Mole and Gopher
Removal Services

Mole and Gopher Control FAQs

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  How do I identify moles?

  Moles are small mammals that live in subterranean environments. They have tube-like bodies, velvety brown or gray fur, incredibly small eyes and ears, and large front paws for digging. It is a common misconception that moles are blind, though they do have poor eyesight. Unlike gophers, moles are actually not a member of the rodent family. Moles do not eat plants or plant roots, instead subsisting on a diet primarily made of insects and worms. Despite not consuming plants, mole tunneling behaviors can cause extensive damage to lawns, gardens, and other landscaping features.
  Moles maintain tunnels to provide themselves access to food sources, with some tunnels made as shallow as four inches and others as deep as twelve inches. Mole mounds appear in conical piles on the earth, and mole runways appear as long, spongy ridges. You can check for an active mole presence by stepping on these ridges and flattening them – if, after a day, the runway becomes rounded again, then a mole is actively using the tunnels.

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  How do I identify gophers?

  “Pocket gophers,” commonly known simply as gophers, are a large variety of burrowing rodent. They can be recognized by their large size relative to other rodents (generally 6-8 inches in length), their brown fur, short tails, and large cheek pouches (from which they earned the name pockets gophers). Gophers eat plant matter – like your garden roots – and in addition to destroying lawns and landscaping, gophers are known to chew through underground utility cables and sprinkler pipes. On top of this, gophers frequently carry fleas and parasites that can be harmful to family pets.
  Gophers build significantly more simple, linear tunnel complexes when compared to moles, however, their tunnels often go much deeper into the earth. The main tunnel is easily detected by a series of mounds roughly in a line. Gopher mounds are frequently found on hillsides with dry, rocky soil, and are identified by their horseshoe shape and a round plug about three inches in diameter near the center of the mound.

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  How do I keep moles and gophers away from my property?

  As with all pest control scenarios, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Moles and gophers are a nuisance and a pain to remove from a property, but a proactive property owner can help keep a problem from ever forming.
  
  Moles like soft soil and a steady source of food. By reducing watering time on your lawn, you can create more dense soil that deters moles from moving in. Insect repellants and environmentally safe insecticide solutions can deplete potential mole food sources.
  
  Gophers are after your plants, so effective preventative measures require that you protect your valuable flora from their formidable teeth. Plastic netting can help protect seedlings and wire mesh buried beneath a garden’s surface can keep gophers at bay. Building raised garden beds and placing plants in pots can remove gopher access to your greenery.
  
  For both moles and gophers, barriers built-in to landscaping – like decorative rocks, fences, or rock-lined trenches – can prevent the pests from tunneling into your property.
  
  And if you find yourself locked in a battle with these subterranean pests, the Bug Zapper pest control experts today!

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  What types of training do your technicians go through?

  Bug Zapper is always committed to providing you with the best in pest control and removal services. All of our experienced technicians are fully licensed and certified in Oregon, in addition to undergoing advanced training though our rigorous internal apprenticeship program. All of our pest service technicians complete state testing for laws and safety, including IIHS General, IIHS Structural, and Agricultural Vertebrate tests before going through a month-long apprenticeship field training program. Our staff also regularly completes ongoing advanced training and attends industry-based seminars to stay current with the newest and best methods in pest control. We also have the honor of having an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) on our staff – one of only 12 currently operating in the state of Oregon.

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  Do you have same day service?

  Bug Zapper is known for our fast response times and convenient service appointments, in addition to our all-around excellent customer care. As such, we are happy to provide same day services whenever possible. A bug service professional can be at your home in most cases within 24-48 hrs. Call our office and we will gladly work with you to determine how we can best accommodate your schedule and time!