This article will answer the question “are gophers bad for your yard?” We’ll discuss why they’re not dangerous, what to do if you have a problem with them, and more.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Gophers can cause significant damage to landscapes, lawns, and gardens. |
| The two most common species of gophers found in yards are pocket gophers and Botta’s pocket gophers. |
| Signs of gopher activity include visible mounds and holes in your lawn or garden. |
| Control of gopher populations can be achieved through trapping, exclusion, and non-toxic repellents. |
| Pesticides should be avoided as they can be harmful to the environment and potentially harmful to people and pets. |
Are Gophers Bad For Yard?
Gophers are bad for your yard because they can eat your plants and crops, as well as cause damage to your lawn. They can also be dangerous to humans. Gophers are bad because they can cause a lot of damage to your lawn.
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Are Gophers Bad For Your Yard?
You may have noticed gophers digging up your yard and wondering if you should do something about it. Gophers are not just pests, but they can also be destructive pests in the home environment.
They can cause serious damage to property, plants, and trees. Here’s what you need to know about gopher control and how to get rid of them from your yard:
Gophers are rodents that live underground in extensive burrow systems or “mounds” that look like large hills on the surface.
They eat a variety of foods including roots, tubers, and insects found in lawns or gardens as well as turf grasses along with other vegetation such as root crops (potatoes), petunias and strawberries (beneath the soil).
Do Gophers Eat Your Yard?
If you’re looking for a way to get rid of gophers, you’ve come to the right place. Gophers are herbivores that feed on plants, grass roots, and tree roots.
They can cause damage in your yard by eating the roots of your lawn or landscaping plants like trees, shrubs, and flowers. A gopher infestation will eat away at your yard until there’s little left to salvage!
Gopher Control is important if you want to keep your landscape intact and thriving. If left untreated long enough, it can lead to erosion problems for homeowners everywhere!
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How Do You Get Rid Of Gophers?
If you have a gopher infestation in your yard, there are several ways to get rid of them. One option is live trapping, which involves using bait and traps to lure the gophers out of their holes so that they can be removed from the area.
Another option is poison, which involves adding deadly chemicals such as aluminum phosphide tablets into the burrows that the gophers live in. When these tablets are consumed by a gopher, they cause internal bleeding and death.
A third option is repellents, which work by delivering unpleasant smells or tastes to discourage any further digging activity from occurring near an intended location (e.g., an edible plant).
Barriers also work well as an alternative treatment for reducing damage caused by burrowing pests like moles in gardens: these can include foil sheets placed above ground level; plastic tubes covered with soil; or even barriers made from chicken wire placed around vulnerable plants/trees inside their own containers so that anything moving beneath them would bump into something sharp instead!
Exclusion methods involve preventing access via small holes using patching material like concrete mix before pouring water into
How Do I Stop Gopher Damage To My Plants?
To protect your plants, you can:
Plant ground cover. Ground cover will help prevent gopher damage because the roots of the plants grow through the soil and are out of reach of gophers.
You can plant grasses, flowers or other small plants around your yard to make sure they are at least 3 inches deep when they’re planted.
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Do Gophers Dig Tunnels Underground?
Gophers are rodents that live in burrows underground. These burrows are called “gopher holes” because they look like small holes in the ground, which can make them hard to spot.
A gopher’s main purpose is to find food and escape predators by digging tunnels under the surface of your yard. They can cause damage to your yard by digging up plants and lawns. Sometimes, gopher tunnels will appear as small mounds of dirt or even large hills with a hole in them.
If you have signs of a gopher infestation, it’s time to take action before they cause more problems for your property!
How Can I Stop Gophers From Eating My Yard?
One of the most effective ways to get rid of gophers is by using a gopher repellent. There are several different kinds available, such as:
- Gopher Repellent Granules (composed of castor oil or blood meal)
- Gopher Repellent Bait Stations (which contain poisoned bait)
- Gopher Repellent Spray (which contains a variety of ingredients like garlic oil and capsicum pepper extract)
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Are Gophers Dangerous To Humans?
Gophers are not dangerous to humans, but they can be dangerous to pets. The burrows they create in the ground can cause damage to property and plants, lawns, and gardens.
They have been known to eat through foundations or other underground utilities such as pipes, cables, and wires. Gopher burrows can also collapse under their own weight causing structural damage.
If your pet has gone missing after spending time outside it is possible that they may have fallen prey to these pests. If you suspect this might be the case then contact your local animal control department immediately so that they can assist with locating your pet if possible.
What Are Some Signs Of A Gopher Infestation In My Yard?
You may have noticed that your yard has been disappearing. If you suspect that you have a gopher problem, here are some signs to look for:
- You can see gophers in your yard—they appear as small mounds of soil that look like little hills on the surface of the ground.
- You can hear gophers under your house—you can hear them making noise underground and sometimes their scurrying through tunnels makes wood shake on the outside of your house.
- You see gophers in your garden—gophers love eating plants and damaging gardens so if they make holes in your flower beds or vegetable garden, there is a good chance they will be found there too.
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What Do Gophers Eat?
Gophers are herbivores and will eat a wide variety of plants. The roots, bulbs, and tubers of plants make up the majority of their diet but they will also eat the leaves and stems of certain types of vegetation as well.
Gopher Diet
| Food | Description |
|---|---|
| Roots | One of the gopher’s primary food sources is the roots of plants. They can consume the roots of vegetables, flowers, and trees. |
| Tubers | Gophers are known to eat tubers like potatoes or dahlia. Burrowing underground means that they have easy access to tubers. |
| Bulbs | Gophers will eat the entirety of bulbs from tulips to onions to gladiolus. |
| Grasses | Although not their favorite food, gophers will eat grass and leave behind the root system which can lead to issues with erosion. |
| Insects | Gophers will eat insects in addition to plant matter. They primarily consume insects that are at or near plant roots. |
Will Having A Pet Dog Keep The Gophers Out Of My Yard?
Dogs are a great way to keep your yard clear of gophers, but not all dogs will work equally well. The size and breed of your dog will matter, as well as how well trained they are.
If you have a small dog that likes digging, they may actually make things worse by digging up gopher holes even more than the gopher itself would have done!
It’s best to use a dog that has been bred specifically for hunting down pests (like terriers) or one who is large enough and strong enough to stand up against any opposition they might encounter while patrolling their territory.
How Do I Know If The Holes In My Yard Are From Gophers Or Other Pests?
You can tell if the holes in your yard are from gophers by looking at their size, depth, and shape. Gopher tunnels are usually about 1 to 2 inches wide and about 8 inches deep. They may also have a slight upward slant at the entrance so that rainwater does not pool on top of them, which could drown the gophers inside.
When you look at the dirt around these holes, you should see distinct ridges in various directions running out from them in different directions (depending on how many tunnels there are). If all this sounds familiar but you’re still not sure whether or not it is a gopher hole, then keep reading!
How Much Does It Cost To Get Rid Of Gophers In My Yard?
If you’re looking to get rid of gophers in your yard, you’ll want to know how much it costs. The cost of gopher control can vary depending on the extent of damage and any repair work needed on your property.
The average cost is generally between $100-$200 per treatment, but may be higher if major repairs are needed after digging or tunneling by these pests.
Usually, homeowners foot the bill for gopher control services because they were responsible for providing habitat that attracted rodents in the first place and could have prevented infestation from occurring in the first place.
If you don’t want to pay for professional gopher control services but still want some rodent-free peace of mind, consider keeping a pet dog around who will keep them away from your yard!
Your pets can also help keep other rodents — like mice — out of your home as well by eating them up before they even reach their destination!
Gopher Removal Cost
| Service | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Trapping | 200 |
| Poison baits | 125 |
| Fumigation | 900 |
| Exclusion with mesh wiring | 3.00 per square foot |
Why Are Gophers Digging In My Yard?
Gophers are digging because they’re looking for food, making tunnels, and searching for mates. Gophers dig their tunnels at night and during the day, so if you see a gopher in your yard during the day, there’s no way it’s just out exploring it’s either looking for food or trying to find its way back home.
These fossorial creatures (those that live underground) can tunnel up to 15 feet underground but only need about 6 inches of dirt above them to survive; they spend most of their time underground eating roots from plants or other vegetation in order to stay alive.
Conclusion
We hope you now know what to do if gophers are causing problems in your yard. The first step is to identify whether or not the problem is actually caused by gophers and what kind of damage they’re doing.
If it’s a small job, then you may be able to get rid of them yourself using traps or poisons. However, if there are too many gophers or if their tunnels have collapsed under the pressure from heavy rainstorms then we recommend calling an expert pest control company who will come out and inspect your yard before giving advice on how best to deal with these pests.
Further reading
Here are some additional resources on dealing with gophers in your yard:
Pesticide Action Network – provides information on the harmful effects of pesticides and alternative methods to control gophers.
Smith’s Pest Management – a step-by-step guide on removing gophers using traps and other non-toxic methods.
Craig & Sons Termite & Pest Control – a comprehensive article detailing the hazards of having gophers on your property and tips for prevention.
FAQs
What are the common types of gophers found in yards?
Pocket gophers and Botta’s pocket gophers are the two most common gopher species found in yards. Pocket gophers have fur-lined cheek pouches, while Botta’s pocket gophers do not.
What damage can gophers cause to my property?
Gophers can cause significant damage to landscapes, lawns, and gardens by burrowing underground and creating tunnels and mounds. Additionally, they can damage irrigation systems, and their burrows can pose a hazard to people and pets, leading to trips and falls.
How do I know if I have gophers on my property?
Some signs of gopher activity include visible mounds and holes in your lawn or garden. Additionally, you may notice plant damage or have issues with irrigation systems working properly due to gopher burrows.
What are some ways to control gopher populations on my property?
Trapping, exclusion with fencing or mesh, and non-toxic repellents can be effective ways of controlling gopher populations on your property.
Should I use pesticides to control gophers on my property?
Pesticides can be harmful to the environment and potentially harmful to people and pets. There are many alternative methods for controlling gophers that are safer and more sustainable.
I am Hellen James, a landscape architect. For many years I have written about landscaping for various publications; however, recently decided to focus my writing on personal experience as a profession.
