Gophers are excellent diggers, who can create a system of tunnels running hundreds of feet just beneath the surface. Using their claws and teeth, they kick dirt back through the entrance hole, creating their signature fanned pile of dirt. The unmistakable crescent or fan shaped dirt pile left behind is a sure sign of gopher activity on your property.

Gophers often attempt to plug this hole to keep intruders out, as they spend the majority of their time underground. The gopher tunnels don’t extend too far out, typically no longer than 50 feet, yet they may zig zag throughout their territory. While the main gopher tunnels typically only a few inchies wide, within that tunnel gophers will create larger dens for feeding and raising offspring.

The elaborate tunnels that gophers create can seriously destabilize a lawns support system and destroy roots. This can kill plants, trees, grass, damage irrigation and utility lines, as well as affect the integrity of any structures. Gopher problems don’t just go away, they grow. Over time more tunnels will be built, and with much of the action taking place below the surface, you may not know what you are up against until it’s too late. That is why it is so important to address a gopher problem quickly.

This leads to a very porous yard, which can collapse under weight if eroded significantly by gopher tunnels. The damage caused by gophers is not insignificant. Not only can gophers destroy your lawn by interrupting root systems, the holes created by digging can lead to injuries like twisted ankles, particularly when they are hidden by grass or ground cover.

If you find holes in your yard with these distintive fan-shaped dirt piles, you have your most indicitive sign of a gopher infestation.