Gopher Holes in Your Yard: Identification and What to Do

What Gopher Holes Look Like — and How to Tell Them From Other Yard Holes

Gopher holes in your yard are the surface openings of an underground tunnel system. Unlike ground squirrel holes, gopher holes are not open entrances — gophers keep their tunnel openings plugged with soil. What most homeowners call a gopher hole is actually a gopher mound: a fan-shaped or crescent-shaped pile of excavated dirt with a plugged opening on one side.

What Do Gopher Holes Look Like?

A gopher hole (mound) has these characteristics:

Fan-shaped or crescent-shaped mound of loose dirt

A plugged opening on one side — not an open hole

Fresh mounds have dark, recently excavated soil

Mounds range from 6 to 24 inches wide and 4 to 12 inches high

Multiple mounds may appear close together as the gopher excavates a new tunnel section

If you see an open hole about 3-4 inches in diameter with no mound nearby, that is more likely a ground squirrel burrow entrance — not a gopher hole. Gophers seal their entrances; ground squirrels leave them open.

Gopher Holes vs Mole Holes vs Ground Squirrel Holes

Knowing which animal made the hole helps you treat the right pest:

Gopher holes (mounds): Fan-shaped dirt piles, plugged entrance on one side, no raised ridges running away from the mound. You will not see the animal — gophers are almost never above ground. Mole holes (mounds): Volcano-shaped, round and symmetrical, plugged hole in the center. Often accompanied by raised ridges running across the lawn surface. Moles eat earthworms, not plants. Ground squirrel holes: Open, round burrow entrances 3-4 inches in diameter. Often found at the base of fences, along embankments, or under structures. You will see the squirrels — they are active above ground during daylight hours. Vole holes: Small open holes about the size of a quarter, often found in grass at the edge of runways or in mulched areas. Much smaller than ground squirrel holes.

How Many Gopher Holes Are Too Many?

One fresh gopher mound means you have an active gopher on your property and treatment should begin immediately. A single gopher causes extensive damage quickly — do not wait for more mounds to appear before calling for service.

Multiple mounds spread across a large area may indicate more than one gopher, or a single gopher that has been active for several weeks and expanded its tunnel system significantly.

Are Gopher Holes Dangerous?

Yes — gopher holes and tunnel systems create several hazards:

Trip hazards — Mounds on lawn surfaces and collapsed tunnel sections create uneven ground

Ankle injury risk — Tunnel collapse underfoot can cause ankle sprains and falls

Liability — HOA common areas and commercial properties with gopher tunnel systems face injury liability if guests are hurt

Foundation risk — Tunnel systems near structures create voids that can cause settling and cracking over time

What to Do When You Find Gopher Holes

Do not fill the holes — this temporarily hides the problem but does not eliminate the gopher. The gopher will simply re-open plugged entrances or create new ones.

The right response to gopher holes in your yard is professional treatment. Call 909-599-4711 for same-week service in all of Southern California. Our technicians locate the primary tunnel system under the mounds and treat with trapping and carbon monoxide — the only methods that permanently eliminate gophers.

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