In Riverside, California, there are many property owners and managers who take great pride in maintaining healthy lawns, gardens, and landscapes. But those lawns and landscapes can sometimes come under direct threat from gophers; small, burrowing rodents that, by sheer weight of numbers, have the potential to turn a well-manicured yard into a war zone.
Gophers are some of the most prolific and destructive animals in terms of the amount of damage they do to the root systems of plants. They can tunnel around and basically just destroy everything. Due to the warm climate and irrigated soil, the gopher is able to thrive year-round in the Riverside area.
To help our readers better understand not only how to determine if they have a problem, but also the best options for gopher removal Riverside, here are a few of the best practices for dealing with these subterranean pests:
Recognizing the Signs of Gopher Activity
It is very important to identify damage done by gophers early on if you want to minimize it in the future. The most obvious sign of gopher activity is the crescent or horseshoe-shaped fresh soil mounds they leave behind. These mounds are normally plugged and are the entrances to gopher tunnels.
Other signs consist of plants that appear to be shrinking, since gophers devour roots from below, as well as areas that are soft or sunken in the soil, caused by tunneling.
Effective Trapping Techniques
Gopher removal is most reliably done by trapping. It is a popular method in residential areas because it allows for targeted control without the use of harmful chemicals. There are two types of traps that can be used: box traps and cinch traps. Both are placed directly into active tunnels, which can usually be easily identified by the freshly disturbed soil.
Baiting and Fumigation: Use with Caution
Another method for gopher control is the use of chemical baits and fumigation. Poison bait is placed inside the gopher’s tunnel system, which requires an experienced practitioner to avoid endangering the pets, wildlife, or children who might be nearby. Fumigation involves using gas cartridges to fill gopher tunnels with toxic fumes.
Due to the possible hazards, these processes should be managed by professionals licensed in the trades who know local regulations and the environmental consequences of their work.
Preventive Landscaping Solutions
Looking past eradication, the next best thing is to stop the pests before they can do any more harm. Roots are less likely to be gnawed if the gophers can’t get to them, and that’s the idea behind underground barriers. They’re not foolproof and they’re not easy to install, but if you have a garden that gophers can’t stay away from, an underground barrier makes a lot of sense.
Effective and Permanent Gopher Removal Is Usually Best Left to the Pros
Keeping gophers from damaging your Riverside property takes attention, a variety of control measures, and a proactive attitude. You can save your lawn, your garden, and, yes, your peace of mind by not waiting too long to act. If you’re having a hard time with gophers or would rather let someone else handle the problem, the best bet is to let the professional pest removal experts take care of the problem.