The Danger of Gopher Poison to Pets in Southern California

Gopher bait products are among the most common causes of pet poisoning in California. Every year, hundreds of dogs and cats are treated at veterinary emergency clinics after coming into contact with gopher poison — often without their owners even knowing poison was used nearby.

Common Gopher Poisons and How They Work

Zinc phosphide is one of the most common active ingredients in gopher bait. When a gopher eats it, the phosphide reacts with stomach acid to produce phosphine gas, causing rapid organ failure. Zinc phosphide is acutely toxic to mammals — a small amount can kill a medium-sized dog.

Anticoagulant rodenticides (such as diphacinone, chlorophacinone, and second-generation compounds like brodifacoum) prevent blood clotting. They're slower-acting but equally deadly and are the primary cause of secondary poisoning deaths in pets and wildlife.

How Pets Get Poisoned

• Direct ingestion — Dogs dig up bait stations placed in gopher tunnels
• Secondary poisoning — A pet eats a dead or dying gopher that was killed by anticoagulant bait
• Bait station access — Commercially available bait stations are not fully tamper-proof against determined dogs

Why This Is Especially Dangerous in SoCal

Southern California has a very high density of both pets and gopher activity. The region's mild climate, irrigation, and abundant landscaping creates ideal gopher habitat year-round. With so many gopher control companies using bait as the primary method, and so many pet-owning households, the intersection of these factors creates a serious public health risk.

The Safe Alternative

Mechanical trapping eliminates gophers without any toxic substances. It's more work for the technician, but it's the only method that poses zero chemical risk to pets. Gopher Guys has served thousands of Southern California families using trapping only — never bait, never rodenticide.

Read our complete guide to pet-safe gopher control →