How to Tell If You Have Gophers or Ground Squirrels
Homeowners across Southern California often notice fresh dirt mounds or holes in their lawns and wonder: Do I have gophers or ground squirrels?
Knowing the difference matters. The right diagnosis saves time, money, and frustration when protecting your property.
1. Start with the Dirt Mounds
The easiest way to tell which pest you have is by the shape and pattern of the soil piles they create.
Gophers
- ✓Push up crescent-shaped mounds with a visible plug on one side.
- ✓Each mound connects to a closed tunnel system underground.
- ✓You rarely see the gopher above ground.
Ground squirrels
- ✓Leave flat, fan-shaped dirt piles at the entrance of an open burrow.
- ✓Holes remain open, about 4 inches wide.
- ✓You'll often see squirrels running back and forth during the day.
2. Observe Activity During the Day
- ✓Gophers are solitary and underground—you won't usually spot them.
- ✓Ground squirrels are social and visible, especially mornings and afternoons.
If you regularly see animals standing upright near holes, you're dealing with ground squirrels, not gophers.
3. Check Damage Patterns
| Damage Type | Gopher | Ground Squirrel |
|---|---|---|
| Chewed irrigation lines | ✅ Common | ⚠️ Occasional |
| Plant roots pulled underground | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Holes near concrete or fences | ⚠️ Rare | ✅ Very common |
| Visible trails across lawn | ❌ | ✅ Often seen |
Gophers destroy lawns from below, while ground squirrels create surface hazards and undermine foundations.
4. What to Do Next
If you've confirmed gophers, it's time for a proven trapping solution.
Avoid relying on store-bought poisons—many are unsafe for pets and often ineffective.
At Gopher Champs' Residential Gopher Control, we specialize in poison-free trapping systems that remove gophers in as little as two days.
Serving Temecula and surrounding areas, our technicians can identify the pest type and start same-week service.
5. Final Tip: Act Early
Fresh dirt mounds mean active tunnels. The sooner you act, the easier it is to eliminate the colony before it multiplies.
One gopher can damage hundreds of square feet of turf in just a few days—don't wait until your lawn looks like Swiss cheese.