Gopher Control Cost Guide — What to Expect in Southern California

Gopher control pricing in Southern California varies widely depending on the service provider, the methods used, and what is included. This guide explains what affects cost, what you should expect to pay for professional service, and what questions to ask before hiring anyone.

What Affects the Cost of Gopher Control

Property size is the primary factor. A small residential lot requires less time and fewer traps than a large estate, horse property, or commercial site. Most residential gopher jobs involve a single yard, which is the most straightforward scenario.

Severity of infestation affects how many follow-up visits are needed to completely resolve the problem. A single recently arrived gopher with a contained tunnel system typically takes fewer visits than a long-established infestation with an extensive tunnel network.

Methods used affect cost. Trap-based service requires multiple visits to check and reset traps. Carbon monoxide treatment can resolve active tunnel sections in a single application when conditions are right. Many jobs use a combination of both for the most complete and efficient resolution.

What is included varies significantly between companies. Some quote a low initial price but charge per follow-up visit, effectively billing you every time they return. Others — including Rodent Guys — include follow-up visits within a guarantee period in the initial price, which gives you a true cost of complete resolution rather than just the cost of showing up once.

What Rodent Guys Charges

Our residential gopher control pricing starts at $60 and ranges to approximately $300 depending on property size and the extent of infestation. This includes the initial treatment and all follow-up visits within the 60-day guarantee period. There are no hidden per-visit charges during the guarantee window. If activity returns within 60 days of service completion, we return at no additional cost.

For ongoing maintenance — monthly or quarterly service agreements for properties with high reinvasion pressure from adjacent parks, golf courses, or open space — pricing is available at an affordable flat rate. Maintenance agreements do not require long-term contracts and can be cancelled any time.

DIY vs. Professional Cost

Homeowners often attempt DIY gopher control before calling a professional. Hardware store traps typically cost $10-20 each, and effective trapping requires correctly identifying active primary tunnels — something that takes experience to do consistently. Many homeowners spend $50-150 on traps and bait over several months with inconsistent results before calling a professional.

Rodenticide bait is widely available and inexpensive, but it carries serious risks for dogs, cats, and the raptors that hunt your yard through secondary poisoning. It also does not prevent reinvasion — it simply kills animals currently on your property without addressing the source population. We do not recommend poison bait for residential use for these reasons.

For most homeowners, professional service resolves the problem completely in two to four weeks for a predictable cost, versus months of DIY effort with uncertain results.

What to Ask Any Gopher Control Company

Before hiring any pest control company for gopher work, ask these questions: What methods do you use — traps, carbon monoxide, or rodenticide bait? What is included in the price — just the first visit, or follow-up visits? Is there a guarantee and what does it cover? Are your methods safe for pets and children? Getting clear answers to these questions before you hire will prevent billing surprises and help you choose the right company for your property.

Related Articles

• How Long Does Gopher Control Take?
• Trapping vs. Poison — Why Chemical-Free Control Is Better
• Monthly vs. Quarterly Gopher Control — Which Do You Need?

Call 909-599-4711 for pricing on your specific property. We serve all of Southern California.