Gophers might be tiny, but they know how to stir up big trouble on school campuses.
These little critters can cause tripping hazards, tearing up sports fields, and messing with landscaping.
And when it comes to keeping students safe while being environmentally responsible, schools need better options than harmful rodenticides.
That’s where we come in! At Smith’s Pest Management, we’ve been the go-to experts in the Bay Area for safe, effective gopher control on school grounds.
Stick around—we’re sharing the best tips to keep gophers at bay and protect your campus.
Key Takeaways
- Gophers create tripping hazards, wreak havoc on landscaping, and mess up irrigation systems on school grounds.
- California restricts rodenticide use in and around schools, and there’s been a push for safer and more eco-friendly pest control methods.
- Smith’s Pest Management employs CO₂ fumigation, a nontoxic and effective method that eliminates gophers and complies with the state’s safety regulations.
Why Gophers Are a Challenge for Schools
Pocket gophers are sneaky little diggers, creating underground tunnel systems that often go unnoticed—until dirt mounds start popping up in your garden or field.
Here’s why their activity can be a problem:
- Safety Hazards: Those hidden tunnels can create soft spots in the ground, which means twisted ankles or injuries for kids playing sports or running around.
- Damaged Landscaping & Irrigation: Gophers love snacking on plant roots, leaving you with dead plants, brown grass, and expensive replanting. Their burrows also mess up irrigation systems, causing dry spots and soil erosion.
- Pest Problems: Once gophers move out, their tunnels might attract snakes, ground squirrels, or other unwanted critters.
Since gophers live underground and multiply quickly, catching the problem early is the best way to keep them under control!
Laws & Regulations to Consider
California has strict guidelines regarding pest control in schools, and many of those laws emphasize student safety and environmental protection.
Some of the key regulations include:
- The Healthy Schools Act (HSA) – Requires schools to prioritize safer pest control methods and notify staff and parents before applying pesticides.
- Restrictions on Rodenticides – Many second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are restricted due to their impact on wildlife and the environment.
- Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – Schools are encouraged to follow Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, which focus on prevention and non-toxic control methods before resorting to pesticides.
Because of these regulations, schools must use alternative, environmentally responsible methods to manage gopher populations.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) & Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) for Gophers
California schools must follow IPM guidelines, which emphasize prevention, monitoring, and targeted treatments over widespread pesticide use.
The state has also adopted Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) as a long-term strategy to reduce reliance on chemical controls and minimize environmental harm.
To control gophers, schools can use these simple approaches:
- Regular Monitoring: Spotting gopher activity early can stop infestations before they spread.
- Habitat Modification: Keep grass short and install underground barriers to make school grounds less appealing to gophers.
- Non-Toxic Control Methods: When action is needed, focus on safe, student- and wildlife-friendly options.
With California moving away from rodenticides, schools are increasingly using non-toxic, humane methods for gopher control.
How to Safely Get Rid of Gophers in a School Yard
At Smith’s Pest Management, we follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) principles to control gophers safely and effectively.
Our approach focuses on monitoring, non-toxic treatment, and long-term prevention to keep school grounds safe while minimizing environmental impact.
1. Monitoring & Assessment
Before taking action, we evaluate gopher activity, identify active tunnels, and determine the most effective, least invasive treatment plan—following IPM strategies to prioritize prevention and targeted control.
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Fumigation
Our preferred method for eliminating gophers is carbon dioxide (CO₂) fumigation, which aligns with SPM goals by reducing chemical use and preventing harm to non-target wildlife.
- Non-toxic & Safe for Schools – CO₂ leaves no harmful residues, making it a safer alternative to rodenticides.
- Quick & Effective – CO₂ displaces oxygen in gopher tunnels, humanely and efficiently eliminating pests.
- Minimal Disruption – No visible traps, bait stations, or impact on school activities.
- Compliance with State Regulations – Meets California’s safety and environmental guidelines for school pest control.
3. Sustainable Prevention Strategies
Gophers can return, so we help schools use long-term, eco-friendly prevention methods to avoid repeated treatments.
These include:
- Regularly check for new gopher activity to catch it early.
- Make the area less appealing by keeping grass short and adjusting irrigation.
- Use physical barriers like underground mesh or root guards to block burrowing in problem areas.
By integrating IPM and SPM principles, we ensure that schools remain gopher-free using methods that are safe, sustainable, and compliant with California regulations.
Trust Smith’s Pest Management for Safe & Eco-Friendly Gopher Control in Schools
If your San Francisco Bay Area school has a gopher problem, Smith’s Pest Management can help!
We offer safe, eco-friendly solutions to keep your campus gopher-free. From Marin to Monterey, we specialize in sustainable pest control without harmful chemicals.
Contact us today at (408) 871-6988 to learn more about our school gopher control services or request a free quote!
What attracts gophers to schoolyards?
Gophers are drawn to areas with soft soil, abundant vegetation, and consistent water sources. Well-maintained school lawns, gardens, and sports fields provide ideal conditions for them to tunnel and feed on plant roots.
How can you recognize a gopher infestation?
The most obvious sign of gophers is fresh mounds of dirt shaped like crescent moons or horseshoes. You may also notice wilting plants, loose soil, or sudden dips in the ground where tunnels have collapsed.
How to prevent gophers in a schoolyard?
While CO₂ fumigation removes existing gophers, preventing new ones from moving in is just as important. Schools can reduce gopher activity by:
- Regular Monitoring: Groundskeepers should routinely inspect fields for fresh gopher mounds and act quickly if they detect activity.
- Habitat Modification—Gophers thrive in certain conditions. However, keeping grass short, reducing excess irrigation, and installing underground barriers can make school grounds less attractive to them.
- Physical Barriers – Schools can install underground mesh or gopher-proof fencing in high-risk areas to block burrowing.
By combining these methods with regular pest management, schools can gradually reduce gopher populations while minimizing their environmental impact.
