Pocket Gopher Control in Southern California
The pocket gopher — specifically Botta's pocket gopher — is the burrowing rodent responsible for virtually all gopher damage in Southern California. If you have fan-shaped soil mounds appearing on your lawn, you are dealing with a pocket gopher. Understanding the animal's biology and behavior is key to choosing the right control method and getting lasting results.
Rodent Guys specializes in pocket gopher control across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Our methods are chemical-free, pet-safe, and backed by a 60-day guarantee.
What Is a Pocket Gopher?
Pocket gophers get their name from the fur-lined cheek pouches — pockets — they use to carry food back to underground storage chambers. The Botta's pocket gopher is the species found throughout Southern California. Adults weigh 4-8 ounces and measure 6-10 inches long including the tail. They are rarely seen above ground — almost all of their activity takes place in underground tunnel systems that can extend hundreds of feet.
Pocket gophers are solitary and highly territorial. A single gopher creates and defends its entire tunnel system alone. This means that on a typical residential property, one gopher is responsible for all the mounds you see. Eliminating that one animal resolves the infestation — until a neighboring gopher moves into the vacated territory.
How to Identify Pocket Gopher Damage
The signature sign of pocket gopher activity is the fan-shaped or crescent mound of loose, fluffy soil pushed to the surface. The mound has a plugged entry hole off to one side — not in the center, which distinguishes it from mole mounds. Fresh gopher mounds appear suddenly, often overnight, and the soil is noticeably mounded above the surrounding lawn.
Other signs of pocket gopher activity include plants wilting or dying from root damage, irrigation lines being severed underground, and in severe cases, visible soil disturbance along the path of tunnel construction. For help distinguishing gopher damage from mole or vole damage, see our identification guide.
Pocket Gopher Control Methods
There are several approaches to pocket gopher control. Professional methods consistently outperform DIY attempts because of the expertise required in tunnel location and trap placement.
Professional trapping. Traps placed directly in the main tunnel runway are the most reliable method for pocket gopher control. The key is locating the main runway — not the lateral tunnels — and placing traps at the correct depth and orientation. Our technicians probe the soil to locate the primary runway before setting any traps. Most infestations are resolved in one to two service visits.
Carbon monoxide treatment. Carbon monoxide is injected directly into active tunnel systems using specialized equipment. The CO fills the entire tunnel network, reaching gophers throughout the system. This method is particularly effective for large or complex tunnel systems. CO dissipates naturally within the tunnel — there is no residue or surface exposure risk.
Rodenticide bait. Bait is the most widely used method by general pest control companies, but it is the least reliable for pocket gopher control and carries significant safety risks. Pocket gophers may avoid disturbed bait placements, producing uncertain results. More importantly, bait poisons pets that scavenge bait-killed gophers and causes secondary poisoning in raptors. Rodent Guys does not use rodenticide bait.
DIY methods. Hardware store traps can work if placed correctly, but most DIY attempts fail because traps end up in lateral tunnels rather than the main runway. DIY vs. professional gopher control covers the common failure points in detail.
Why Pocket Gophers Are Hard to Control Without Professional Help
The challenge in pocket gopher control is not the trap — it is finding where to put it. A pocket gopher's tunnel system consists of a main runway running 6-18 inches below the surface, with lateral tunnels branching upward to feed sites and mound openings. The gopher travels the main runway constantly but may use lateral tunnels infrequently.
Traps placed in lateral tunnels are often ignored. The gopher detects disturbance and seals off that section of tunnel. A professional gopher controller reads the mound pattern and probes the soil to locate the main runway before placing any traps — which is why professional service resolves most infestations in one or two visits while DIY attempts can drag on for weeks.
Preventing Pocket Gopher Reinfestation
After successful pocket gopher elimination, the vacated territory can be colonized by a neighboring gopher within weeks or months. This is especially common on properties that border open space, parks, golf courses, or undeveloped land where gopher populations are dense.
Ongoing monthly or quarterly maintenance service provides monitoring and early treatment before new gophers establish. For properties with persistent pressure, maintenance plans are more cost-effective than repeated initial treatments. See our cost guide for pricing details.
Pocket Gopher Control Across Southern California
Rodent Guys provides pocket gopher control throughout Southern California. We serve all four counties:
- Los Angeles County: Los Angeles, Pasadena, Long Beach, Whittier, Burbank, and more
- Orange County: Irvine, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Fullerton, and more
- San Bernardino County: Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Upland, Chino Hills, and more
- Riverside County: Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Eastvale, and more
View the full service area list for all cities.
Related Articles
- Botta's Pocket Gopher — Southern California's Gopher Species
- Gopher vs. Mole vs. Vole — Identification Guide
- What Is a Gopher Controller?
- DIY vs. Professional Gopher Control
- Carbon Monoxide Gopher Control — How It Works
- Professional Gopher Control Services
- What Do Gophers Eat?
- Gopher Control Cost Guide
- Why Gopher Poison Is Dangerous for Pets
Frequently Asked Questions
A pocket gopher is a burrowing rodent named for its fur-lined cheek pouches. The Botta's pocket gopher is the species found throughout Southern California. They live almost entirely underground and are rarely seen on the surface.
The most effective methods are professional trapping and carbon monoxide treatment. Both target gophers directly in their tunnel systems and produce confirmed results. Rodenticide bait is less reliable and poses risks to pets and wildlife.
Pocket gophers leave fan-shaped mounds of loose soil with a plugged entry hole off to one side. Mounds appear suddenly — often overnight — and fresh soil is noticeably mounded above lawn level.
Yes — Rodent Guys uses only trapping and carbon monoxide, no rodenticide bait. Both methods leave no surface residue and are safe for dogs, cats, and other pets immediately after service.
Call 909-599-4711 for pocket gopher control anywhere in Southern California. Free estimates, chemical-free methods, 60-day guarantee.