How to Get Rid of Gophers in Orange County, CA

If you are searching for how to get rid of gophers in Orange County, CA, then we can help you. At Shimmy Pest Control, we are licensed and certified gopher trappers and can remove gophers from your premises. Any homeowner or commercial property owner with a large lawn knows that gophers are a real nuisance. They leave mounds of earth while burrowing holes leaving unsightly small hills all over your fresh lawn. Not to worry! We are gopher removal experts and will get rid of the gophers quickly and efficiently. Have a gopher problem? Call Shimmy today!

GOPHERS CONTROL LAGUNA HILLS, OC

Gopher Trapping in Orange County, CA

If you are seeking a professional to do gopher trapping for you in Orange County, California then we are your go-to gopher trappers. Pocket gophers and gophers are generally the same and are classified as small burrowing mammals of the Geomyidae family. They are considered pests in all of the United States and Canada. If you are considering trapping these pests yourself, DIY gopher trapping is not recommended. You will have dead gophers to deal with or live ones that are hard-to-handle and can bite you. Gophers cause significant damage to lawns, gardens and agricultural fields. They damage plant roots, often killing crops and grass, making it hard for you to grow plants, fruits and veggies. Gophers also chew through irrigation systems, cables and pipes. They also cause tripping hazards and carry diseases. By now you may be asking yourself, “How can I get rid of gophers?’ This is where we come in. Need help?

How Do You Get Rid of Gophers?

If you have a gopher problem at your home, you probably want to know how to get rid of gophers effectively and we are here to help. There are several methods available for gopher removal.

1. Gopher Trapping

Gopher trapping is one of the most popular methods.

Box Traps: These are traps that ensure that the gopher is caught alive and can be relocated. They are not often sold at your local stores due to their special use, but specialty trap stores and online stores will carry them. Again, using them requires skill and if you don’t have it, you could get bitten by the creatures.

Pincher-Style Traps: This style of trap ensures the death of the gopher immediately upon entry. If you have 30-40 gophers this could mean you would be finding ways to dispose of them.

Tunnel Traps: These are uniquely placed into gopher tunnels. Again, best used with professional skill.

Pocket gophers which is what we call gophers are prevalent here in Orange County, multiply pretty quickly where the food is plentiful. A gopher infestation can mean 30-40 gophers per acre of land. That is a whole lot of trapping to do for a DIY job. This is why at Shimmy, we are pest and rodent control experts and can get rid of those gophers for you. Call us today!

2. The Use of Gopher Repellents

There are a wide variety of repellents which claim to drive gophers away. Some of the more popular ones are:

Castor Oil: This is one of the more known gopher repellents because it apparently makes gopher burrowing unbearable. However, you will have to check this often and make sure you have the right consistency in the soil and this can be time-consuming.

Garlic and Peppermint: Placing cloves or peppermint oil near their burrows can deter gophers temporarily. Again, oil smells don’t stay potent forever and you would have to use quite a bit. People with allergies using lots of peppermint oil will surely be affected so this can be you or your neighbors. Again, professional trapping is the better method.

Ultrasonic Repellents: They essentially are no different from one another; all claim emitting sound waves which gophers find dispelling. These are a temporary fix since gophers get used to the sound.

Tunnel Flooding

Flooding the gopher tunnels with water is one way to drive them out, but this is not always effective since gophers can escape through other tunnels. Not to mention you will have muddy pools of water all over your yard.

Gopher Poisoning

Gopher poison bait might be effective in getting rid of these mammals however, caution should be taken when children or pets are present. Some common poisons for the extermination of gophers include zinc phosphide and strychnine-based baits.

Promoting Natural Predators

Gophers have many natural enemies like owls, hawks, and snakes. The population of gophers can be controlled by placing an owl box as well as promoting these predators in your area. However, not many of you may own an owl, hawk or snake.

Professional Animal Removal Services

In cases where there is an extreme infestation, looking up gopher control near me might be the best solution. At Shimmy Pest Control, we have our own specialized technique of gopher removal and can make sure that the problem is dealt with properly. Need assistance?

FAQ's

Can I Use Common Household Items as Gopher Repellents?

There are a few household items that you can use. It includes castor oil, garlic, and even peppermint oil as gopher repellents, but we as professionals know that trapping is the best method.

What are the Ways to Get Rid of Gophers Without Causing Harm?

Using humane traps and relocating them to unpopulated areas is an excellent option. When you hire us, we will do the gopher removal and the gopher control for you. We do it properly so they won’t come back.

How do I know if I have a Gopher Problem and How can I get rid of Gophers?

If you are searching “How can I get rid of gophers,” on the web and are seeking if you have a gopher problem, here are some signs to look for:

The presence of gophers can be identified by:

New mounds of dirt forming in your yard
Plants and crops mysteriously dying
Burrowing small tunnels

What Are The Primary Indicators of Gopher Infestation and How can you get rid of Gophers?

How can you get rid of gophers? You have to first identify whether your lawn or garden is affected or not. To identify a gopher infestation, look for the following signs:

Mounds of dirt are a mark of gopher digging. The dirt is pushed up, creating a mound which is commonly crescent-shaped and has a hole in the middle.

Cut plants or damages done to the lawn: Gophers can severely damage plants by eating their roots. Affected plants may wilt or die suddenly, and you may notice them leaning over sideways as they rely on their roots.

Tunnels with burrows: Gophers have their unique ways of tunnelling underground and making complex tunnelling systems. These can be identified by the patches of dirt that are piled and small holes that surface on the ground. Depending on how active the gopher is, the tunnels can be deep or near the surface

Nibbling plants: If you notice that certain vegetables and roots such as potatoes or carrots are being only half-pulled out, you might be dealing with some gophers.

How long does it take gophers to reproduce?

Gophers can produce numerous litters throughout the year. Each litter can contain 3-6 babies. This strong reproduction rate is why gopher populations can outburst rapidly if they face no rodent control. If you are having any gopher issues, call Shimmy today!

What is the Average Lifespan of Gophers?

The average lifespan of a gopher is 3 to 5 years. However, some gophers tend to live longer.

What Are the Best Methods for Gopher Trapping?

Effective gopher trapping methods need the right type of traps and placement method for maximum efficiency:

Use the Correct Trap: As noted, the most common ones include box traps, pincher-style traps, and tunnel traps. The pincher-style traps are preferable if we want to exterminate the gopher quickly, while box traps allow one to catch them alive and set them free far from one’s house.

Locating Active Tunnels: The best gopher tunnels are the ones with visible dirt mounds that indicate burrowing activity; these include both active tunnels and those that can be tunneled into. You have to place the traps beside active tunnels.

Baiting the Gopher Trap: We can bait the traps with peanut butter or other types of food. Besides, this if you hire our pest control service we will you place the traps where the gopher has to walk while entering the tunnel giving the gopher easier access to his/her doom.

What Other Rodents Besides Gophers Ruin Gardens that You Get Rid of?

At Shimmy Pest Control OC, we are licensed to get rid of gophers, ground squirrels and moles. Here in California, ground squirrels are a nuisance. They actually do quite a bit of damage to your gardens and trees. Burrowing activities of ground squirrels include uprooting plants in your landscaping and eating your fruit. They will even bite bark off the base of your pretty tree and kill the tree. Ground squirrels in school grounds can leave burrowing holes that can cause tripping hazards. Moles on the other hand are not as prevalent around your homes but are more around mountainous regions of our state. Have a ground squirrel, gopher or mole infestation? Call Shimmy today!

How Do I Prevent Gophers from Coming Back?

Here at Shimmy Pest Control OC, after we do the gopher extermination or re-placement, we manage the control and management of your property so they don’t come back.

Here are some steps we may take:

Fill in Burrows: Once gophers are removed, we may fill in their tunnels to turn off their access to potential hiding places.

Advise you to Plant Gopher Resistant Plants: Daffodils, lavender, and marigolds are some plants that gophers will not fancy. Planting these may discourage gophers from aiming at your garden.

Install Effective Barriers: You can place hardware cloth or wire mesh around your garden or lawn. It can serve as a physical barrier to gophers. This will stop them from burrowing into the area.

Consistent Monitoring: Look out for gopher signs in your yard consistently. If they are caught early, the issue can be dealt with before it blossoms into a bigger problem.

Should I Hire a Professional for Gopher Control?

If you’re dealing with stubborn gophers that won’t seem to go away, you have to take the necessary actions. Pest control experts like us are specialized in gopher removal and gopher control. We have the necessary resources needed to handle infestations promptly. Searching online for gopher control near me to find gopher control experts in your area? No need, just contact us at Shimmy Pest Control today!

What is the Cost Associated with Gopher Control?

The price of gopher control can differ. It depends on the degree of the infestation and the removal technique.Some companies have a one-off payment model. While a few others offer subscriptions for ongoing treatment. Get an estimate before agreeing to any service.

How Do You Safely Exterminate Gophers?

The use of poison bait is potentially unsafe for both humans and pets, so it should be done extremely carefully. Traps are a much better option.

Once the Gophers are Removed, Do They Return?

In the absence of preventive measures, new gophers may occupy the vacant tunnels. Sealing tunnels with gates and placing some deterrents to gopher activity will stop the recurrence of infestation. At Shimmy Pest Control OC we can definitely help you with this.

How Can I Find Gopher Removal Services in My Area?

You can search online to find gopher removal services. If you are living in California, you can trust us at Shimmy Pest Control. You can expect to get quality services at great pricing. Our office is in Laguna Hills but we travel all over Orange County and will go to your resident or business.

Do you Need Gopher Treatment?

If you have mounds of hills all over your yard that look like they just appeared, then chances are you have gophers and will need gopher treatment. At Shimmy Pest Control, we offer a variety of pest, rodent and termite solutions in California and that of course includes gopher removal. If you want to get rid of gophers, ground squirrels or moles, contact us today!