Gophers seldom make appearances above ground, which makes identifying their presence slightly more difficult. The main way to know they’re around is to look for tell-tale signs. The most obvious is the appearance of crescent, or fan-shaped mounds of dirt, which are entry and exit points to their tunnel systems.
These mounds are typically found in moist soil, and they can appear overnight. Other indications consist of unexpected plant mortality, particularly in gardens or flowerbeds, where gophers consume roots and yank entire plants down into their burrows.
You might also see some areas of your lawn that are usually nice and plush become hard and lumpy, which indicates that there’s some type of underground disturbance. And if the gophers continue to tunnel, they could end up causing havoc with your irrigation systems, steps, and retaining walls. This is why gopher removal Temecula is not optional.
Why Gophers Are a Problem in Temecula
Gophers find the perfect habitat in Temecula’s suburban sprawl and abundant agriculture. They receive plenty of food from our meticulously maintained lawns and from the trees, vineyards, and gardens that grow all over the place. And without the overwhelming presence of a natural predator, gopher populations can and do explode.
When they do, they don’t stay in one yard – they do what gophers do best, which is build underground tunnels travel from place to place and property to property.
Methods for Removing Gophers
Removing gophers can be done in a number of ways, from do-it-yourself techniques to professional extermination. Some are more effective than others, and some are less risky to the gopher’s environment (and to your yard). Here are some of the more common options:
Trapping
Gophers can be effectively eliminated by trapping them. To trap a gopher, you must first find its active tunnels. Then, you place the traps inside the tunnels and check them regularly. Trapping is labor-intensive and requires knowledge of gopher behavior, but it can yield excellent results when done properly.
Baiting and Poisoning
Baiting means placing toxic bait inside the tunnels. Using this method can yield results in terms of gopher population reduction and can do so quickly. But the method carries with it significant risks; environmental and human health risks, that many gopher removal professionals working in Temecula choose to avoid.
Fumigation
Filling tunnels with toxic smoke or gas does not always work, and when it doesn’t, the reason is often that the gopher isn’t where you expect it to be. Tunnels occupied by gophers are seldom straight; they curve and branch, and some of the branches are blind. Furthermore, in the aboveground section of a gopher’s burrow, the wall is so thin that a gopher could easily break through, which it will do to escape the fumigation.
Repellents and Sonic Devices
Many gopher deterrents are marketed as over-the-counter repellents and ultrasonic devices. And while they may have limited success in controlling a mild infestation, they are usually ineffective for anything stronger than that, and they certainly don’t work in cases of large, established colonies. Gopher deterrents can, however, work very well as a supplement to other control methods that involve killing gophers.
The Benefits of Hiring a Professional
Although DIY techniques may be effective in specific situations, gopher removal in Temecula is best handled by professional pest control companies. These experts know gopher biology and behavior, allowing them to strike right at the heart of an infestation.
They also work with high-tech, high-power tools and techniques that the general public can’t access. If you have a gopher problem, going pro is the most efficient, most effective way to solve it.
Preventing Future Infestations
After gophers have been eliminated, it is very important to take measures to ensure that they do not return. You can put up underground wire mesh fences, for example. Reducing the gopher’s food supply is also key. Some people even add a castor oil-based repellent to their lawn care regimen.
Gopher Control Service Providers Are Expertly Trained for these Problems
Though they may be tiny, gophers can cause a lot of harm. Regardless of whether this is your first-time dealing with gophers, or you’re in a seemingly endless battle with them, it’s important to take quick and effective action with a strategy that makes sense. There are many solutions available to protect your yard, from traps to repellants, but we recommend professional services that come with a guarantee.
With the right strategy, you can take back your outdoor space and delight in a lovely, gopher-free landscape year-round.
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