How to Identify & Control Burrowing Pests in Walnut Creek, CA

Last Modified on January 27, 2025 by Zachary Smith

The Pests Stop Here!

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Walnut Creek, CA, is a beautiful place to live and play.

From the hills of Mount Diablo hills to the Boundary Oak Golf Course, there’s a lot to love in this area.

Unfortunately, burrowing pests love it, too.

For over twenty years, Smith’s Pest Management has been helping Walnut Creek-area residents eliminate burrowing pests. We’ve compiled our top tips into this simple guide.

Common Burrowing Pests in Walnut Creek, CA

1. Ground Squirrels

ground squirrel walnut creek

How to Identify Them

Ground squirrels are medium-sized rodents with gray-brown fur,  bushy tails, and small ears.

Adults typically measure about 9-11 inches, with an additional 5-9 inches for the tail.

Behavior and Diet

  • Ground squirrels are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day.
  • They are primarily herbivores and love to eat seeds, nuts, fruits, and green vegetation.

Common Species in Walnut Creek, CA

  • California Ground Squirrel

Damage They Cause

  • Ground squirrels dig burrows that damage landscaping and chew irrigation lines.

Seasonal Activity

  • Most active during spring and summer.
  • Burrows remain a danger year-round.
  • May hibernate during the winter depending on climate.

How to Get Rid of Them

  • Traps
  • Barriers like fencing
  • Habitat modification to reduce food sources
  • Baiting
  • Check our guide for more tips

2. Gophers

gopher

How to Identify Them

Gophers are small rodents with stout bodies, stocky builds, strong front legs, and large incisor teeth.

Behavior and Diet

  • Gophers spend much of their lives underground. They feed on roots, bulbs, and plants.

Common Species in Walnut Creek, CA

  • Pocket Gopher

Damage They Cause

  • Crescent-shaped mounds of dirt.
  • Damage to lawns, gardens, and fields.

Seasonal Activity

  • Active year-round but more noticeable during wetter seasons.

How to Get Rid of Them

  • Trapping
  • Underground barriers

3. Voles

meadow vole walnut creek

How to Identify Them

Voles are small rodents resembling mice with rounder, stockier bodies, shorter tails, and blunt snouts.

They are typically 4-7 inches long, including the tail.

Behavior and Diet

  • Voles create shallow burrow systems just below the surface.
  • They eat grasses, roots, bulbs, seeds, and stems.

Common Species in Walnut Creek, CA

  • California Vole

Damage They Cause

  • Gnaw damage to tree bark, roots, and plants
  • Tunnels destroy lawns and weaken root systems

Seasonal Activity

  • Active year-round

How to Get Rid of Them

  • Trapping
  • Reducing ground cover
  • Applying repellents

4. Moles

mole walnut creek

How to Identify Them

Moles are small mammals with velvety fur, long pointed snouts, and large front feet.

They lack visible ears and have tiny eyes.

Behavior and Diet

  • Moles primarily feed on insects, earthworms, and grubs.

Common Species in Walnut Creek, CA

  • Broad-Footed Mole

Damage They Cause

  • Can damage gardens and lawns with tunneling activities
  • Burrowing disrupts roots and creates ridges on lawns

Seasonal Activity

  • Active year-round
  • Particularly busy during the spring and fall

How to Get Rid of Them

  • Trapping
  • Professional pest control services

Signs of Burrowing Pests on Your Property

gopher damage walnut creek

Dirt Mounds

Irregularly shaped mounds with fan- or crescent-shaped piles of soil often indicate gopher activity.

Mole mounds are circular and volcano-shaped.

Raised Ridges in Lawns

Surface ridges or sunken tracks across your lawn may indicate mole tunnels beneath the soil surface.

Brown or Dead Patches of Grass

Tunneling can disrupt root systems and irrigation, leading to areas of dying or dead grass.

Visible Holes or Entry Points

Gophers often leave holes surrounded by soil, while smaller holes may indicate other small burrowers, like mice.

Gnaw Marks or Chewed Plants

Damage to plant stems, bulbs, or roots is a sign of gophers or other burrowing rodents enjoying a meal in your lawn or garden.

Unstable Soil or Sinking Areas

Soil collapse or loose patches may suggest extensive underground tunneling.

How to Keep the Pests Away

Pay Attention to Your Landscaping

  • Aerate and maintain your lawn regularly to keep pests away.
  • Don’t over-water; wet soil attracts gophers, moles, and insects.
  • Remove dense vegetation or overgrown areas that could give burrowing pests a place to hide.
  • Keep a buffer zone of hardcore between natural areas (like fields) and your landscaped areas.
  • Keep your grass mowed to reduce ground cover.
  • Get rid of fallen fruit promptly.

Install Fencing and Barriers

  • Install underground barriers like wire mesh or hardware cloth around your garden beds and yard edges.
  • Ensure the barrier goes at least 24 inches deep to stop pests like gophers and moles from digging.
  • You can also use raised garden beds with protective hardware cloth lining to keep pests away from your plants.

Protect Your Plants

  • Place metal or plastic sleeves around the base of plants to prevent girdling.
  • If you’re planting new trees or ornamental shrubs, place their root balls in gnaw-proof “gopher baskets” before putting them in the ground.

Consider Natural Deterrents

  • Consider using natural repellents like castor oil to keep burrowing pests away.
  • Keep in mind that while these can work, they’re only effective occasionally, and you’ll usually need to use them frequently for them to have an impact.

Legal Considerations

When managing pests, it’s super important to follow local regulations.

Some areas restrict methods like chemical treatments and trapping in certain areas or within certain distances of homes and other buildings.

Other cities require permits to trap or relocate animals (or they don’t allow it at all).

If you hire a pest control expert, your city may have guidelines for how they need to be certified and trained.

Walnut Creek, for example, has an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) certification policy.

If you live in a planned community, check HOA guidelines, which may limit fencing, visible deterrents, or other measures.

When to Call Smith’s Pest Management

smith's team walnut creek

How to know when it’s time to call the professionals:

1. Multiple Sightings

If you’re noticing rodents in different parts of your property or spotting them during the day, it could be a sign of a severe infestation that needs expert attention.

2. DIY Methods Have Failed

Have you tried traps, sprays, or other home remedies with no luck?

When these solutions don’t work, it might be time to hire pest control specialists to handle the problem effectively.

3. Health Concerns

Rodents carry diseases that could harm your family or pets.

Contacting a professional is the safest option if you’re worried about potential health risks.

4. Property Damage

Chewed wires, gnawed furniture, or holes in your walls are clear indicators of rodent activity. Don’t wait—tackle the problem quickly before the damage worsens!

Say Goodbye to Burrowing Pests with Smith’s Pest Management!

Don’t let unwanted pests take over your lawn or garden.

Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we offer tailored, eco-friendly pest control services to help customers in Walnut Creek get rid of burrowing pests quickly and efficiently.

Ready to learn more or request your quote? Contact us today at (408) 871-6988!

Are DIY pest control methods effective against burrowing pests?

DIY pest control may provide temporary relief but often fails to address the root problem. Professional pest management offers long-term solutions by targeting pests at their source.

Are burrowing pests dangerous to my home?

Burrowing pests can damage your lawn, landscaping, and foundations with their tunnels and may chew on wiring, leading to costly repairs.

Are there any eco-friendly solutions for controlling burrowing pests?

Yes! At Smith’s Pest Management, we provide eco-friendly pest control solutions that effectively manage burrowing pests while protecting your property and the environment.

zach smith

Author Bio: Zach Smith

Landscape Pro Turned Gopher Pro: Owner, Zach Smith, graduate of Cal Poly’s Horticulture program worked nine years as a landscape professional- dealing with gophers, moles, and ground squirrels and was quickly recruited by other local gardeners. Fast forward to the past 15+ years, where Zach and his team trap and remove burrowing pests from residential, municipal and commercial properties throughout the San Francisco Bay area, from Marin to Monterey. Learn more about Zach and his team here.

team photo cropped