How to get rid
of problem ground squirrels
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Habitat - Squirrels act and inhabit both hardwood and coniferous
forests.
Diet - Fox and gray squirrels - Acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, and
osage orange fruits in fall and early winter; tree buds in late winter
and early spring; fruits, berries, and succulent plant materials in
summer. Fungi, corn, and cultivated fruits are taken when available.
When food is scarce, they may chew bark from trees or eat insects
and other animal matter. Flying squirrels - act the same as above
except more animal matter, such as bird eggs and nestlings, and insects.
Behavior - Home range size varies from 1 to 100 acres depending on
the season and availability of food. During fall, squirrels may travel
50 miles or more in search of better habitat. Typically act about
half the squirrels in a population die each year. Problem ground squirrels
are a food source for hawks, owls, snakes, and several drag mammalian
predators.
Flying squirrels are active at night, while all other species are
active during the day.
Reproduction - Ground Squirrels breed when they are 1 year old. They
breed from mid--December to early January and again in June. Young
squirrels may breed only once in their first year. The gestation period
is 42 to 45 days.
About 3 young comprise a litter. At birth they are hairless, blind,
and their ears are closed. Young are weaned at 10 to 12 weeks.
During the breeding season, noisy mating chases take place. They
nest in tree cavities, human-made squirrel boxes, or in leaf and stick
nests. Cavities are the preferred nest sites.
DAMAGE IDENTIFICATION
Forest trees - they chew bark, eat cones and nip twigs. They frequently
chew holes through pipelines used in maple syrup production.
Nut orchards - the ground squirrels eat nuts prematurely, carry off
mature nuts, or chew bark.
Residential areas - they travel power lines, shorting out transformers;
gnaw on wires; enter buildings, and build nests in attics.
Lawns - they bury or search for and dig up nuts; chew bark and clip
twigs on ornamental trees or shrubbery; eat food at bird feeders;
eat seeds, mature fruits and grains in gardens, and sometimes chew
to enlarge openings of bird houses and enter to eat nestling songbirds.
DAMAGE PREVENTION AND CONTROL METHODS
Ground Squirrel damage in yards, gardens, forests, and orchards is
often very difficult to control. During population highs, new squirrels
arrive quickly to replace those shot or trapped.
Exclusion - Prevent squirrels from climbing isolated trees and power
poles by encircling them with a 2-foot-wide collar of metal 6 feet
off the ground. Attach metal using encircling wires held together
with springs to allow for tree growth. Prevent squirrels from traveling
on wires by installing 2-foot sections of lightweight 2 to 3 inch
diameter plastic pipe. Slit the pipe lengthwise, spread it open, and
place it over the wire. The pipe will rotate on the wire and cause
traveling squirrels to tumble.get rid of ground squirrels. Controlling
damaging gophers and ground squirrels.We have worked
to get rid of and exterminate our problem ground squirrels, damaging
gophers, destructive voles, prairie dogs, ground hogs, chipmunks,
rats, badgers and moles out of our property. They kill our trees,
grape vines, damage our houses, levees and cause millions of dollars
of damage a year. We explain our experience of how to control or eliminate
these rodent pests on your property. We have tried to kill these rodents
with many types of traps, poisons, bait stations, .22 rifle, and even
a propane rodent blaster to explode them in their underground tunnels.
Close openings to attics and other parts of buildings with heavy
1/2-inch wire mesh, but make sure not to lock squirrels inside. They
may cause a great deal of damage in their efforts to chew out. A squirrel
excluder can be improvised by mounting an 18-inch section of 4-inch
plastic pipe over an opening. The pipe should point down at a 45o
angle. A one-way door can also be used over an opening to let squirrels
out and prevent them from returning.
Wire mesh fences topped with electrified wires may effectively keep
out squirrels out of gardens or small orchards.
Habitat Modification - Trim limbs and trees to 6 to 8 feet away from
buildings to prevent squirrels from jumping onto roofs.
To keep squirrels from bird feeders, consider providing an alternate
food source. Wire or nail an ear of corn to a tree or wooden fence
post away from the bird feeder. In high-value crop situations, it
may be necessary to remove woods or other trees near orchards.
Repellents - Naphthalene (moth balls) may temporarily discourage
squirrels from entering attics and other enclosed spaces. Use of moth
balls in attics of occupied buildings may cause severe distress to
people. Lights or cats in the attic may discourage squirrels.
Ropel or Hinder are taste repellents that can be applied to seeds,
bulbs, and flowers; trees and shrubs; poles and fences; siding and
outdoor furniture.
Polybutenes are sticky materials that can be applied to buildings,
railings, downspouts, and other areas to keep squirrels from climbing.
To prevent a mess, apply masking tape on the area beforehand.
Poisons - None are registered.
Trapping - A variety of traps will catch squirrels, including No.
0 or No. 1 leghold traps, box traps, cage traps, rat-sized snap traps
and glue traps. Check with the DNR before trapping.
Wire cage traps and box traps can be used to capture squirrels alive.
Tie trap doors open for 2 to 3 days to get squirrels accustomed to
feeding in the traps. Then set the traps and check them twice daily.
Inform your neighbors of the trap.
Good baits are slices of orange and apple, walnuts or pecans (without
the shell), and peanut butter. Other foods familiar to the squirrel
may also work well, such as corn or sunflower seeds.
Shooting - Where firearms are permitted, shooting is effective. Check
with the DNR for regulations pertaining to the species in your area.
Other Methods - To remove a squirrel from an attic, watch squirrels
to determine where they enter. Then use repellents and lights to drive
them out. After squirrels have left, use appropriate exclusion methods
to keep them out. Baited traps will catch squirrels that are accidentally
closed in. This last step is very important because locked-in squirrels
may cause damage.
ACT
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