A gopher usually takes four or five days to die, and if fresh mounds show up after that, the two follow up visits over the next month are already included.

Safe for your family

What we use, and where

Gopher bait is an EPA registered rodenticide applied to label and placed down into the burrow system itself, not scattered on top of the lawn, which keeps it away from kids, pets and birds moving across the yard. Wire exclusion around beds is a purely physical barrier with nothing applied at all. We will tell you which areas were treated and for how long to keep pets off fresh mounds.

Low toxicity on general service Exterior first You get told what was used
When it happens in the Valley

Gophers by month

Peak months for gophers in the Valley, from our own route records.

Which plan

One treated mound rarely means one gopher, tunnel systems run further than people expect. "We confirm it is actually a gopher before we treat, moles and ground squirrels need a different plan," says Sam Karbelnig, owner.

Honest comparison

Doing it yourself versus calling us

Do it yourselfFacility Pest Control
  • Finds the sourceTreats what you can seeInspects entry points, nests and moisture you cannot see
  • ProductsStore shelf, often over appliedProfessional products applied to label by a licensed tech
  • Comes backUsually within weeks30 day guarantee on the problem areas of the problem areas if it returns
  • Kids and petsYou read the labelWe plan the treatment around them and tell you what we used
  • CostRepeated trips to the storeFree quote, one plan that fits the house

Not sure which you need for gophers? Send a photo and Sam will tell you honestly.

Real reviews

What gophers customers say

Ilana O.
Tarzana · Aug 2025
They helped us with a protracted roach problem. The owner took the time to talk through the issue with us for a long time. He was the only company that said we didn't need to get on a multi year contract. They ended up coming three times and I haven't seen new roaches for months. Thank you for your excellent customer service and thoroughness.
Google reviewcockroaches
Nicole M.
Woodland Hills · Jul 2025
This review is long overdue. Facility is simply the best local company out there. It took me years to find a reliable, effective and cost efficient company that was easy to deal with any time I needed something extra. Sam, the owner, cares so much about all his clients and makes sure that each is taken care of. Don't look any further for your next pest control company.
Google review
Jared W.
Encino · Mar 2025
Facility Pest Control responded to me quickly, gave me an estimate, and offered a fair price. The technician who came out was great to work with, communicated what he would be doing, and accommodated our requests to focus on certain problem areas. The spraying so far seems very effective.
Google reviewants
Questions

Gophers questions, answered

Sam Karbelnig
Reviewed by Sam Karbelnig, owner, treating Valley homes since 2005. Last updated September 2026.
What is the best way to get rid of gophers in my yard?

Professional burrow treatment is the most reliable option, since gophers spend nearly their whole life underground in tunnel systems that can run hundreds of feet. We confirm the species, treat the active burrows directly, and back the initial service with a one month guarantee.

What kind of gopher do we have in the Valley?

Almost all of the activity we see here is the Botta's pocket gopher, sometimes called the Valley pocket gopher. It is the species behind the horseshoe shaped mounds showing up in Valley, Conejo Valley and Westside lawns.

Can gophers be killed in California?

Pocket gophers are classified as nongame mammals, so they cannot be killed for sport, but they can be controlled when they are damaging your property. That is the situation our gopher service is built for.

Do coffee grounds or repellents actually get rid of gophers?

Not reliably. Gophers dislike certain scents, but a repellent usually just pushes them a few feet over rather than out of your yard, and they tend to come back once the smell fades. Burrow treatment and exclusion address the tunnel system directly instead.

How do I know if I have gophers or moles?

Gopher mounds are usually horseshoe or crescent shaped, while mole mounds are round and cone shaped like a small volcano. If you are not sure which one is digging up your yard, we will confirm it during inspection before recommending treatment.

Is gopher treatment safe for my kids and pets?

Yes. Bait is placed down into the burrow system itself rather than scattered across the lawn, and wire exclusion is a physical barrier with nothing applied. We will tell you which areas to keep pets clear of and for how long.

How long does gopher treatment last?

The initial service covers up to 10 fresh mounds and includes up to two follow up visits over the next month. Properties near open space or undeveloped lots often do best on a recurring plan since gophers keep moving in from next door.

How much does gopher control cost?

The initial service covers up to 10 fresh mounds. It includes up to two follow up visits over the next month if fresh mounds come back. Bigger properties or heavier activity get quoted after we walk the yard.

How long does it take for a gopher to die after treatment?

About four or five days. We flatten every mound we treat before we leave, so new digging is easy to spot. If fresh mounds appear after that window, the two follow up visits are part of what you already paid for.

Full guide: Gopher Control(810 words, tap to expand)

Gopher Control Services

You may not often see gophers on your property, but you’ll notice the damage they can do to the plants, trees, turf, and flower beds in your landscape as they dig their underground tunnels. That’s why our gopher control services is here.

At Facility Pest Control, a family-owned business serving the Los Angeles area since 2005, our trained technicians don’t rely on guesswork. We accurately identify the exact species, most commonly the Valley or Botta’s pocket gopher in our region and apply targeted, highly effective treatments, such as professional strychnine-based burrow applications or deep-root wire exclusion. We stand behind our decades of local expertise with a strict one-month guarantee on all initial services, ensuring your landscape remains protected.

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What to Know About Gophers

There are five species of gophers, known as pocket gophers, in California. In the Los Angeles area, the Valley or Botta’s pocket gopher is the most common species. These burrowing rodents are well-suited to digging the burrows and long tunnels that disrupt your landscape, leaving mounds of soil as they dig. A single amount of this creature can make several mounds per day.

You may notice seasonal differences in their activity in areas that aren’t irrigated, they will dig in those areas in spring and winter when the soil is naturally more moist. In areas where there is regular irrigation, such as gardens and lawns, they will happily burrow year-round in the easily dug, moist soil.

When pocket gophers find a hospitable environment, they will feed on all types of trees, plants, vines, and bushes there, even taking whole plants down into their tunnels. They can also destroy your irrigation system by gnawing on plastic water lines.

If you’ve seen evidence of their activity, it’s important to have professional gopher control treat the problem as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming extensive. 

For more info on their different species, visit the Types of Gophers Wikipedia page.

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How to Prevent Gopher Problems?

The most effective way to reduce the potential for damage caused by these pests is having your property treated by experienced removal pros. There are also some steps you can take yourself, most of which are exclusion methods. If you are planning to add plants to your landscape, preventative measures include screening the sides and bottom of the planting area or installing your plants in wire baskets in the ground. For existing plants, you can sink wire mesh a minimum of 18 to 20 inches deep around the plants. For any exclusion methods, keep in mind that they can dig their tunnels surprisingly deep underground.

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Why Hire Facility Pest Control for Gopher Control & Gopher Removal

If gophers have invaded your property, it’s crucial to hire professionals like Facility Pest Control. We specialize in removal, ensuring your property is free from these destructive pests. Here’s why you should trust us with this task:

Experienced Gopher Exterminators

Our team of experts is highly trained in identifying and controlling infestations. They assess the situation accurately and recommend the most effective solution for your specific problem.

Strychnine-Based Bait Gopher Removal

Strychnine-based bait is one of the most effective and fast-acting solutions for controlling their populations. A single application in a burrow system can exterminate and deter recolonization for an extended period.

Preventive Measures

We don’t just remove gophers; we also help prevent future invasions. Our preventive methods include screening planting areas, installing plants in wire baskets, and placing wire mesh around existing plants.

Family-Owned Business

Operating since 2005, Facility Pest Control is a family-owned business serving homeowners and businesses in Los Angeles. We prioritize building long-lasting relationships with our customers and delivering top-notch services.

Guaranteed Satisfaction

We stand by our work and offer a one-month guarantee on all our services. If you have our recurring service and face any issues between scheduled visits, we’ll return at no additional cost.

Our service area includes Agoura Hills, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Encino, Van Nuys, and more.

Call our gopher removal team for your Los Angeles-area home

Facility Pest Control has been serving the pest control needs of homeowners and business owners from Thousand Oaks to Studio City since 2005. We’re a family-owned business focused on getting to know our customers and their needs and delivering the safest and highest-quality services possible.

For your peace of mind, we guarantee all of our work for one month after your initial service and we will return at no charge if you have our recurring service and experience problems between scheduled visits. 

Please get in touch for a free estimate by calling 818-521-6892 or emailing us at facilitypestcontrol@gmail.com. Be sure to check our discounts page for special savings on our services. Learn more about us today!

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Ready when you are.

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