Signs You Have A Gopher Problem: How To Identify Gopher Damage In Your Yard

Have you seen little piles of soil in the lawn or any signs of digging or burrowing in the garden? These might not be merely some chance events but could be signals of gophers. Even though these animals are small and live under the ground, they cause great devastation to the soil surface.

Knowing what to look for makes it easier to deal with a developing gopher situation. Now, it is time to discover how to recognize that gophers are active in your yard and what to do about it.

Learning About Gophers and Their Environment

These burrowing animals spend most of the time digging tunnels to inhabit as well as in search for food. They like to live in places where the ground is loose because that makes it easy for them to burrow into the soil. Gophers are mostly found alone except during the breeding season, therefore the damages caused are usually from one gopher—although many can cause damage if the conditions are favorable.

Signs of Gopher Activities in Your Yard

a. Mounds of Soil 

The first characteristic of a gopher infestation is the formation of new mounds of soil in your lawn or in your garden. These mounds are typically fan-shaped and can be seen as the gopher makes burrows and throws the soil on the ground.

b. Damaged Plants 

Gophers mainly consume roots and tubers of different garden plants. This means that if you have plants that are drooping or dying and you cannot explain why, it might be gophers that are chewing the roots.

c. Holes in the Ground 

Gopher holes are not always apparent since they tend to plug their holes, but once in a while, you can observe holes that are approximately 2.5 to 3.5 inches in diameter. These are holes to a gopher’s burrow system.

d. Uneven Lawn Surface 

Gophers in their burrowing activities make the ground above the tunnels soft and of an inconsistent nature. Treading over these parts might be tricky as the surface of the ground is likely to sink slightly.

Effective Gopher Control Strategies

Gopher control can be a tough task, but it is important to prevent more damage from occurring.

a. Traps 

Gopher traps are some of the best that you can use to eliminate gophers from your compound. Set the traps near the main tunnel and wait.

b. Ultrasonic Devices 

These devices produce a sound which is supposed to scare away gophers and other related rodents. They may be used as a part of an integrated gopher control strategy.

c. Natural Predators 

Natural enemies such as owls and snakes can also be used to manage gophers since they are predatory species. Putting up owl nesting boxes can help you get owls to your locale.

Conclusion

It is important to identify and control gophers as soon as possible to prevent the destruction of your yard and garden. Learning how to identify their presence and apply various control mechanisms, you can safeguard your landscaping and plants from these persistent diggers. Once again, it is important to note that prevention and intervention are critical when dealing with gophers.

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