Gophers are a year-round concern for homeowners in Oklahoma. These small burrowing rodents can cause significant damage to lawns, gardens, and landscapes, often without being seen. Many people notice new mounds of soil in their yards during certain months and wonder why gopher activity seems to come and go. Gophers never really take a break; their activity simply shifts with the seasons.
Understanding how weather and soil conditions affect gopher behavior can help you protect your yard more effectively. Here is what Oklahoma homeowners should know about gopher patterns throughout the year and how Priority Pest & Mosquito Solutions can help keep them under control.
Understanding Gopher Behavior
Gophers are solitary, underground animals that live in extensive burrow systems. Their behavior is influenced by temperature, moisture levels, and the availability of food sources like roots and bulbs. When conditions above ground are comfortable, they work closer to the surface. When it becomes too hot or dry, they move deeper underground to stay cool and hydrated.
Because Oklahoma’s weather changes dramatically from one season to the next, gopher activity tends to follow a predictable cycle.
Spring: Peak Tunneling and Breeding Season
Spring is the most active time of year for gophers in Oklahoma. As the soil warms and new vegetation starts to grow, food becomes abundant. This is also the breeding season, so gopher populations increase rapidly.
Homeowners are most likely to notice:
Fresh mounds of soil appearing overnight
Raised ridges in lawns and garden beds
Rapidly expanding areas of damaged turf
Heavy spring rains can drive gophers closer to the surface, making their tunnels more visible. Early spring is the best time to schedule an inspection or treatment, as stopping new burrows early prevents larger infestations later in the year.
Summer: Deep Burrows and Hidden Activity
During the hot Oklahoma summer, gophers retreat to deeper soil layers where temperatures are cooler and moisture is more stable. Their surface activity slows, which can give the impression that they have left. In reality, they are still feeding on roots and expanding their underground tunnels.
Homeowners who irrigate regularly may actually attract gophers, since watered lawns provide both moisture and fresh plant growth. For this reason, summer monitoring remains important even if new mounds are not visible. Priority Pest & Mosquito Solutions uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to detect and address subsurface activity before it causes extensive damage.
Fall: Renewed Surface Activity
When cooler temperatures return in the fall, gophers become more active near the surface again. They start to store food and prepare their burrows for winter. This renewed digging can result in sudden new mounds or tunnel openings appearing across lawns and garden spaces.
Fall is an ideal time to apply preventive treatments because it reduces the population before winter sets in. It also limits the amount of food and shelter available for gophers to survive the colder months.
Winter: Subtle but Steady Activity
Unlike some animals, gophers do not hibernate. In Oklahoma’s relatively mild winters, they remain active beneath the frost line. They continue to feed on plant roots, bulbs, and shrubs, even though surface activity may appear minimal.
While you may not see new mounds during the coldest months, damage can still occur below ground. Scheduling a winter inspection can identify these hidden issues and make it easier to treat burrows before gophers become active again in early spring.
Year-Round Protection Makes the Difference
Each season brings its own challenges when it comes to gopher control. Understanding when and why gophers are most active helps homeowners time their prevention and treatments effectively. However, since activity never completely stops, the most reliable protection comes from consistent, year-round monitoring.
Working with a professional service ensures that treatments are applied at the right time and in the right way. Priority Pest & Mosquito Solutions uses proven methods tailored to Oklahoma’s soil and weather conditions, providing long-term protection for your property.
Whether you are seeing fresh mounds in the spring or hidden damage after a dry summer, our team can help. Call (405) 287-2937 or request your free estimate online to learn more about our gopher control solutions in OKC and the surrounding areas!