If your lawn looks like enemy territory with holes, mounds, patches of dead grass then you’ve likely got gophers marching underground. These diggers move fast, cause damage you may not even see, and can turn your yard into their playing field. That’s where a professional gopher removal service comes in. We stop them cold, rebuild your turf, and keep your yard in championship form.
In Southern California soils, gophers dig easier, breed faster, and often expand their tunnel systems before homeowners realize. The easier the dirt, the stronger their offense. TouchDown Pest Control brings the strategy, tools, and muscle to reclaim your property and lock down your perimeter.
Why Gophers Are a Major Problem in SoCal
Beneath the sunny lawns of SoCal, gophers are running their own underground offense. These burrowing pests tear through turf, destroy irrigation systems, and can even undermine patios and foundations. With year-round mild weather and soft soil, Los Angeles and Orange County are a gopher’s dream field, but a homeowner’s nightmare.
Soft Soil & Warm Climate: The favorable soil in most Southern California lawns helps gophers dig fast, year-round.
Constant Reproduction & Underground Expansion: Each tunnel system may house one gopher, but that system can stretch hundreds of feet — replacing one doesn’t solve the root problem. (UC IPM: Managing Pocket Gophers)
Damage Below the Surface: Gophers feed on roots, chew irrigation lines, collapse soil under sod — many yard issues (dead grass, washed paths) come from below, not above.
Popular DIY Failures: Many homeowners try repellents or traps in the wrong spots; UC research shows trapping is the most reliable method, while repellents often give false hope.
Reinvasion Risk: Even after removal, neighboring gophers can move in without proper barriers and monitoring.
If you wait until your lawn looks shredded, the gophers have already called explosive plays underground.
Signs You’ve Got A Gopher Problem
You don’t need to be a pro scout to know when trouble’s brewing — your lawn will show early signs if you know where to look. Gophers are stealthy players that dig deep and attack from below the surface, but the field always gives away the game. Keep your eyes peeled for these key warning signs before your yard turns into a losing field.
Fresh Fan-Shaped Soil Mounds — with a plugged hole on one side
Wilting or Sunken Vegetation — roots tunneled under
Soft Spongy Patches — tunnels collapsed underfoot
Damaged Irrigation — broken lines or dry areas
Visible Tunnels — in loose soil or near structures
These are flags that trouble has advanced past the surface — you need a pro to stop it.
DIY Defenses (Light Drills You Can Try)
Think of these moves as your warm-up drills before the pros hit the field. They won’t win the game on their own, but they’ll buy you time and slow down the opposition. If you want to stay in control until TouchDown Pest Control arrives, these smart at-home plays can help you limit the damage.
Use these moves to slow the damage while you wait for pro backup:
Flatten Fresh Mounds — disrupt their recent digs.
Flood Tunnels — flushing them can reduce activity (temporary effect).
Trap Strategically — use tunneling traps in the core burrow pathways—placement matters more than quantity.
Avoid Weak Tools — ultrasonic spikes, castor oil, and “vibration devices” often underperform.
These are short-term plays. Gophers are skilled; you’ll need the heavy offense to win.
Professional Gopher Removal: TouchDown’s All-Out Blitz
When gophers go on offense, it’s time to call in a defense that doesn’t miss tackles. TouchDown Pest Control’s gopher removal service brings precision, speed, and strategy to every play. Our team doesn’t just chase the problem, we cut off their running lanes and shut down their tunnels with pro-level execution.
Pre-Game Inspection & Mapping — we find every active tunnel system, entry point, and hotspot.
Precise Trapping & Exclusion — we place traps only where they count and then seal off the system so they can’t rerun plays.
Safe Site Treatments — no harmful residues around kids or pets.
Soil Recovery & Protection — we repair damage and install barriers to prevent return.
Ongoing Monitoring — keep your yard locked down before invaders sneak in.
We don’t just clear tunnels — we rebuild the field.
Why Choose TouchDown Pest Control
When you hire us, you get more than a cockroach exterminator — you get a defensive coordinator for your home.
Local Experts – We know LA neighborhoods and the unique challenges each one faces.
Safe & Effective – Kid- and pet-friendly solutions.
Winning Record – Our customers trust us to protect their homes year-round.
People Also Ask...
If gophers have you guessing, you’re not alone. These are the most common questions local homeowners ask about gopher removal, control, and prevention. Knowing the answers keeps you one step ahead of the pests.
How do I know it’s gophers, not moles or voles?
Gophers leave fan-shaped mounds with one plugged hole. Moles leave volcano or ridge mounds; voles run on the surface in grassy runways between tunnels.
What works fastest to remove gophers?
Trapping is the most effective approach. In California, trapping is often preferred over repellents, which frequently fail.
Is gopher removal expensive?
Yes, especially if you delay. A full pro service can reach $400 or more. But failing to act means increased damage and expense
Do gophers come back after removal?
They do. Without exclusion, barrier work, and monitoring, new gophers from surrounding areas will move in. Ongoing protection is essential.
Are gophers dangerous?
Main risks are property damage: irrigation, sidewalks, slabs, landscaping. Tunnels can weaken soil and cause trip hazards. Some may carry fleas or ticks.
Final Whistle: Protect Your Lawn, Defend Your Home
Gophers don’t rest, and neither should your defense. Every tunnel left unattended is a repair bill waiting to hit. TouchDown Pest Control’s gopher removal service gives you the strategy, execution, and peace of mind to lock down your yard once and for all.
📞 Book your free gopher inspection today — let us bring the championship defense to your yard.
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