What Is a Gopher Controller? Professional Gopher Control Explained

A gopher controller is a pest control professional who specializes in eliminating pocket gophers from lawns, gardens, and commercial properties. Unlike general pest control companies that treat a wide range of insects and rodents, a dedicated gopher controller focuses specifically on the tunnel systems, behavior, and biology of the pocket gopher — the burrowing rodent responsible for the distinctive mounds of fresh soil that appear overnight in Southern California yards.

If you've noticed fresh dirt mounds in a fan or horseshoe shape on your lawn, a professional gopher controller is the most effective solution. This article explains what gopher controllers do, the methods they use, how professional service differs from DIY, and what to look for when hiring one.

What Does a Gopher Controller Do?

A professional gopher controller does more than simply set a trap and leave. The job involves reading the tunnel system to understand where the gopher is active, selecting the right method for the situation, and following up to confirm elimination. Here is what a typical service visit looks like:

Inspection and tunnel mapping. The controller examines the mound pattern and probes the soil to locate the main tunnel runway. Pocket gophers create lateral tunnels off a main highway, and the most effective trap placements are in or near the main runway rather than the lateral shoots.

Method selection. A qualified gopher controller will use either professional trapping or carbon monoxide treatment depending on the situation. Both methods are effective — the choice depends on soil conditions, tunnel depth, and the extent of the infestation.

Trap setting or CO application. Traps are placed inside the tunnel system at the correct depth and orientation. Carbon monoxide is injected directly into active tunnel systems using specialized equipment, filling the tunnel network and eliminating gophers underground.

Follow-up and verification. A professional returns to check trap results, remove caught gophers, and assess whether activity continues. This follow-up step is what separates professional service from DIY — most homeowners set a trap once and give up if it does not work immediately.

Professional Methods vs. DIY Gopher Control

Homeowners attempting DIY gopher control typically use traps or rodenticide bait purchased at hardware stores. Both can work in limited circumstances, but results are inconsistent for several reasons.

Store-bought traps are often placed incorrectly — in lateral tunnels rather than the main runway, or at the wrong depth. Gophers that sense disturbance near a trap will simply avoid that section of tunnel and continue activity elsewhere. A professional gopher controller knows how to identify the main runway and place traps where they will intercept the gopher's regular movement pattern.

Rodenticide bait is the other common DIY approach, but it carries significant risks. Anticoagulant bait can poison dogs and cats that dig up or scavenge a bait-killed gopher, and causes secondary poisoning in hawks, owls, and other raptors that feed on poisoned gophers. Rodent Guys does not use rodenticide bait under any circumstances — our methods are safe for children, pets, and wildlife.

Why Chemical-Free Gopher Control Is Better

The most effective gopher controllers in Southern California have moved away from rodenticide bait entirely. Here is why professional trapping and carbon monoxide outperform poison-based methods:

Confirmed elimination. When a gopher is trapped or treated with carbon monoxide, you know it is gone. Bait kills gophers underground where they may die in the tunnel — you never know for certain whether the bait worked or whether the gopher avoided it.

No secondary poisoning risk. Trapping and CO leave no toxic substance in the food chain. Hawks, owls, foxes, and neighborhood dogs are not at risk from our service.

Safe reentry. After professional trapping or CO treatment, your yard is immediately safe for children and pets. There is no waiting period, no residue, and no risk of accidental exposure.

60-day guarantee. Because our methods produce confirmed results, Rodent Guys backs every initial gopher control service with a 60-day guarantee. If gopher activity returns within 60 days of service, we retreat at no additional charge.

Gopher Control vs. Mole Control

Homeowners sometimes confuse gopher damage with mole damage. A professional gopher controller is trained to identify which pest is present before treatment begins, because the two animals require different methods. Gophers create fan-shaped mounds of loose soil, while moles create raised surface ridges or volcano-shaped mounds. Treating for the wrong animal wastes time and money.

Rodent Guys controls gophers, moles, and ground squirrels — all three of Southern California's common burrowing rodent pests. If you are not sure which pest you have, our technicians identify the animal on the first visit before any treatment begins.

How Much Does a Gopher Controller Cost?

Professional gopher control in Southern California typically ranges from $150-$300 for an initial service, depending on property size and infestation severity. This is more than a box of hardware store traps, but the difference in results is substantial. Most homeowners who attempt DIY control for weeks or months and then call a professional wish they had called sooner.

For properties in areas with ongoing gopher pressure — near open space, golf courses, parks, or HOA common areas — monthly or quarterly maintenance plans prevent reinfestation at a fraction of the cost of repeated initial services. HOA gopher control and commercial gopher control are available for larger properties.

Gopher Controllers Serving Southern California

Rodent Guys is Southern California's dedicated gopher controller, serving homeowners and commercial properties across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Our technicians specialize exclusively in gopher, mole, and ground squirrel control — not general pest control. That specialization means deeper knowledge of burrowing rodent behavior and better results for our customers.

We serve over 160 cities across the region. Some of our most active service areas include:

• Los Angeles
• Pasadena
• Irvine
• Riverside
• Corona
• Rancho Cucamonga
• Ontario
• Anaheim
• Long Beach
• San Bernardino

View our full service area list to find your city.

When to Call a Gopher Controller

The best time to call a professional gopher controller is as soon as you notice the first mound. Gophers are solitary and territorial — a single gopher creates all the mounds on a typical residential property. Acting quickly prevents tunnel expansion and root damage from spreading through your lawn and garden.

If you have already attempted DIY control without success, or if mounds keep reappearing after what seemed like a successful elimination, a professional assessment will identify why the problem is persisting. Seasonal timing also affects gopher activity — spring and fall are peak mounding seasons in Southern California when gophers are most actively expanding their tunnel systems.

Related Articles

• DIY vs. Professional Gopher Control — Honest Comparison
• Gopher Control Cost — What to Expect in Southern California
• How to Choose a Gopher Control Company
• Carbon Monoxide Gopher Control — How It Works
• What Does the 60-Day Guarantee Cover?
• Gopher vs. Mole vs. Vole — Identification Guide
• Trapping vs. Poison — Why Chemical-Free Control Is Better
• When to Start Gopher Control — Seasonal Timing Guide

Call 909-599-4711 to schedule service with Southern California's dedicated gopher controller. Free estimates available.