Gophers in Valley homes
Gophers are one of the most common calls we get on Valley, Conejo Valley and Westside properties with lawns or gardens. A single Botta's pocket gopher can tunnel through a whole yard in a matter of weeks, pulling plants straight down into the soil and chewing through irrigation lines. Fresh mounds after rain mean they're actively digging right now.
GophersHow to tell it's this one
- Fan or crescent shaped mounds of loose soil with no visible entrance hole
- Fresh mounds appear overnight, often in a rough line across the yard
- Wilting plants or vegetables that get pulled straight down into the soil
- Raised ridges of tunnel just under the lawn surface
- A chewed, exposed irrigation line with no other clear cause
Where it hides in Valley homes
- Extensive underground tunnel systems that can run the length of a yard
- Under lawns, flower beds and vegetable gardens
- Along fence lines and sloped hillside landscaping
- Beneath sheds and other structures with soil access
When it shows up
From our own route records, month by month.
What to do right now
- 1Don't run a hose into the hole trying to flood them out, it rarely works and can just push them to a new part of the yard
- 2Note where fresh mounds are showing up so we can map the tunnel system
- 3Keep pets away from open holes
- 4Hold off on reseeding damaged lawn until the tunnels are cleared
How Facility handles gophers
We map the active tunnel system first, gopher control only works if you're treating the tunnels a gopher is actually using, not just the newest mound. Our techs trap and bait to label, then follow up to confirm the activity has stopped before calling it clear. For yards with ongoing pressure we recommend a Hybrid or Bi Monthly plan so new tunneling gets caught early, all backed by our 30 day guarantee.
Gophers questions
What does a gopher mound look like versus a mole hill?
A gopher mound is fan or crescent shaped, with the soil pushed out to one side and no visible entrance hole. A mole hill is more of a rounded volcano shape with the opening at the very top. Gophers also damage plants and roots directly, which mole activity generally does not.
Why are gophers digging more after it rains?
Rain softens the soil, which makes tunneling much easier and faster for gophers, so mound activity often spikes right after a storm. It doesn't mean there are more gophers, just that the ones already on the property are moving and expanding their tunnels more actively while the ground is workable.
Do gopher repellent plants actually work?
Not reliably. Plants marketed as gopher repellent may get avoided in favor of easier food nearby, but a hungry gopher will still tunnel through or near them, and they don't address a tunnel system already established under the yard. Trapping and baiting to label is a far more dependable fix.
Will flooding a gopher hole get rid of it?
Rarely. Gopher tunnel systems are extensive and branching, so water usually just drains away or the gopher moves to a dry section of the tunnel rather than leaving. It can also push them to dig a new mound somewhere else in the yard instead of solving the problem.
How much yard damage can one gopher cause?
A single gopher can tunnel through an entire yard in a matter of weeks, pulling plants and vegetables straight down into the soil, chewing through irrigation lines and undermining lawns enough to create uneven, sunken areas. One active gopher is enough to noticeably damage a well kept yard.
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