Gopher Signs: How to Tell if You Have a Gopher Problem

There’s nothing more annoying than holes and mounds in your yard. The worst thing is that they seem to pop up on their own.

Gophers aren’t just a problem for golfers.  If one of these subterranean mammals has set up camp in your yard, it can wreak havoc in your garden.

There are some telltale signs that you’ve got a gopher problem on your hands. Keep on reading to learn everything you need to know about gopher signs. This way you can do yard pest control as soon as possible.

Mounds of Dirt

Mounds of dirt are one of the common gopher signs. Gophers like to build hills of earth that they push up from their burrow systems. These mounds are usually symmetrical in shape and can measure up to 12-18 inches in diameter. The mounds may have a curved point at the top and holes at the sides where the gopher entered and exited the mound.

These mounds are usually found in fields, gardens and lawns. The soil pushed up by the gopher is usually darker than the surrounding soil. It may contain pieces of the gopher’s prey like plants and insects.

If you notice several mounds of dirt in a particular area of your yard, you may have a gopher problem. Contact a gopher removal service for help.

Damaged Plants

Gophers’ underground tunnels and burrows can uproot and damage plants whose roots have been exposed to their activity. In some cases, an entire plant may be pulled from the soil due to their digging and burrowing.

Gophers can also leave behind pellets of their excrement, which can be found scattered around the base of a plant, often in mounds. Gophers are also known to dig into irrigation and drainage systems, leaving visible trenches and uprooted plants in their wake.

Holes and Tunnels

Gophers live in underground tunnels and leave behind numerous signs that they are present. Holes and tunnels are common gopher signs in the yard. Depending on the size of these tunnels, the problem may range from minor to severe.

Gophers also like to construct several chambers with branching tunnels on the sides. These tunnels run in different directions throughout the yard, appearing as raised ridges in the turf.

Chewing Marks

Chewing marks are one of the telltale signs of a gopher infestation. Gophers are especially attracted to the tender roots, stems, and leaves of plants and trees. It’s common to find damaged growth with chewed-up leaves, roots, and stems around the base of the plant.

Gophers, like rats, will also chew through wood or plastic to get to their food source. Since gophers are nocturnal, the chewing marks are usually evident in the morning since night is when they are most active. It’s important to inspect your plants, trees, and landscapes periodically to check for chewing marks that may indicate a gopher problem.

Take Note of These Gopher Signs

Gophers can be a major problem for homeowners and gardeners if left untreated. Take action to identify if you have a gopher problem early and look out for gopher signs. If you see any of the signs listed in this article, contact professional gopher control services to help remove gophers from your property.

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