Ground squirrels are a widespread problem in Redwood City, where mild weather and open land allow colonies to grow fast and cause costly damage to lawns, irrigation, and walkways.
At Smith’s Pest Management, we help our local community deal with ground squirrels before the damage gets worse.
In this guide, we will explain how to spot a ground squirrel problem, steps you can take to get rid of them, and when it’s time to bring in professional help.
Key Takeaways
- If you notice open holes, fresh soil, daytime squirrel activity, chewed irrigation, or sinking ground, you’re dealing with an active ground squirrel infestation.
- To get rid of ground squirrels, you need to remove debris and overgrown vegetation near burrows, trap the entire colony legally, treat active burrows at the right time, and block re-entry points.
- When the problem is bigger than DIY, Smith’s Pest Management handles inspection, colony-level removal, and long-term prevention to protect your property.
Why Ground Squirrels Are So Common in Redwood City
Redwood City has the exact conditions ground squirrels thrive in:
- Mild weather that keeps them active most of the year
- Open space, slopes, creek corridors, and bay-adjacent land
- Lawns, parks, berms, and landscaped commercial properties
Neighborhoods near open areas, hillsides, and the Bay, including parts of Redwood Shores, often see repeat infestations.
Even if you remove a few squirrels, nearby colonies quickly move back in if the burrow system isn’t addressed.
How to Tell You Have Ground Squirrels
Ground squirrels leave clear signs once they move onto a property. Catching these early can save you from serious lawn, irrigation, and soil damage.
You may have a ground squirrel problem if you notice:
- Open, visible holes in the ground, often 3-4 inches wide
- Fresh soil pushed out around burrow entrances
- Squirrels active above ground during daylight hours
- Chewed drip lines, sprinkler heads, or irrigation boxes
- Soft, uneven, or collapsing soil near walkways, patios, or slopes
If you’re seeing squirrels during the day or finding fresh holes, it’s a strong sign there’s an active burrow system below the surface, and usually more squirrels than you realize.
How to Get Rid of Them
1. Remove Cover and Shelter
Ground squirrels rely on visibility and quick escape routes.
- Clear brush piles, debris, and dense groundcover
- Keep grass trimmed short
- Remove fallen nuts, fruit, and spilled bird seed
This doesn’t eliminate squirrels on its own, but it makes every other step more effective.
2. Trap the Colony
Trapping works when it’s done correctly and legally.
- You must place traps at active burrow entrances and runways
- Professional-style tunnel traps, box traps, or Conibear-style kill traps are most effective
- Baits that work well locally include walnuts, almonds, and oats
Important note: Under California law, relocating ground squirrels is illegal without a permit. Live-trapped squirrels must be euthanized humanely or released immediately at the capture site.
3. Treat Active Burrows at the Right Time
Burrow fumigation can be very effective when conditions are right.
- Best timing is late winter through early spring, before breeding peaks
- Soil moisture helps contain the gas and improve results
- Every burrow opening must be sealed after treatment, or squirrels will escape
If you don’t time it right or seal every opening, fumigation won’t work, which is why most homeowners leave this step to professionals.
4. Prevent Re-Entry
Once activity is reduced, block the easy access points.
- Install hardware cloth or barriers along fence lines, sheds, and landscape edges
- Reinforce areas where squirrels repeatedly start new tunnels
- Focus on high-risk zones, not the entire yard
Prevention keeps nearby colonies from turning your property into the next vacancy.
What Doesn’t Work
- Repellents like peppermint or pepper oil
- Sound devices or vibration stakes
- Treating a single burrow and stopping
These methods may cause short-term improvement, but they do not remove a colony. In many cases, they just push squirrels to another part of the yard.
When to Call an Exterminator in Redwood City
DIY control often fails in these situations:
- Properties bordering open space, fields, or creek corridors
- Repeated activity after trapping
- Burrows near foundations, patios, walkways, or irrigation systems
- Any situation involving fumigation or legal compliance
This is where ground squirrel control professionals come in.
At Smith’s, we use a proven, field-tested process to get rid of ground squirrels, designed for Bay Area conditions:
1. Property Inspection
Licensed technicians identify active burrows, colony size, travel routes, and damage. This includes slopes, irrigation zones, and structural risk areas.
2. Targeted Population Control
We focus on eliminating the entire colony, not just visible squirrels. We select trapping and burrow treatments based on soil type, property layout, and activity level.
3. Safe, Regulation-Compliant Methods
All work follows California wildlife and pesticide regulations. We choose methods that protect people, pets, landscaping, and non-target species.
4. Follow-Up and Prevention
After removal, we provide practical recommendations and ongoing programs when needed to reduce reinfestation, especially for properties near open land or water.
The goal isn’t just fewer squirrels today. It’s long-term control that actually holds.
Don’t Wait for Ground Squirrel Damage to Worsen! Act Now.
Ground squirrels don’t leave on their own. Colonies grow quickly, and damage to irrigation, lawns, and soil stability adds up fast.
When you see fresh holes or activity, act right away – it’s cheaper and easier than waiting.
Smith’s Pest Management helps Redwood City homeowners and businesses stop ground squirrels before they cause serious damage.
Call (408) 871-6988 to schedule an inspection and take back your property.
FAQs
What’s the best time of year to get rid of ground squirrels?
Late winter and early spring are ideal, especially for burrow treatments. Trapping can work year-round.
How do I prevent ground squirrels from coming back?
Nearby colonies, open space, and untreated burrow systems allow reinfestation.
Take these steps to prevent them from coming back:
- Pick up fallen nuts, fruit, and spilled bird seed regularly
- Secure trash cans and compost so squirrels can’t access food
- Keep grass cut short, especially near fence lines and slopes
- Trim dense groundcover and low shrubs near the ground
- Remove brush piles, wood stacks, and yard debris
- Install hardware cloth along fence bottoms, sheds, and garden edges
- Reinforce soil around patios, walkways, and irrigation boxes
- Inspect your property every few weeks for fresh holes or soil
- Act immediately when you see new activity instead of waiting
Smith’s Pest Management’s ongoing ground squirrel prevention program monitors activity and stops new burrows before they cause damage.
How are ground squirrels different from gophers?
Ground squirrels live in colonies, leave open holes, and are active above ground. Gophers live alone and leave plugged mounds.
