The Problem With Gophers On Your San Diego Property
If you’ve noticed unsightly mounds of dirt piling up in your yard, there’s a good chance that you’ve got gophers. These subterranean rodents can be great for the local ecosystem, but can wreak havoc on your lawn. While they might seem like fuzzy friends to some, gophers can cause serious trouble. Here’s what you should know about gopher problems on your San Diego property.
What Are Gophers?
There are several species of gophers that call California home, with various traits and behaviors unique to each. But what these pests have in common is their tendency to dig underground tunnels and excavate heaps of dirt in haphazard fashion.
Gophers are medium-sized rodents that typically measure between 5 and 14 inches in length. They tend to have small ears and eyes, but large muzzles outfitted with large incisor teeth. While these large front teeth are quite an intimidating sight, they are primarily used to help gophers excavate dirt from their underground construction work, along with their prominent paws.
Gophers spend most of their time underground and rarely venture out in the open. You are more likely to see signs of gopher activity than a physical gopher itself.
Problems Caused By Gophers
Certain pests can be as helpful as they are harmful, depending on your perspective. Gophers, for example, can help to aerate and fertilize soil, promoting the growth of local plant life and increasing the vitality of the local ecosystem. But for property owners, the harm outweighs the help.
First, gophers spread parasites. As fur-covered rodents, gophers can pick up ticks and fleas which can then propagate throughout your property. Ticks and fleas can then transmit diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever or even bubonic plague when they feed on human blood.
Then, there’s property damage. Beyond ruing the aesthetics of your landscaping with messy dirt mounds, gophers have been known to use their powerful teeth to chew through cables, wires, and even plastic pipes. The disruption they cause can be expensive to repair, or at the very least, time-consuming.
Gophers can also carry rabies. While it’s incredibly rare for a gopher to actually bite a human, it’s not impossible and should be taken into consideration when dealing with these pests.
How To Prevent Gophers
Gopher prevention is tough. Since these pests spend most of their time underground, they can secretly dig their way onto your property without you even realizing it. However, there are some methods you should try to prevent gophers on your San Diego property.
- Protect plants – Gophers are dedicated vegetarians that love to snack on your garden. The more tasty veggies you have, the more attracted to your property they may be. Protect your plants and discourage gophers by surrounding your garden with a tight 1/4 inch metal mesh barrier buried at least one foot deep into the ground.
- Dig a trench – You can also try to discourage gophers by digging a trench or ditch around the perimeter of any crops or gardens and lining the trench with metal mesh.
- Call the pros – Any DIY pest prevention methods can cost you valuable time and money. When it comes to stopping gophers from infesting your property, it never hurts to get help from pest control experts.
Getting rid of gophers on your own is tough, and can even be hazardous to your health in the event of a rabid gopher. That’s why you need to get in touch with Allswell Here for all of your gopher control needs in San Diego. We always put the safety of your family and environment first while implementing the most effective pest control techniques in the business. If you’ve got gophers digging up trouble, contact us today.