Do Gophers Make Sounds?

Gopher Noises and What You Might Hear

Pocket gophers do make sounds, though they are rarely heard by homeowners because gophers spend almost all their time underground. Understanding what sounds gophers make can help confirm their presence on your property.

Sounds Gophers Make

Tooth chattering: Gophers chatter their teeth (gnash their incisors) as a warning or threat display. This sound is most commonly heard when a gopher is disturbed or cornered above ground. It is a rapid clicking or chattering sound from the prominent orange incisors. Squeaking: Gophers produce high-pitched squeaks, particularly juveniles and when gophers are handled or threatened. These sounds are infrequent and quiet. Digging sounds: In quiet conditions with ears close to the soil, some homeowners report hearing soft scratching or digging sounds from beneath the surface near active tunnel areas. This is the gopher's claws and teeth working through soil.

Sounds You Might Hear Near Gopher Tunnels

More commonly than gopher vocalizations, homeowners near active gopher areas may hear:

Soil movement and settling sounds in mound areas

The sound of dirt being pushed against the soil surface before a new mound appears

Occasional scraping sounds when gophers are working near the surface

Using Sound to Detect Gophers

Acoustic detection of gophers is not a practical control or identification method for homeowners. The presence of fresh fan-shaped mounds is a far more reliable indicator than trying to hear underground activity.

If you have fresh mounds and are wondering whether the gopher is still active, probe the soil rather than listening — a probe dropping into empty tunnel space confirms an active tunnel system.

Call 909-599-4711 for professional gopher control with a 60-day guarantee.

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