Ground Squirrel Control Program

What Are Ground Squirrels?

Ground squirrels are bushy tailed rodents that can be very destructive and disruptive. They can undermine the foundation of your home, collapse a hillside or retaining wall with their burrowing, and carry fleas. They like to make their homes close to a food source and if conditions remain good, they will continue to breed and happily dwell there. Due to the difficulties in controlling the dense population of this type of critter, we have found the most effective method to be a year of service. You are most likely to see the most ground squirrel activity in the summer months.

You can learn more about the difference between ground squirrels and tree squirrels by reading this blog post.

Ground Squirrel Control Program:

The service we offer for ground squirrel control is primarily a baiting service. We place our bait stations strategically around the property. These stations are anchored in place and the bait inside is only accessible by ground squirrels. We custom build these stations with extra elbows to prevent pets (i.e. cats) from getting inside. We check these stations about six weeks apart and offer unlimited, free service calls.  We refill the bait station(s) and relocate them as needed, but if there seems to be a lot of activity in between visits, please give us a call and we will come out and make sure the bait stations are full.

The bait we use is restricted by the state agriculture department during the wet months (while the hills of CA are still green), so during this time of year we provide emergency trapping for burrowing under driveways and around the foundation of your home. Trapping is only offered in these instances as it is not an effective method of gaining control. 

This is an annual service, as it usually takes close to a year to get the population under control. The price needs to be estimated by a technician and is specific to your property. This price is billed up front after setting up the bait stations and you are covered for the next 12 months. 

Bait Information:

The bait is a multi-feeding bait meaning the ground squirrels would need to consume several meals before feeling the effects and then pass away in their burrows. This also lowers the risk of secondary poisoning as a predator would have to consume multiple meals of a poisoned ground squirrel to feel the effects and has a lower chance of transferring to the predator. Another benefit is that ground squirrels have time to feel ill so they go into their burrows where they feel safe before passing away.

Ground squirrels:

Ground squirrel activity:

Gopher Team’s ground squirrel bait station: