How Long Does Gopher Control Take?

This is the most common question we get after a customer calls. The honest answer is that most residential gopher jobs reach full resolution in two to four weeks, but the actual timeline depends on several factors specific to your property. Here is what determines how long your job will take and what you should expect at each stage.

What Happens on the First Visit

On the initial service visit, your technician walks the property to assess the extent of activity — how many mounds are present, how fresh they are, and what the tunnel layout looks like. This assessment determines whether trapping, carbon monoxide, or a combination of both is most appropriate for your situation. Traps are set in active primary tunnels on the first visit. Carbon monoxide is applied when the technician determines it is the most effective approach for your specific property conditions.

You will typically see results — meaning no new mound activity — within the first few days after the initial visit if the primary tunnels were correctly identified and treated. Gophers that were not in the treated tunnel sections may continue to push mounds for a short time while trap checks continue.

The Two to Four Week Window

Most residential properties with a single active gopher or a small tunnel system reach full resolution within two weeks. Properties with multiple active gophers, extensive tunnel networks, or high reinvasion pressure from adjacent sources typically take three to four weeks. During this period your technician makes follow-up visits to check traps, reset them as needed, and apply additional carbon monoxide treatment if warranted.

The service continues until no new activity is observed — meaning no new mounds and no trap disturbance — for a sufficient observation period. At that point the job is considered complete and your 60-day guarantee period begins.

What Makes Jobs Take Longer

Several factors extend the timeline beyond the typical two to four weeks. Properties adjacent to golf courses, parks, schools, or open space have continuous reinvasion pressure that requires more follow-up. Properties with very large tunnel systems built up over months or years of untreated activity take longer to clear completely. Hillside properties with complex terrain can have tunnel systems that are harder to fully map and treat. Properties where a neighbor has an untreated active gopher population can see reinvasion mid-treatment.

If your job is taking longer than expected, it almost always comes down to one of these factors — not a treatment failure. Your technician will discuss what they are seeing and adjust the approach accordingly.

The 60-Day Guarantee

Once your job is complete, your 60-day guarantee period begins. If new activity appears within the guarantee window, we return at no additional cost. This covers both the tail end of the original infestation and reinvasion from adjacent properties during the guarantee period.

For properties with ongoing pressure from a nearby park, golf course, or open space, monthly or quarterly maintenance agreements are available after the initial service. These keep your property continuously protected without long-term contracts.

How to Speed Up the Process

The best thing you can do to help your technician resolve the job quickly is to water your lawn normally during treatment. Active irrigation keeps tunnel systems in use and makes trapping more effective. Do not fill in mounds or disturb tunnels between visits — your technician needs to see fresh activity to assess progress accurately.

Related Articles

• How to Tell if You Have One Gopher or Many
• Gopher Control Cost Guide — What to Expect in Southern California
• Why Gophers Keep Coming Back After Treatment
• Why Pet-Safe Gopher Control Matters

Call 909-599-4711 to schedule service. We serve all of Southern California with same-week appointments available.