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Lawn & Garden Pests · Pest guide

Gophers control

Crescent mounds and vanished plants: trapping, barriers and plant choices.

When to call a pro

Gophers at a glance

Scientific name
Family Geomyidae (pocket gophers)
Size
6 to 8 inches body (15–20 cm)
Appearance
Stocky, fur-lined cheek pouches, large yellow front teeth
Where found
Lawns, vegetable gardens, orchards in the West and Midwest
  • Health riskLow
  • Property damageHigh
  • Do it yourself?Usually DIY
When gophers are active Peak: Mar–Oct
  1. Jan Low
  2. Feb Active
  3. Mar Peak
  4. Apr Peak
  5. May Peak
  6. Jun Active
  7. Jul Active
  8. Aug Active
  9. Sep Peak (this month)
  10. Oct Peak
  11. Nov Active
  12. Dec Low

Low Active Peak This month

Signs to look for

  • Crescent or fan-shaped soil mounds with a plugged hole
  • Plants pulled down into the ground
  • Chewed irrigation lines

Call a professional when

  • Large acreage or orchards
  • Damage to irrigation systems
How to choose a pest control company

Quick prevention

  • Line raised beds with hardware cloth
  • Plant in wire baskets
  • Trap early, before a population builds

Our gophers guides are being researched. Meanwhile, the profile above covers the signs, the risks and when to call a professional.

Keep gophers out

  1. Line raised beds with hardware cloth
  2. Plant in wire baskets
  3. Trap early, before a population builds

Often confused or found together

All lawn & garden pests
Moles Raised ridges and volcano mounds: why moles are there and what actually works. Groundhogs Big burrows under sheds and decks, and a hungry appetite for gardens. Voles Surface runways across the lawn and girdled tree bark.