Burrowing Pest Control in Spokane & Our Washington and Idaho Service Areas

Pocket gophers, ground squirrels, moles, and voles require different approaches. Backwoods Pest Control offers practical education, pocket-gopher probing and baiting, and select GopherX treatments. Our goal is ongoing management suited to your property—not a promise of elimination.

Start with the right pest

• Pocket gophers: We offer probing and below-ground baiting of active tunnel systems. Homeowners willing to monitor activity and carefully follow the product label may also manage their own properties.
• Ground squirrels: Species identification, burrow access, nearby structures, and site conditions determine appropriate options. Pocket-gopher bait instructions do not apply to ground squirrels.
• Moles: Moles are not rodents. We emphasize education and options appropriate to your state; pocket-gopher bait instructions do not apply to moles.
• Voles: Vegetation management and protection of vulnerable plants are useful starting points. Their shallow runways require a different approach from deeper-burrowing pests.

Prefer to try managing pocket gophers yourself?

Professional burrowing-pest management is a significant expense. We encourage homeowners who can safely do the work to learn how to identify activity, locate tunnels, apply the labeled amount of bait, and monitor over time. Consistency matters, but retreatment must follow the product label rather than automatically adding bait whenever a new mound appears.

For Idaho customers: Available methods and requirements differ between Idaho and Washington. Some trapping options may be appropriate in Idaho, depending on the species and location. Identify the animal, follow wildlife rules, and use pesticides only as their labels permit. Our GopherX safety and site requirements apply in both states.

Read our Pocket-Gopher DIY Guide: find tunnels, measure bait, and monitor activity.

Pocket-Gopher Probing & Baiting Prices

• Initial visit: $400 for up to 90 minutes on site.
• Recurring visit: $350 for up to 60 minutes on site.

Prices are per visit, plus mileage and applicable taxes. Mileage is quoted before booking. Included time covers on-site inspection, setup, treatment, and cleanup. These are flat visit prices; finishing sooner does not reduce the charge. The allowance does not cover unlimited acreage or guarantee elimination. Additional work requires your approval.

Want to try managing pocket gophers yourself first? Start with our DIY guide.

GopherX Treatment Pricing

$1,250 per visit for up to two hours on site, plus $250 for each additional planned on-site hour. Mileage and applicable taxes are additional.

For example: up to three hours is $1,500; up to five hours is $2,000; and up to eight hours is $2,750, before mileage and applicable taxes. Your time allowance and flat price are agreed upon before booking. Longer visits and extensions depend on scheduling and site suitability.

Included on-site service time starts when we begin inspection or unloading and includes unloading, setup, treatment, movement between areas, cleanup, and reloading. Travel and off-site preparation do not reduce this allowance. Finishing sooner does not reduce the price.

Scheduling and availability: GopherX treatments are performed by our owner, Brian, and depend on his availability. These visits require specialized equipment and a dedicated appointment. Scheduling and additional on-site hours must be confirmed in advance; same-day extensions may not be available.

Equipment access required: Our GopherX equipment is carried on a side-by-side utility vehicle. Gates, openings, and access routes must provide at least five feet of clear width, with adequate overhead clearance and room to maneuver. Terrain must allow safe vehicle access. A five-foot opening alone does not guarantee accessibility; we review access conditions before scheduling.

Ongoing Management, Not Guaranteed Elimination

We do not guarantee elimination of pocket gophers, ground squirrels, moles, or voles. Activity may continue or return, and some properties require management over multiple seasons or years. Each visit is separately scheduled and charged. Follow-up treatments are not included in a previous visit's price. Burrowing-pest services do not include the general pest-control guarantee or free retreatments.

Contact us to discuss pocket-gopher probing or GopherX service. For mice or rats in and around buildings, see our Rodent Control page.

GopherX Safety & Property Preparation

GopherX delivers carbon monoxide into accessible burrow systems. Carbon monoxide is hazardous to people and animals. Results depend on the animal, tunnel system, soil conditions, access, and our ability to identify and manage openings. This service is not appropriate for every property.

Our precautionary policy applies to every GopherX treatment in Washington and Idaho. We may limit or decline treatment near occupied buildings, homes, schools, playgrounds, public gathering areas, or other locations where gas could expose people or animals. We follow manufacturer instructions and applicable requirements and evaluate each site before treatment.

We may decline treatment where burrows extend beneath permanent structures with very low clearance—such as low decks, platforms, or fixed ground-level installations—or where openings cannot be safely reached and managed. Equipment access does not automatically make a tunnel system suitable for treatment.

How to prepare your property

• Complete the mowing, vegetation removal, and other preparation agreed upon before your appointment so activity and openings can be located.
• Unlock gates and provide the agreed clear access route, parking, unloading space, and room to maneuver.
• Tell us about buried utilities, irrigation, septic components, weak ground, steep slopes, and other hazards. We must be able to work without damaging these features.
• Keep people, pets, and livestock away from the work area as directed. Tell us about connected or neighboring burrows and nearby occupied areas.
• Continue the agreed monitoring and property upkeep between visits. Customer participation is an essential part of ongoing management.

Burrowing Pest Service FAQs

Will one visit eliminate the problem?

Most likely not. Activity may continue or return, and management may require repeated visits over multiple seasons or years. We do not guarantee elimination. Each visit is separately scheduled, approved, and charged; future visits and retreatments are not included in an earlier visit's price.

Does the included time cover my whole property?

No. It covers the agreed amount of on-site service time, including inspection and treatment, rather than unlimited acreage or a guaranteed number of burrows. We prioritize accessible active areas. The condition and size of the property, terrain, vegetation, and tunnel access affect how much work can be completed.

Can I try managing pocket gophers myself?

Yes, if you can safely do the work and follow the applicable product label and wildlife rules. Careful identification, correct below-ground placement, and consistent monitoring matter. Our DIY guidance is specific to pocket gophers; do not use those baiting instructions for moles, voles, or ground squirrels.

Are inspections free?

Our normal inspection and estimate process remains free. We review the pest, access, and preparation before scheduling specialized treatment. Contact us to discuss your property and the appropriate next step.

What happens if my property is not ready for a scheduled GopherX treatment?

If a dispatched GopherX treatment visit cannot proceed because agreed access or preparation requirements were not met, a $350 unsuccessful-visit fee, plus applicable taxes, applies. Examples include a locked gate, an access route that does not meet the agreed clearance, or required mowing or clearing that was not completed. There is no additional mileage charge on this fee.

This differs from our normal $35 missed-appointment fee because a GopherX visit requires specialized equipment preparation, transportation, and reserved owner time. The $350 fee replaces the normal missed-appointment fee and the treatment charge for that unsuccessful visit; these charges are not added together. We explain the requirements and fee before booking.

This fee does not apply when we postpone the service, or when you accurately described the property and completed the agreed preparation but we discover an unexpected condition that makes treatment unsuitable.

What if weather or site conditions prevent treatment?

We may postpone or decline treatment when conditions are unsafe or unsuitable. If Backwoods postpones for those reasons, we do not charge a missed-appointment or unsuccessful-visit fee. Contact us before your visit if access or conditions have changed.

What information will I receive after the visit?

We document the areas inspected and treated, observed activity, access or treatment limitations, and recommended next steps. Those observations help guide future visits and your monitoring between services.

Contact Backwoods Pest Control to discuss your property or request an estimate.