5 Signs You Have a Gopher Problem (And What to Do Next)
Gopher damage doesn't happen overnight—but it can spread fast. Knowing the early warning signs helps you act before your lawn turns into a minefield of mounds and tunnels.
1. Crescent-Shaped Dirt Mounds
This is the most obvious sign. Gophers push soil to the surface in fan-shaped or crescent patterns, leaving a plugged hole on one side.
What to do: Check mounds daily. If they keep appearing in the same area, you have an active infestation. Call Gopher Champs at (951) 330-7399 for a free inspection.
2. Wilting Plants or Patches of Dead Grass
Gophers feed on plant roots from below, cutting off water and nutrients. You may notice:
What to do: Inspect the soil around wilted plants. If roots are severed cleanly, gophers are likely to blame.
3. Exposed Tunnels or Holes
Sometimes gophers create shallow surface tunnels that collapse underfoot. You may see:
What to do: Don't fill the holes yourself—this can make trapping harder. Instead, mark the locations and contact a professional.
4. Chewed Irrigation Lines or Cables
Gophers chew through anything in their path—including sprinkler pipes, electrical conduit, and landscape lighting wires.
Signs include:
What to do: Repair the damage, then schedule gopher removal immediately. Continued activity will just create more repairs.
5. Increased Activity from Pets or Predators
Dogs and cats often detect gophers before you do. If your pet suddenly starts:
...there's a good chance gophers are nearby. You may also notice hawks or owls circling your property—they're hunting the same pests.
What to do: Keep pets away from active areas and call in professional trappers before your pet digs up the yard trying to catch them.
What to Do Next
If you've spotted any of these signs, don't wait. Gophers reproduce quickly, and a small problem can become a full infestation in weeks.
At Gopher Champs, we offer: