Ground Squirrels
By Sandra Todd
Ground Squirrels are classified as non-game mammals by the California Fish and Game Code. As such, they may be controlled in any legal manner. However, their range overlaps in some areas with other animals classified as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, such as the Mohave ground squirrel, the San Joaquin antelope squirrel, kit fox, kangaroo rats, the riparian brush rabbit, the riparian wood rat, as well as some endangered amphibians and reptiles. These animals are protected. As their existence could be impacted by some squirrel control techniques, it is important to contact your county agricultural commissioner for additional information before using such methods as fumigation and baiting.
What You Can Do
- Fumigation is best used during spring when the soil is moist, which helps seal gasses in the burrow system. * Do not use fumigants where a fire hazard exists, as flames may be produced.
- Baiting is best done during summer and fall. Baiting is to be done during the daylight hours using an EPA approved bait for Ground Squirrel control.
- Trapping can be done all year and is practical for control when squirrel numbers are low to moderate. Live-catch traps are not recommended because they present the problem of how to dispose of the live animals.
- Remove brush piles and debris to make an area less desirable to ground squirrels.
- Shooting squirrels with a .22 rifle may provide some control in rural areas where ground squirrel population is low. It is not recommended because of the danger to people and non-target species.
What You Can’t Do
- Jaw traps are illegal to use in Santa Clara County and most of the State.
- It is illegal to release live ground squirrels without a written permit from the California Fish and Game Code (because they carry disease and are agricultural pests).