Top Strategies To Get Rid Of Burrowing Mammals In Your Yard

Burrowing mammals turn lawns into obstacle courses and garden beds into snack bars. The trick is not brute force but matching tactics to the species, then stacking methods so each step strengthens the next. Start with correct ID, then pair trapping or targeted repellents with smart barriers and habitat changes for results that last. Tips from wildlife and pest control experts.

Know Your Tunneler

Before acting, study the clues. Crescent mounds with a plugged hole point to pocket gophers. Raised ridges that feel spongy underfoot are classic mole runs. Voles leave dime-sized entries, clipped grass, and surface trails. Ground squirrels create open holes near sunny edges and spend time above ground. ID shapes the plan, tools, and timing.

Targeted Trapping Done Right

Trapping is the most decisive way to reduce active burrowers when laws and site conditions allow. For gophers, place cinch or box traps in main tunnels on both sides of a fresh mound, then cover the opening to block light and airflow. For moles, set scissor or harpoon traps on straight, active runs that rebuild quickly after being pressed flat. For voles, small snap traps at trail junctions baited with apple or peanut butter work well. Check daily and reset until new activity stops.

Exclusion That Actually Holds

Physical barriers turn beds into safe zones. Line raised planters with hardware cloth and fold seams tightly. Install gopher baskets around prized shrubs and young trees. For perimeter defense, trench hardware cloth 18 to 24 inches deep with the bottom edge bent outward in an L so diggers meet metal, not roots. Cap vent and drain openings with tight mesh so tunnels do not transition into crawlspaces.

Repellents with a Plan

Castor oil soil drenches can shift moles and gophers when applied uniformly and re-applied after heavy rain. Pepper-based sprays or granular deterrents can help around new plantings and burrow mouths. Predator cues like fox or coyote urine may add short-term pressure, especially along fence lines and den sites. Use repellents as pressure valves alongside trapping and exclusion, not as a solo fix.

Habitat Tweaks That Tip the Odds

Yards that offer food, cover, and water invite burrowers. Thin dense groundcovers where voles hide. Rake fallen fruit and nuts. Store seed in sealed bins and move bird feeders away from turf. Fix irrigation leaks and damp spots that draw grubs, and consider grub suppression if moles are targeting a buffet under the sod. Mow at the right height and overseed to create thick roots that resist tunneling.

Seal and Repair Burrow Networks

After trapping reduces activity, collapse surface runs and tamp disturbed soil to remove easy highways. Backfill entry holes with a clay and soil mix so tunnels do not re-open overnight. Around patios and slabs, add edge gravel and compacted base to discourage re-digging and protect concrete.

Water, Smoke, and Gas with Care

Flooding can evict small pockets of voles or expose fresh gopher runs for trapping, but it is a short window tactic and can damage beds. Smoke and gas cartridges can work in dry soils with limited wind exchange, yet they require care, local compliance, and fire-safe use. Treat these as situational tools, not everyday methods.

Planting Choices That Help

In vole country, ring trunks of young trees with guards that ventilate and keep gnawers off the bark. Group high-value bulbs in baskets or switch to less palatable varieties like daffodils where pressure is heavy. For turf, dense grasses with sturdy root systems make tunneling harder and repair faster after activity.

Timing Matters

Late winter to early spring is prime for gopher and ground squirrel control before breeding expands populations. Mole trapping peaks when runs are active near the surface, often after rains when soils are workable. Vole pressure spikes after snowy winters when they feed under cover; respond as snow melts while trail networks are obvious.

When to Call a Pro

Large, multi-acre infestations, activity under concrete, or sites with tricky regulations call for licensed support. Pros bring burrow-mapping experience, species-specific traps, and exclusion installs that hold up to seasons of freeze and thaw. They also tailor strategies when pets, pollinators, or neighbor boundaries complicate typical playbooks.

Quick Reference: Do This, Not That

• Do identify the species first. Don’t blanket the yard with random treatments.
• Do trap on the most active runs. Don’t set traps on old or collapsed tunnels.
• Do pair exclusion with habitat tweaks. Don’t rely on repellents alone.
• Do repair and compact disturbed soil. Don’t leave open networks that invite re-use.

Talk to Wildlife and Pest Control Experts

Winning against burrowing mammals comes from stacking the right moves in the right order. Identify the culprit, cut numbers with precise trapping, harden high-value zones with barriers, and strip away food and cover that keep pressure high.

Ready to reclaim your space from pests and wildlife? At Best Pest & Wildlife Control, we are a fully insured, proudly local team known for humane methods, expert exclusion, and clear, fair pricing across the Western United States. From household pest control and wildlife eviction to sanitation, attic restoration, and insulation replacement, every plan is tailored and delivered with open communication and standout customer service.

Speak with our trained professionals who use industry-renowned practices to keep intruders out and comfort in. Schedule your free home inspection and get a custom plan today.