How to Get Rid of Pests in Your Yard: The Best and Safest Methods

Have you checked your yard lately? If so, you might have noticed some pesky critters digging up your lawn. They are gophers! Gophers can be quite destructive because they create tunnels underground, leaving your yard looking like a minefield.

According to Facility Pest Control, a pest control firm, “When gophers are in your yard, it can lead to other problems, such as an increase in pests, weeds, and even plumbing issues.”

Luckily, there are many ways to get rid of gophers that are safe and effective. Here are some methods for getting rid of these pesky rodents once and for all.

What are gophers and how do they affect yards?

Gophers are burrowing rodents that live in underground tunnels. They are typically seen digging in yards, but can also be found in gardens, golf courses, and even airports.

Gophers create holes in the ground that lead to their underground tunnels, often leaving your yard looking like a minefield when they’ve been around for a while.

These tunnels are quite destructive because they can cause erosion when heavy rains fall. Additionally, it’s possible for gophers to eat plants and seedlings while underground, which destroys your grass and other plants.

Signs that you may have a gopher problem

Though gophers can be difficult to spot in the ground, there are a few signs you may have a problem in your yard. Some of these signs include:

• Uneven lawn
• Grassy patches where grass should be growing.
• Holes in the ground
• Soil was pushed up onto the surface of the ground.
• Damaged plants and trees

While these signs can indicate other issues like animal or insect nesting, they could also be an indication that you have a gopher problem. Gophers can cause damage to your yard and garden, which is why it's important to take care of them as soon as possible.

How to tell if your yard is infested

The first step in getting rid of gophers is to determine whether or not you have a gopher issue. Gophers will leave mounds of dirt and grass on the surface, which can be found in garden areas, yards, roadsides, and other landscaped areas.

These mounds are called "gopher hills." You may also find tunnels and holes around your yard and garden where they travel underground. The easiest way to spot these signs is by looking for their droppings on the ground. They look like small pellets and can easily be seen against the brown earth.

Another sign that you might have a gopher infestation is damage to plants nearby your home's foundation. The presence of gophers in your area could also mean that they're eating away at vegetation near your home's foundation--which means they'll likely do the same to any pointy plants near your lawn or other landscaping when they feel threatened or left without food sources.

The next thing you should do after spotting these signs is to use a shovel to dig up a few square meters in an area suspected of being infested with gophers. The reason why you want to take this approach is that it will give you an idea of how much damage these pests have already done in one day's time--which will help you decide how serious it is and what type of pest control methods to use.

If you notice that you can't find any signs of gophers, then it's likely that they're using your yard as a highway to get from point A to point B--which means they'll continue eating your plants.

If you're not sure how serious it is, then the best thing to do is to contact a professional exterminator to help you evaluate the damage done by these gophers and recommend control methods that are effective in removing them permanently.

Employ DIY methods to get rid of gophers on your own

When it comes to getting rid of gophers, there are many different DIY methods that homeowners can try on their own. One favorite method is to set up a live trap in the yard. One of the advantages of this method is that you don't have to use any chemicals or harmful traps.

Just make sure the trap is big enough for the gopher and put food inside (to attract them) like alfalfa hay, carrots, apples, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, or raisins. If you're not sure what type of bait will work best for your area or climate, just do some research online. You can also try using poison bait pellets if you prefer that method.

However, don't forget about those pesky gophers that might be living under your home! These rodents love digging through dirt and making their way into homes from there. To be safe from those pesky critters, setting up a wire mesh over your foundation will usually do the trick as they won't be able to dig through it!

Why should you hire an exterminator to eliminate them?

Aside from DIY methods, another effective way to get rid of gophers is to hire an expert. If you're dealing with a lot of gophers, you'll want to contact a professional exterminator who specializes in this type of nuisance.

An exterminator can provide you with traps and poisons that are safe for humans and pets. Exterminators also know the right way to use these products to minimize any harm done, which can be very important as these products can be dangerous if not handled properly.

Preventing future infestations

Your first goal should be to prevent gophers from coming back after you’ve removed them. You can do this by installing an underground fence or adding aluminum flashing around the perimeter of your yard. Gophers will not cross these boundaries, and they’ll keep your yard free of mounds for years to come.

Another way you can prevent future infestations is by sealing up any entrance holes in your yard. You'll want to seal up all the entrances so that gophers cannot get in. If you have an underground installation like a sprinkler system or wires, you may want to cover those areas with wire mesh so gophers can't get in either.

Wrapping things up

In this guide, you have learned many creative and safe ways to get rid of gophers in your yard. Hopefully, one of these methods will work for you and you will be able to get rid of them in your yard. Good luck!