Burrowing Vertebrate Control
in Sacramento
Home – Burrowing Pests
When Something’s Tearing Up Your Yard from Below
You work hard to keep your property looking good. But just when the grass starts coming in thick and green, something starts tunneling underneath it. Holes appear. Mounds of dirt show up overnight. Plants get uprooted. And suddenly your carefully kept yard looks like it lost a fight with a backhoe.
Whether it’s gophers, moles, voles, or ground squirrels, these burrowing pests can cause serious damage to lawns, gardens, and landscaping—not to mention trip hazards for people, pets, and even livestock.
And the worst part? They rarely show their faces, but their destruction speaks volumes.
Tiny Tunneling Pests? Yeah, We Handle Those.
You’re not imagining things—burrowing pests can cause thousands of dollars in damage if left unchecked. Their intricate tunnel systems weaken root structures, kill plants, and leave dangerous soft spots in your soil. One misstep in a gopher hole and you could be dealing with a twisted ankle…or worse, a vet bill.
At Pest Control Center, we’ve been dealing with these underground invaders across Sacramento and the surrounding areas for nearly four decades. We don’t just toss in a trap and hope for the best—we assess the situation, identify the species, and use targeted techniques that actually work. No guesswork. No generic fixes.
Burrowing Pest Control, Done Right
We offer specialized treatment for:
🐿 Gophers
- Behavior: Active year-round, day and night, with rest periods. Not strictly nocturnal.
- Signs of Presence: Mounds, pop holes and garden or crop damage.
- Impact: Damage lawns, gardens, and orchards by eating roots and creating mounds that interfere with mowing or machinery. Gophers can also cause soil erosion and destabilize foundations in severe infestations.
- Treatment Methods: Trapping, baiting and fumigation.
🐁 Moles
- Behavior: Active year-round, day or night, with reduced surface activity during extreme cold, heat, or drought. Most active during quiet periods (early morning, late evenings).
- Signs of Presence: Mounds and surface tunnels keeping roots in tact.
- Impact: Tunneling uproots plants, disrupts irrigation, and creates unsightly mounds that interfere with mowing. Moles can damage turf and landscaping, making soil soft and uneven.
- Treatment Methods: Trapping, baiting, fumigation, and lawn insect treatments to reduce mole attraction.
🐾 Ground squirrels
- Behavior: Diurnal, active during the day. Hibernate in winter in colder areas, estivate in late summer to escape heat.
- Signs of Presence: Burrow openings, runways, squirrel sightings.
- Impact: Damage crops, orchards, and lawns by foraging on seeds and plants. Burrows pose tripping hazards and can weaken foundations or irrigation systems.
- Treatment Methods: Trapping, baiting and fumigation.
🐀 Voles
- Behavior: Active year-round, primarily at dawn and dusk. Voles can be nocturnal or diurnal depending on conditions.
- Signs of Presence: Runways, burrow holes, and plant damage.
- Impact: Voles can cause extensive damage to lawns, gardens, and orchards by eating grasses, roots, and bark. Girding can kill trees and shrubs, and root damage affects plant health. Rapid population growth can lead to severe, sudden damage, especially under snow or mulch cover.
- Treatment Methods: Trapping and bating.
Each job is quoted individually because no two yards (or infestations) are the same. We’ll come out, inspect your property, and give you a no-pressure estimate—so you can stop wondering what’s tunneling under your feet and start enjoying your outdoor space again.
More Services
Navigate our full list of services.
Dig, Dug, Done!
Ready to reclaim your yard? Schedule your inspection today.
📍 Sacramento Office: (916) 344-4400
📍 El Dorado Hills Office: (530) 622-4810
Bugs Bugging You?
Request a free pest inspection today and let's get your space back to pest-free living.
Make Appointment
Frequently Asked Questions
Pest Control Center can assist with burrowing animals like gophers, moles, and ground squirrels common in Sacramento and the Foothills. Schedule a free pests evaluation, and our licensed technicians will identify the animal and recommend a customized treatment plan.
Gophers and moles can ruin lawns, gardens, and tree roots with their tunnels, while ground squirrels may chew irrigation lines. Our free pests evaluation identifies damage, and our licensed technicians perform customized treatments to protect your property.