Every homeowner wants to keep their lawns manicured, pristine, and well-maintained. That includes making their lawns pest-free, but there are times when gophers just won’t stay away no matter what you do. Gophers are persistent pests that can wreak havoc on your lawn, and getting rid of them can be challenging. But don’t despair – there are several things you can do to get rid of gophers for good.
This article will discuss some of the most effective ways to eliminate gophers on your lawn. We will also talk about why gophers exist on your lawn and when to call a professional for help in eliminating gophers in your lawns.
Gophers Explained
Gophers are a type of rodents (small, burrowing animals) that live in tunnels. They mostly live in North America and eat plants and underground roots. They also sometimes eat insects, worms, and even other gophers! The term gopher comes from the sound these animals make when snuffling through their tunnels.
Gophers have short legs, small ears and eyes, and a long tail with a furry tip. They have thick fur that is usually brownish-gray on top with white underparts. Their fur is thicker in winter than in summer because it helps keep them warm when they tunnel through the ground.
A full-grown adult gopher can be anywhere from 10 to 19 inches long! Gophers weigh anywhere from 2 ounces to 2 pounds (0.5 kg). it live in caves, or tunnels, underground. These burrows can be as deep as 6 feet and as long as 100 feet! Gophers use their front legs and claws to dig their burrows.
These are generally nocturnal animals, which means they are most active at night. However, you may see them during the day, especially if you live in an area with many gophers. These are usually solitary creatures, but they may live in pairs during the breeding season (typically from March to May).
it reproduce once a year and have litters of two to six baby gophers, called “kits.” Gopher kits are born blind and hairless, but they multiply. They are weaned from their mother’s milk at 4 to 5 weeks old and are ready to live on their own by the time they are eight weeks old. Gophers typically live for 2 to 3 years in the wild, but some have been known to live up to 9 years in captivity.
Why Gophers Stay on Your Lawn
Gophers are burrowing rodents that live underground. They have very sharp teeth, which they use to chew up the roots of plants to eat the grass and plants around them. These rodents can cause a great deal of damage to your garden, so you must get rid of them as soon as possible. Gophers also carry diseases, so keeping them away from your family and pets is essential.
it usually stay on lawns because they are looking for food. The roots of grasses and other plants are a favorite food of gophers, so they will often burrow in lawns to get to the roots. Gophers will also eat insects, worms, and even other gophers!
it usually stay in an area for a few days or weeks before moving to another area. This can be a problem because they can cause much damage in a short time. Gophers will also often return to an area where they have found food before, so it’s essential to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Ways to Getting Rid of Gophers on Your Lawn
There are a lot of ways that you can use to get rid of it pestering your lawn. These ways can apply to many instances, so choose one that you think would apply to your current situation.
The most humane way to get rid of it is with a trap. There are many types of gopher traps that you can purchase from hardware stores or online. You can also make your own DIY gopher trap using home materials. The most common type of gopher trap is called a spring-loaded trap.
Spring-loaded traps use tension or pressure to kill the gopher when it enters the hole. For this method to work effectively, you’ll need to know where the main tunnel is because it’s challenging to find an active tunnel without knowing where it is first.
Other types of traps don’t kill the immediately but keep them trapped until you decide what to do with them (such as relocate them or release them back into the wild). These traps consist of either a bait that draws the gopher out of its hole so you can catch it or traps that prevent the gopher from being able to close the hole behind it as it enters.
If you don’t want to use traps, there are also some home remedies you can try to get rid of gophers. Gophers don’t like the smell of certain things, such as garlic, so you can try planting these around your garden or lawn to keep them away. Gophers also don’t like the sound of loud noises, so you can try playing music or banging on pots and pans to scare them off.
Finally, you can also try using a gopher repellent. There are many different types of repellents that you can purchase from stores or online. You can also make your own repellent at home using garlic, hot peppers, or vinegar.
Whatever method you choose, you must be persistent in getting rid of gophers. Gophers are persistent creatures, so you’ll need to be as well! Try a few different methods until you find one that works for you.
When to Call a Professional
If you have it on your property, there are several ways to control them yourself. But sometimes, the damage is so extensive that it’s best to call in a professional exterminator who can use more potent chemicals and more effective traps. Here are some signs that tell you when it’s time to call for help:
You see gophers regularly.
If you see one or two at first and then notice more as time passes, it might mean they’re breeding in the area. You’ll want to take steps quickly because once they start breeding, there will be more of them over time.
You see fresh mounds of dirt or dead vegetation.
these will often throw up fresh dirt mounds when burrowing underground. This is a sure sign that they’re active in the area and damaging your lawn or garden. You might also see dead patches of grass or other plants where the have been eating the roots.
Your yard is starting to look like a minefield.
If you have so many gopher holes that it looks like a minefield, it’s time to call in a professional. Not only is this unsightly, but it can also be dangerous for you and your family. Gopher holes can cause trip hazards; people can even break their ankles if they fall into one.
You’ve tried to get rid of them, but they keep returning.
If you’ve tried traps, repellents, and other methods, but nothing seems to be working, it might be time to call in a professional. Gophers are notoriously challenging to get rid of, so don’t feel alone if you’re struggling. A professional will have the experience and knowledge to get rid of them for good.
Conclusion
Gophers are not an incredible sight to keep on your lawn, especially if they have the power to damage your well-maintained grass. Gophers are burrowing animals and can cause a lot of harm to your property if not removed on time. There are many ways to eliminate them, but you can always call a professional if you cannot do it right or if you have done everything, but they keep coming back.
There are a lot of professional pest control companies that can help you with your situation, such as Hybrid Pest Control. They are known among their clients as one of the business’s most influential and affordable companies. They can help you zero in on your gopher problem, among many of their other specialties. You’re surely in good hands with Hybrid Pest Control, from dusk till dawn.
