Fresh dirt mounds, raised ridges, soft spots under your feet — two underground pests cause this Bay Area lawn damage. Knowing which one you have is the first step to fixing it.

Pocket gophers are among the most damaging lawn and garden pests in the Bay Area. Their underground tunnel systems can destroy root systems, break irrigation lines, and undermine landscape stability.

Many Bay Area homeowners lump gophers, moles, and voles together. They’re actually very different animals with different behaviors and very different control approaches.