In the Know: Colorado Gopher Insights

Understanding Gopher Behavior in Colorado

Gophers are solitary burrowing rodents that thrive in Colorado’s soil-rich environments. They tunnel underground, creating visible mounds and damaging lawns, gardens, and even irrigation systems. In the Durango area, pocket gophers are the most common, often targeting well-watered properties with lush vegetation.

Signs of a Gopher Infestation

• Fan-shaped dirt mounds in lawns or gardens
• Soft or sunken spots in the soil from tunneling
• Chewed roots, shrubs, or garden plants
• Sudden wilting of previously healthy vegetation

Damage Caused by Gophers

Gophers can destroy landscaping, chew through utility lines, and undermine the structural integrity of sidewalks, driveways, and retaining walls. Their burrows may also attract other unwanted wildlife like snakes and insects. Left untreated, they can cause extensive and costly property damage.

Durango Pest Removal’s Gopher Control Approach

• Property inspection to locate active tunnels and feeding areas
• Use of targeted traps and humane removal methods
• Subsurface baiting where safe and appropriate
• Exclusion fencing for gardens and landscaping
• Follow-up visits to ensure colony collapse and prevent reinfestation

Why DIY Control Often Fails

Gophers can dig up to 200 yards of tunnel in a month. Over-the-counter repellents and sonic devices rarely stop determined diggers. Without locating the main tunnel or using the correct trap placement, DIY efforts can prolong the infestation and increase lawn damage.

Gopher Prevention Tips

• Keep grass trimmed and limit excess watering
• Use underground fencing or gopher baskets in high-risk areas
• Remove brush piles and woodpiles that provide cover
• Monitor for new mounds and call at the first sign of activity

If gophers are tearing up your lawn, don’t wait. Contact Durango Pest Removal for safe, reliable, and long-term gopher control solutions today.