Do you have gophers in your Bay Area yard? If so, you’re probably wondering how long it will take and how much it will cost to get rid of them.
In the Bay Area, the cost of gopher control depends on a few factors, including the size of your lot, the severity of the infestation, and the kind of treatment methods applied.
In this guide, we’ll outline what Bay Area homeowners usually pay for gopher control and what you can do to reduce the cost of managing gophers on your property over time.
Key Takeaways
- The cost of gopher control across the Bay Area can start at $150 per visit, but it varies based on factors such as lot size, the number of gophers present, and the type of control method the company is using.
- Smith’s Pest Management one-time service runs $150–$300 per visit, while other Bay Area gopher control companies range from $300 to $375 setup fees plus per-critter trapping charges.
- It’s best to hire a professional early on as soon as you notice gopher activity – this will help keep your costs low before gophers expand their tunnel systems and the infestation expands.
How Much Do Bay Area Homeowners Typically Pay to Get Rid of Gophers?
Curious what gopher control could cost in your area?
Here’s a general breakdown, based on 7 prominent Bay Area gopher control companies.
Keep in mind that all prices offered are approximate, and you’ll need to get a quote from the respective company for more exact pricing:
| Company | One-Time Service | Ongoing | What’s Included? | Business Location | Service Areas |
| Smith’s Pest Management | $150–300 per visit, depending on lot size |
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San Jose, CA | San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast, including Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Cruz, and Monterey counties |
| Got Gophers |
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San Jose, CA | Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Monterey, Sonoma, and Contra Costa counties |
| Gopher Trapping Pros | No clear pricing available | No clear pricing available | Contact the company for treatment options and pricing | Hayward, CA | Greater San Francisco Bay Area, with a focus on San Mateo and surrounding communities |
| Mole Busters | Pricing requires an on-site property assessment | No clear pricing available | The company assesses the property before recommending treatment and providing a quote | Dublin, CA | Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties, including Dublin, Pleasanton, Fremont, Oakland, Walnut Creek, San Jose, Palo Alto, and Redwood City |
| Gopher Team |
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Plans start at $95 per month and include 8 visits per year and unlimited additional service calls |
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Concord, CA | Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties, including Concord, Walnut Creek, Oakland, Napa, and San Rafael |
| Ground Control | No clear pricing available | No clear pricing available | Contact the company for treatment options and a customized quote | San Rafael, CA | Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Sonoma counties, with broader Bay Area coverage advertised |
| Avalos Gopher Trapping | No clear pricing available | No clear pricing available | Contact the company for service details and pricing | Palo Alto, CA | Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Redwood City, San Mateo, Half Moon Bay, and Daly City. Also serves San Francisco |
Factors That Affect the Cost of Gopher Control Services
1. Property Size and Layout
The size of your property is one of the most important factors in gopher control pricing.
Obviously, a small yard usually requires less inspection and treatment than a large lot with sprawling lawns, landscaping, and gardens.
Larger Bay Area properties, such as those in Los Altos Hills, Woodside, Portola Valley, and Hillsborough, may also be home to sloped terrain, retaining walls, dense landscaping, and hard-to-reach areas, which can make it harder for techs to locate active tunnels and burrows.
2. The Severity of the Infestation
The number of active tunnels, the extent of underground gopher activity, and the amount of affected landscaping all impact how much work you’ll need to invest in.
Fortunately, identifying the problem early usually makes it easier to manage and allows you to address the damage before gophers expand their systems and destroy your lawn.
If gophers have already been digging in your yard for months, your technician will spend more time locating active areas and determining an effective control strategy.
3. Treatment Method
The treatment method also affects the price of the job. Professional gopher control usually involves identifying active tunnels and using traps or other control methods, like baiting.
Because of this, avoid comparing estimates without checking what each provider actually includes. Instead, ask about the treatment method quoted, the number of visits they expect to perform, and any additional charges included in the quote.
4. Follow-Up Visits and Warranty Coverage
Sometimes it takes more than one visit to get rid of gophers, and additional appointments obviously come at an additional cost.
Warranty coverage is another factor that may affect service prices. Warranties can provide peace of mind when it comes to follow-up service, but they may run up your bill a bit.
5. Local Soil, Landscaping, and Seasonal Activity
Soil and landscape conditions vary across the Bay Area, from the larger residential properties in Los Altos Hills and Woodside to the hillside neighborhoods of Oakland and San Jose. Soil composition, moisture levels, and tree roots can all affect where gophers dig their tunnels and how easily pest control technicians can locate and treat them.
If you have an irrigated lawn, vegetable gardens, or lots of ornamental plantings, your yard may be uniquely attractive to gophers, since there will be plenty of food and shelter present.
With this in mind, it’s important to find a pest management company that bases control approaches on your property, rather than utilizing one-size-fits-all treatment styles.
How to Avoid Paying More for Gopher Control
1. Address the Problem Early On
Whatever you do, please don’t wait until your entire lawn is covered in dirt mounds to realize you need to hire a gopher control service.
The sooner you identify a gopher problem, the sooner you can start addressing it. This can help keep costs down, reduce additional damage, and get rid of gophers quickly.
2. Remove Gophers’ Food and Shelter
Make your yard as unattractive to gophers as possible by:
- Using wire baskets or gopher-resistant barriers whenever you plant new trees, shrubs, and bulbs.
- Inspecting garden beds and landscaped areas regularly for fresh mounds and signs of new gopher damage.
- Adding gopher barriers beneath raised beds to prevent pests from damaging plants from below.
3. Consider Ongoing Maintenance
If gophers are an ongoing problem on your property, consider investing in an annual gopher protection plan.
While this may seem more expensive upfront, it reduces the likelihood of needing expensive one-off, emergency treatments.
4. Hire Smith’s Pest Management
At Smith’s, we’re your local gopher trapping professionals – we’ll help you avoid ineffective treatments and unnecessary expenses.
Our techs are experts in local conditions, which means we have decades of gopher control experience to help you make informed decisions about treatment, follow-up, and prevention.
Dealing with a Gopher Problem? Call us Today!
Gophers can cause a lot of damage in a short time, especially in Bay Area yards with soft soil, irrigation, and nearby open space.
Smith’s Pest Management has served local homeowners and businesses since 2009, with hands-on experience controlling gophers and other burrowing pests across the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast, from Marin to Monterey.
If you’re seeing fresh mounds, damaged plants, or torn-up landscaping, we can help you find the right solution for your property.
Give our team a call today to learn more about our services and get your custom quote: (408) 871-6988.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to get rid of gophers yourself or hire a professional?
DIY gopher control may cost less upfront, but supplies like traps can be expensive, and the cost of getting it wrong is high (wounded animals, repeat infestations, etc.).
While professional control may require a higher upfront fee, it’s a better value over time – especially if your gopher problem is urgent.
Is monthly gopher control worth it?
Monthly gopher control may be a good investment if your property has a persistent gopher problem.
That said, monthly service isn’t right for every homeowner. If you’re considering investing, ask your tech about the specifics of the plan and what it could offer for your property.
When should I call a professional pest control company to get rid of gophers?
Contact the pros as soon as you notice signs of a gopher infestation.
The earlier you act to get rid of gophers, the easier it will be to control the pest population and prevent further damage.
What does Smith’s gopher control service cost?
Our prices start at $150-$300 per visit for gopher and mole control services, with prices depending on lot size.
If you want to learn more about how we decide on pricing for our pest control services, check out this page.
For your peace of mind, we also offer a One-Time Gopher & Mole Service warranty.
What about monthly pest control?
If your property has persistent pest activity throughout the year, you might want to consider monthly pest control rather than one-time services.
Smith’s Pest Protection Plan for Home and Yard provides comprehensive indoor and outdoor pest protection for about $250-$350 per month, depending on the size of the home.
Learn more about the plan here.
Keep in mind that comprehensive pest protection is not the same thing as dedicated, unlimited gopher trapping. With this in mind, ask your tech whether gopher and mole control is included in your plan, what follow-up service covers, and whether additional charges apply.
