How to Remove Ground Squirrels From Under the Home
Ground squirrels belong to the family sciuridae, just as their cousins the tree and flying squirrels do. They are found all over North America. Ground squirrels live underground and forage for food above ground within a range of about 75 yards from their burrow. They live in groups called colonies. These groups can include several dozen other ground squirrels. A population this large causes the connections between the burrows to be very elaborate, reaching lengths of about 30 feet and depths of up to 4 feet. A maze of burrows underneath a structure like a house erodes the density of the soil and possibly damages the foundation, just as water erosion would. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Use kill-traps. This sounds inhumane but ground squirrels can carry diseases as serious as the bubonic plague. The plaque is transmittable to humans through the fleas on the squirrel. According to the University of California-Davis’ Integrated Pest Management Program, the plague has sometimes destroyed large colonies of ground squirrels. If you see many dead ground squirrels, don’t touch them and contact your local health department. Also, in California, it is illegal to relocate live ground squirrels without permission from fish and game officials. Trapping works best when ground squirrel populations are not out of control. Use box or Conibear traps. Both squeeze the squirrel to death, though the Conibear uses jaws and force much like a mouse trap. Either type should be baited with nuts such as almonds or walnuts but not set. Place them around burrow entrances and obvious paths of movement so the squirrels start to take the bait. After a few days of this, set the trap with the bait far enough away so the squirrel must trigger the trap to eat the bait.
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Set out toxic, anticoagulant bait. This control method takes up to a month to work but is better if the population is large and spread out. Anticoagulants thin the blood so the squirrel dies from internal bleeding. An antidote, vitamin K1, exists for anticoagulant baits so safety around humans and animals is less of a risk. Precaution must be taken, however, so the bait should be placed in a box made of durable material with a 3-inch entrance hole. This prevents other animals or children from taking it. Place the bait in the same areas as traps except when the population is spread out, put the bait boxes at about 200 feet intervals.
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Modify the living area of the squirrel. Remove all debris like piles of brush or leaves that the squirrel might use as cover. Dig up any existing or old burrows. This also helps prevent re-invasion. Although the ground squirrel is usually burrowing underneath your house, seal up any entrances to the underside as a preventive measure for any animal.
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Tips & Warnings
Check with state wildlife officials about controlling ground squirrels and any regulations pertaining to them.
Do not fumigate underneath a house or in a burrow that might open underneath a house.
References
Resources
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