Have you been noticing small holes popping up in your lawn or backyard this fall? This is a common indicator of a rodent infestation, but here in Atlanta GA, this could mean a variety of things. Moles, voles, and gophers all plague homeowners in our area by tarnishing their yards and killing their plants. Whether it’s your first year fighting off rodents or you’ve been a homeowner for decades, it’s important to properly prepare for fall and the perfect conditions it sets up for rodents. Read on to learn more from the experts at Active Pest Control!

When Do Gophers Come Out?

Gophers, along with moles and voles, are most active in the spring and fall. These seasons provide burrowing rodents with soil bearing optimal moisture conditions. When moles, voles, or gophers are active in your yard, you might see mounds of dirt in your lawn or holes and dying plants in your garden. What’s worse, each one of these rodent species can be attracted to your yard for different reasons:

• Gophers eat bulb and plant roots primarily, but will also resort to clovers and grass
• Moles are carnivorous and are known to eat worms, grubs, and various other insects
• Voles are the least picky of all, eating grass, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, seeds, and even bark

DIY Rodent Control for Your Yard

So, what can you do to keep rodents out of your yard? Unfortunately, given the amount of time these pests spend underground, it can be difficult to be successfully preventative. Some people we have talked to have found success using strong-scented plants as natural deterrents. You might wish to try planting thyme, sage, daffodils, or other similarly fragrant plants in your garden.

If you are already dealing with an active infestation of gophers, moles, or voles, there are a few DIY pest control methods that you can attempt to drive them out of your yard:

1. Add four tablespoons of a mixture of castor oil and dish soap to a gallon of water. Pour into holes in your lawn.
2. Create an underground fence using gopher mesh or chicken wire.
3. Set a trap with carrots, apples, or peanut butter as bait.

These are the best ways to attempt to control gophers, voles, and moles on your own, but they tend to be time-consuming and inconsistent.

Ready to Start Your Rodent Control?

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably wondering what you can do right now to make sure that rodents don’t decide to spend the winter on your property. Fortunately, the technicians at Active Pest Control have a plan for you. We train our rodent control experts to assess properties thoroughly, looking for any of the many rodent-related vulnerabilities that Atlanta GA residents face year after year. Don’t hesitate to get a head start on your fall pest control—reach out today for a free quote!