Pest Overview
Ground squirrels are burrowing rodents that live in colonies and cause extensive damage to Southern California properties. Unlike gophers and moles that stay underground, ground squirrels are active above ground during the day, foraging for food while maintaining elaborate burrow systems that can undermine foundations, walkways, and landscaping.
Understanding Ground Squirrel Behavior
California ground squirrels are social animals that live in colonies ranging from a few individuals to dozens. They're most active during morning and late afternoon hours, foraging for seeds, nuts, fruits, and garden vegetables. Ground squirrels hibernate during winter in colder areas but remain active year-round in much of Southern California.
Their burrow systems are extensive—a single burrow can extend 6 feet deep and 35 feet long with multiple entrances. Colonies expand their burrow networks over time, and young squirrels establish new burrows nearby, causing infestations to grow rapidly if left unchecked.
Signs Of Ground Squirrel Activity
Common signs of ground squirrel infestation include:
Why Ground Squirrels Are A Serious Problem
Ground squirrel damage goes beyond landscaping. Their burrows undermine structural foundations, cause walkways and patios to crack and collapse, and create serious erosion issues on slopes. Burrow systems can also damage underground utilities and irrigation infrastructure.
Ground squirrels reproduce quickly—females can produce 5-11 pups per litter—meaning small problems become major infestations within a single season. Their burrows also attract other pests including snakes, which use abandoned tunnels for shelter.
How We Control Ground Squirrels
Ground squirrel control requires a different approach than gopher or mole control. Our technicians assess your property to determine colony size, identify active burrows, and develop a treatment strategy. Methods may include professional trapping, carbon monoxide application, or a combination based on what will be most effective for your situation.
Because ground squirrels are highly mobile and travel between properties, complete elimination is often not possible. Our service focuses on significantly reducing current populations and active burrow systems on your property.
Why No Guarantee
Unlike gophers and moles that remain in defined underground territories, ground squirrels move freely above ground between neighboring properties. New squirrels can migrate onto your property even after successful treatment of existing colonies. For this reason, we do not offer guarantees on ground squirrel services, though our treatments are effective at reducing current infestations.
Safety
We do not use chemicals or poisons. Our ground squirrel control methods are child-safe and pet-safe, making them appropriate for residential properties with families and animals.
Service Areas
We provide ground squirrel control throughout Southern California:
Get Started
Call 909-599-4711 to schedule professional ground squirrel control with Rodent Guys.