5 Signs of Gophers in Your Yard

It can feel pretty unlucky when a gopher decides to take up residence in your lawn. These pesky critters can do a lot of damage—not just to your yard but also to your cables, wires, and home foundations. Look for these five common signs of gophers in your yard so that you can get rid of these pests as quickly as possible.

Signs of Gophers

You may not even see a gopher before it’s had time to do quite a bit of damage to your yard and garden. Here are the most common signs of gophers in your yard.

1. Multiple Flat Dirt Mounds

You step out onto your lawn and notice mounds of dirt all over the place. What animal has been digging in the yard? You can often tell by the shape of the mound. Gopher mounds are shaped like a crescent moon or horseshoe that’s 12 to 24 inches wide, and the hole where they entered or exited will be near one side of the mound, rather than in the center.

2. Damaged Lawn and Garden Plants

Gophers will tunnel through your yard and eat the roots of your trees, shrubs, and other plants, or they may eat the leaves of low-lying plants when they come aboveground.

3. Missing Plants

One way to detect whether you’re dealing with gophers rather than moles is by what the pests are eating. Moles root around your yard looking for grubs and other insects to eat, but gophers eat plants. 

Because of their tunneling, gophers can even pull plants right by the roots underground to store for feeding later. If you notice your favorite flower or succulent in your garden has gone missing or you’re short on the carrots you planted, a gopher is the likely culprit.

4. Strange Noises in Yard

Gophers don’t make as much noise as some pests, like mice, but they do sometimes make noise when they eat or burrow. They may also make noise when threatened.

Squealing

Gophers aren’t very vocal, but they will squeal or squeak when they sense danger. You may notice a high-pitched squeaking sound when gophers are in your yard.

Gnawing

Gophers have large, sharp teeth for feeding on the roots and bulbs of plants. When they feed, you may hear gnawing sounds as they work through their food stash.

Scratching or Shuffling

Gophers have long, sharp claws that are helpful for tunneling, but that also means they can make a lot of noises while they dig. If you hear any scratching or shuffling sounds under your lawn, there’s a good chance that gophers are present.

5. Ridges and Dents in Lawn

If you’re wondering why your yard is lumpy, it could be because of gophers. While they dig and tunnel, gophers can cause the soil to shift, leading to raised ridges and small divots throughout your lawn.

How to Know You Need to Hire a Pro for Gopher Removal

Because gophers can be very destructive, you’ll want to hire a pro for gopher removal as soon as you notice the signs or see a gopher in your yard. You can try deterrents, like peppermint oil or vinegar, or install a fence around your garden, but if you’re still seeing gopher holes, call in the experts.

Can I DIY Gopher Removal?

You should never attempt to remove gophers yourself. They may look cute, but they can be defensive. If they feel frightened or trapped, they may bite you. Instead, hire a wildlife control pro near you to safely and humanely handle the gophers for you.

How to Prevent Gophers in Your Yard

Gophers can be a very costly pest to deal with, but there are ways to keep them at bay. To keep your landscape in good condition, consider these tips for preventing gophers from coming onto your property.

• Add scents: There are some scents that gophers don’t like, like peppermint oil, rosemary oil, coffee, vinegar, and hot sauce. Apply these scents near your garden and near any gopher holes to help deter them.

• Install gopher wire: Gopher wire is a mesh that you bury a couple of feet underground. This creates a deep barrier that prevents gophers from entering your yard or garden from below. 

• Raise your garden: Keep gophers from stealing your crops and flowers by building raised garden beds. 

How Much Does It Cost to Remove Gophers?

Animal removal costs $200 to $620 on average, depending on how many gophers are in your yard and how hard they are to reach. However, if gophers have destroyed your lawn or caused more extensive damage to your utility lines or foundation, you could spend thousands in repair costs after eradicating the gopher problem.