How to Minimize Property Damage With Proper Gopher Control Methods

It is common knowledge that property owners want to protect their investments as much as possible. Of the many pests that property owners have to contend with, gophers are some of the most destructive. Not only can they destroy the landscape, but they can also cause damage which can lead to injury to both livestock and to humans should they step into a gopher hole or tunnel. This is when gopher control and gopher extermination becomes crucial in protecting the owner's interests.

Gophers are well known for their excellent ability to burrow and tunnel underground. Those who have studied gopher control have actually concluded that these pests are virtually perfectly built for tunneling, and as such, are able to cause an enormous amount of damage in a short period of time. As they go about this tunneling, the tunnels that leave in their wake cause the upper surface of the ground to become weak and unstable. When people or livestock walk atop these areas, they can easily fall through, causing injury. While humans generally survive these incidents, livestock often has to be put down. The only effective way to remove this threat is to remove the cause through gopher extermination.

Unlike many other pests that take a break during the winter months, gophers do not hibe
ate. They stay active during the entire year. Likewise, they differ from other pests in that they will burrow not only during the night but also during the daylight hours. This increased activity level means that they can easily achieve tunnel systems between 200 and 2000 square feet! Gopher control is the only way to stop this hazard.

Gophers can breed up to three times each year with each litter having as many as half a dozen pups. Even though gophers prefer to live alone, these pups will stay with the group until they are ready to strike out on their own, which only adds to the problem as they, too, will begin to burrow. Unless effective gopher control methods are employed, gophers can live up to three years. It does not take an expert to see that over time these pests can produce massive amounts of damage to properties.

While stepping into a gopher tunnel is a major health issue, farmers and gardeners also experience issues when they lose their crops and gardens. Gophers do not eat meat; they live on plants and vegetables. Gophers love to eat out the root systems of plants and vegetables which, of course, will destroy the crop. It is has been documented that entire crops have been lost to these pests. But it gets worse. They will also come to the surface and feed on surface vegetation as well. Within a few days, or less, they can devour or destroy an entire crop. Again, gopher control is the only effective way to stop this destruction.

If you are a property owner suffering from the destructive acts of this pest, it is in your best interest to get professional gopher control advice as soon as possible. The problem will not go away on its own. You must take action quickly to minimize damage.