Not sure whether it's a gopher or a rat? Text a photo of the hole to (432) 319-8327 — we will tell you straight, at no charge, even if the answer is "that's not us."
(432) 319-8327Identify it by the hole — this is the fastest way
You will rarely see the animal. You will see the hole. And the hole is diagnostic.
| What you see | What it is |
|---|---|
| Fan- or crescent-shaped soil mound, with the hole plugged and off to one side | Pocket gopher |
| Open, round hole ~2 in across, no mound, clean edges | Ground squirrel |
| Holes with a raised crater or dome rim, many of them, in a group | Prairie dog colony |
| Smooth hole 2–4 in across, at a foundation, slab, patio, or shed, no mound | *Norway rat burrow — this one is us* |
| Cone-shaped mound in turf with a hole in the center | Often ants or another insect, not a rodent |
The gopher tell: a plugged hole and a fan-shaped mound
A pocket gopher never leaves its hole open. It pushes soil to the surface, forms a distinctive fan or crescent-shaped mound, and then plugs the opening with dirt. If you see mounds but cannot find an open hole, that is a gopher — near-certainly.
The ground squirrel tell: an open hole and no mound
A ground squirrel leaves a clean, open, round burrow entrance with very little soil piled around it, and you will see the animal out in daylight, often sitting upright near the hole or running along a wall or fence line.
The rat tell: it's at the building, not in the lawn
A Norway rat burrow is a smooth hole about 2–4 inches across, tight against a foundation, slab edge, patio, or shed, usually with a beaten path leading away and no fan-shaped mound. Rat activity is at night. If your holes are at the building rather than out in the lawn, and you are also hearing something at night or finding droppings indoors, that is our work. See Norway rats and rat control.
What lives around Odessa
Pocket gophers
Stocky, short-legged burrowing rodents with large front claws, small eyes and ears, and external fur-lined cheek pouches (the "pockets"). They live almost entirely underground, feeding on roots and plants from below, and are essentially never seen. In West Texas, the yellow-faced pocket gopher (Cratogeomys castanops) is the species most associated with this region.
What they damage: lawns and turf, garden and landscape roots, irrigation and drip lines, and tree and shrub root systems. Their tunneling can also undermine flatwork and cause settling.
Ground squirrels
Small to medium ground-dwelling squirrels, active in daylight, that live in open burrows and are frequently seen sitting upright, running along walls, or crossing open ground. Species that occur in West Texas include the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), the spotted ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma), and, in rockier terrain, the rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus).
What they damage: gardens, landscaping, and turf; burrows under sidewalks, patios, slabs, and outbuildings; and occasionally wiring and stored items when they get into a shed or a vehicle.
Black-tailed prairie dogs
Colonial burrowing rodents (Cynomys ludovicianus) that live in groups — a colony or "town" — with distinctive raised crater or dome rims around burrow entrances, and sentries that bark a warning call. They are a West Texas fixture, most often on larger acreage, vacant land, and open range rather than inside a subdivision.
Important: prairie dogs are a separate matter with its own considerations, and a colony on or near a property is not a DIY situation. Check current Texas Parks and Wildlife Department classification and applicable rules before taking action.
Where these two problems overlap — and where we come in
There is one genuine overlap worth knowing about:
A burrow under a structure becomes an entry point. When a ground squirrel or gopher tunnels beneath a shed, an outbuilding, a patio, a slab edge, or a manufactured home's skirting, it opens a void underneath — and that void is exactly what a rat or mouse will use to get under and then into the structure.
So the two jobs are complementary: somebody handles the burrowing animal, and the building still needs to be sealed so nothing else exploits the opening it left. Sealing the structure is our work: rodent exclusion & proofing.
And this is the part worth knowing: we regularly find that a homeowner convinced they have gophers actually has Norway rats burrowing at the foundation, or a mix of both. The hole tells you which, and it is worth being certain before anyone spends money on the wrong animal.
What we do and do not handle
What we do:
- Rats and mice — identification, trapping, and removal
- Sealing your home, shed, garage, or outbuilding so rodents cannot get in
- Cleanup and decontamination of droppings and nesting
- Telling you honestly, free of charge, whether what you have is even our problem
What we do not do: We do not service ground squirrels, pocket gophers, or prairie dogs. We will refer you to a wildlife-removal specialist for these animals.
If it turns out to be a burrowing yard animal, we will tell you so and point you in the right direction rather than sell you something that will not help.
Frequently asked questions
What's digging holes in my Odessa yard?
Look at the hole and the mound. A fan- or crescent-shaped soil mound with the hole plugged shut is a pocket gopher; a clean, open, round hole about two inches across with no mound is a ground squirrel; many holes with raised crater rims in a group is a prairie dog colony; and a smooth two-to-four-inch hole tight against a foundation or shed with no mound is a Norway rat burrow.
How do I tell a gopher mound from a ground squirrel hole?
A pocket gopher pushes soil into a distinctive fan or crescent shape and then plugs the entrance with dirt, so you see mounds but no open hole. A ground squirrel leaves an open, round burrow entrance with little or no soil piled around it — and unlike a gopher, you will actually see a ground squirrel out in daylight.
Are these holes in my yard from rats?
Usually not, if they are out in the lawn. Rat burrows are tight against a foundation, slab edge, patio, or shed rather than in open turf, they are smooth-walled and two to four inches across with no fan-shaped mound, and rat activity happens at night. If you are also hearing noise at night or finding droppings indoors, that points to rats rather than a yard-digging animal.
Do you get rid of gophers and ground squirrels in Odessa?
No. We specialize in rats and mice: identifying them, trapping them out, and sealing the building so they cannot return. Burrowing yard animals are a different discipline, so we will identify what you have at no charge and tell you honestly if it is outside what we do rather than sell you a treatment that will not solve it.
A gopher tunneled under my shed. Is that a rodent problem now?
It can become one. A tunnel under a shed, patio, slab edge, or manufactured home creates a void underneath, and that void is exactly the opening a rat or mouse will use to get under and then into the structure. Sealing the structure so nothing else exploits it is worth doing regardless of who handles the digging animal.
Are prairie dogs a problem I can deal with myself?
No, and it should not be treated as a DIY project. Prairie dogs are colonial animals and a colony on or near a property carries its own considerations. Check current Texas Parks and Wildlife Department classification and applicable rules before taking action. Get species-specific advice before anyone takes action.
I have holes in the yard AND noises in the wall. What's going on?
Most likely two separate things, and it is worth confirming both. Yard holes out in the turf point to a burrowing animal, while noise inside a wall or ceiling points to rats or mice that have already gotten into the structure. We can identify the indoor problem, seal the building, and tell you what the yard holes are so you are not paying twice for the wrong diagnosis.
Main pages Rodent control in Odessa, TX·Odessa rodent identification·How we seal a building