Gopher Control in Portland
Gophers eat roots and bulbs and chew on irrigation lines. Correct trapping removes them without harming the garden.
Pocket gophers live entirely underground, and they eat the roots, bulbs and tubers of what you plant. They are a problem for vegetable beds, young trees, shrubs and lawns, and they will chew through buried drip lines and cables.
The mound tells you what you have: gopher mounds are fan or crescent shaped with a plugged hole off to one side, while mole mounds are round with the plug in the center.
Locating the main tunnel
Each gopher keeps a main tunnel with side branches. We probe near a fresh mound to find it, then place traps in the main run, usually in pairs facing each direction. Positioning is what decides success.
Protecting what you plant
For valuable beds and young trees, we can recommend wire baskets or barrier mesh at planting time. Raised beds with a hardware cloth floor stop gophers from entering from below.
Staying ahead of new arrivals
A cleared yard can be recolonized from nearby ground. Fresh mounds are the cue to call early, because one animal can dig a lot in a week.
What to watch for
Crescent mounds
A fan-shaped mound with a plug on one side marks a gopher tunnel.
Wilting plants
Plants that suddenly wilt or can be tugged out may have lost their roots.
Chewed irrigation
Damaged drip lines are a common sign and a source of wet spots.
What happens on a visit
- Identify gopher versus mole activity
- Probe for the main tunnel and set traps
- Check traps and relocate them as needed
- Recommend barriers for beds and young trees
Read next: Moles, Moles & Gophers, Other Insects.
Gophers questions
Ready to get rid of them?
Send us a request. We aim to reply within 15 minutes during regular business hours, or we take $20 off your service.