Are gophers active in winter?
Written by the Hydra Pest Control team, Arizona-licensed (license #9790)
Last reviewed:
Short answer
Yes. Pocket gophers don't hibernate. University of California IPM says they are active year-round, at all hours of the day and night, even when you don't see fresh mounds. In yards without irrigation, mound building is often heaviest in winter and spring, when moist soil is easy to dig. University of Arizona Extension notes that gopher activity increases in fall and spring.
Arizona context
Pocket gophers are present and active in all three of our branch areas: the Gila Valley, the White Mountains and Sierra Vista. What winter looks like depends on your yard. In watered lawns, flower beds and gardens, UC IPM says digging conditions are usually good year-round, so mounds can show up in any month. In snowy places like the White Mountains, gophers dig burrows in the snow, and when the snow melts, long cores of soil are left lying on the surface.
What to do about gophers in winter
- Look for fresh mounds: half-circle or fan-shaped piles of loose soil with a plugged hole off to one side. Fresh mounds are the sign of an active gopher
- Rake out or tamp down old mounds so you can tell when and where new ones appear
- After snow melts, look for long cores of soil on the ground and check young trees for chewed bark
- Check drip lines and sprinklers for chewed tubing and leaks
- Protect new plantings and raised beds with underground wire, such as hardware cloth or wire baskets around the roots
- Skip vibrating stakes, ultrasonic devices and repellent plants. UC IPM says frightening devices haven't been effective in research trials, and no repellents currently sold successfully protect plants from gophers
What gophers are doing underground
Gophers spend almost all their time underground and aren't often seen. UC IPM says a gopher's burrow system can cover 200 to 2,000 square feet. Feeding tunnels are usually 6 to 12 inches below ground, and the nest and food storage chamber can be as deep as 6 feet, depending on the soil. Gophers keep the openings to their burrow system sealed with earthen plugs.
Gophers usually live alone, except when females are caring for young or during breeding season. In areas without irrigation, breeding usually happens in late winter and early spring, with one litter a year. In irrigated sites, gophers can have up to three litters a year. University of Arizona Extension says young gophers born in spring leave their mother's burrow system after a few months, often moving into burrow systems that were dug earlier.
Winter damage to watch for
Because gophers stay active, damage can continue through the winter. UC IPM says gophers gnaw and damage flexible plastic water lines and irrigation systems, especially drip irrigation. In snow-covered areas, gophers can burrow through the snow and feed on bark several feet up a tree, although most damage to trunks and large roots happens below ground.
When professional service is warranted
Call when fresh mounds keep appearing, lawns and gardens are being undermined, or trees, roots or irrigation lines are being damaged. UC IPM says early detection is critical to prevent damage.
How Hydra handles it
Hydra provides pocket gopher control. Our Service Pros confirm it's a gopher, locate the active tunnel system, and then use trapping along with professional equipment that treats the whole tunnel system. To talk it through, call or text your local office to reach an Office Pro, or ask for a free custom quote.
Frequently asked
Do gophers hibernate?
No. University of California IPM says pocket gophers don't hibernate and are active year-round, at all hours of the day and night, even when you don't see fresh mounds.
Why are gopher mounds showing up in my yard in winter?
In yards without irrigation, UC IPM says mound building is most pronounced in winter or spring, when the soil is moist and easy to dig. In watered lawns and gardens, digging conditions are good all year, so mounds can appear at any time.
What are the long cores of dirt on my lawn after the snow melts?
Those are a sign of pocket gophers. University of California IPM says that in snowy regions, gophers create burrows in the snow, which leave long earthen cores on the surface when the snow melts.
Can gophers damage trees in winter?
Yes. In snow-covered areas, University of California IPM says gophers can feed on bark several feet up a tree by burrowing through the snow. Most damage to trunks and large roots happens below ground, so check the base of young trees too.
Related on this site
Related questions
References
Need help with gophers & wildlife?
Call or text us, we answer both. Or send us your details and we'll come back with a free custom quote.