Ground Squirrel Control & Removal Service

Ground squirrels belong to the rodent family, and their scientific name is Spermophilus beechey. They are small to medium-sized rodents who live throughout the US, from central Washington to Oregon, California, and into the northern parts of Baja California. 

Here are a few interesting ground squirrel facts you should know:

• The ground squirrel was named after Frederick William Beechey, who explored the area around Northern California from 1826-1828 and is credited with discovering the small rodents.
• Ground squirrels can live up to 6 years in the wild.
• Ground squirrels create essential habitats for other animals, like snakes and rodents, which occupy the ground squirrels’ empty burrows. 
• When threatened by predators, ground squirrels emit a high-pitched alarm call to warn other squirrels nearby. 

They tend to live in meadows, plains, tree-covered areas, and rocky outcroppings that provide them plenty of shelter.

When it comes to diet, ground squirrels rely primarily on seeds. They love to eat barley, acorns, and oats but also eat bird eggs, insects like grasshoppers and crickets, tubers, roots, and fruit.

Ground squirrels are avid foragers and utilize cheek pouches to store the food they collect. Like other squirrel species, they take food back to their burrows, where they store it for future use.

Ground squirrels live communally and use different sounds to communicate with other squirrels in their colonies. They live on the ground and in underground burrow systems, which can provide shelter for several generations of ground squirrels. They typically stay within 150 yards of their burrow entrance and are highly territorial creatures.

Ground squirrels can:

• Undermine building foundations
• Destroy lawns and gardens
• Chew irrigation lines and sprinkler systems
• Kill trees by stripping bark
• Cause trip hazards with burrow holes
• Damage crops and vineyards

Large infestations can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in damage each year.

Passed at the end of 2023, the California Ecosystems Protection Act (Assembly Bill 1322) bans the use of rodenticides containing Diphacinone, a common first-generation anticoagulant long used to control ground squirrels.

Only one bait product (Rozol) is still legal, but it’s restricted to large lots, must be used 50+ feet from structures, and is only available to licensed professionals.

This law aims to protect wildlife by limiting exposure to toxic baits and shifts both homeowners and pest control pros toward eco-friendly, holistic methods like trapping, exclusion, and habitat modification.

If you’re dealing with a large infestation, DIY methods like repellents and store-bought traps often fall short, making professional ground squirrel control a better choice.

Smith’s has developed a proprietary trapping technique that solves this problem effectively, offering a reliable alternative to banned rodenticides.

Yes. Property owners and tenants can trap ground squirrels on their own property without a license.

By law, any ground squirrels that are trapped must either be humanely euthanized on-site or released at the capture location. Relocation to a new site is illegal without a permit.

Because these rules are strict and proper euthanasia must follow humane standards, many people choose to work with a licensed pest management company like Smith’s to ensure everything is done legally and effectively.

Cost depends on the size of your property and the severity of the infestation.

Smith’s offers flat-rate monthly programs with automatic traps and 100% satisfaction guarantee, making year-round control predictable and affordable.

Yes. Because ground squirrels breed quickly (5-8 babies per litter) and never hibernate, ongoing control is the only way to prevent reinfestations.

That’s why many homeowners, HOAs, and schools choose Smith’s automatic annual trapping program.

• Ground squirrels: Dig open burrow entrances, live in colonies, and spend time above ground. They’re often seen running across lawns.
• Gophers: Push up crescent-shaped dirt mounds and rarely come above ground. They live alone in sealed tunnel systems.

Many homeowners try to handle ground squirrel problems themselves, but these intelligent pests have adapted to common control methods:

• Store-bought traps catch only a few individuals while the colony continues to grow
• Poison baits are dangerous to children, pets, and non-target wildlife
• Repellents and deterrents provide only temporary relief
• Flooding burrows is ineffective due to their complex tunnel systems with multiple exits

Ground squirrels live in sophisticated underground networks that can extend 30 feet or more.

Without professional expertise and proper equipment, it’s nearly impossible to eliminate an entire colony.

Adult ground squirrels look similar to tree squirrels, so how can you identify them reliably?

Here are a few telltale signs to look for:

• Adult ground squirrels have mottled fur in a combination of gray and light brown.
• They’re known for displaying a band of darker fur, which starts at their head and extends over the middle of their back.
• They have gray fur patterns that create a cape over their head and shoulders and light buff bellies. Adults can grow up to 11 inches in length and have bushy, distinctive tails.
• The most significant differences between tree squirrels and ground squirrels involve behavior:
• When threatened, tree squirrels will climb while ground squirrels race for their burrows.

You can identify the ground squirrel by their behaviors and the type of damage they cause:

1. Burrows

Ground squirrels dig new burrows in open grassland, orchards, and around building foundations, patios, decks, and gardens all over California.

Ground squirrels will also happily re-inhabit old burrows. Burrows have average openings of about 4” in diameter and are characterized by prominent entrance mounds.

2. Activity Outside Burrows

In our region, ground squirrels are active year-round and especially spring through fall.  It is very common to find them sitting on rocks and hanging out in large groups chattering away.  In addition to their social gatherings, ground squirrels will raid gardens and orchards. In fact, these pests often eat all the grapes right before a harvest.

3. Ground Squirrel Damages

Scrape marks on trees and vines, sheds, and garages as well as gravel scraped out from under concrete are common squirrel damages property owners in California notice when these pests have become a problem on their land.

Ground squirrels also cause damage to foundations, pool, and other structures.  In fact, in the video below, you’ll see ground squirrel damage to a walkway at a school in Santa Clara, CA.

They can be! Ground squirrels can carry diseases that can harm humans and domestic pets. The most common include bubonic plague, tularemia, and Chagas’ disease. 

Preventing ground squirrels can be extremely hard since these critters are adept climbers and excellent diggers.They also reproduce rapidly: one ground squirrel burrow could have as many as ten squirrels in it, and females give birth to 5-8 babies after a one-month gestation period.

They can go to great lengths to access food, including digging under fences.

That said, here are a few tips to prevent ground squirrels:

• Remove potential food sources, including bird feeders and pet food. Clean up all food scraps and spills promptly.
• Remove brush and vegetation that provide cover for ground squirrels.
• Use scent-based deterrents to prevent ground squirrels
• Rip old burrows to a depth of 20 inches to deter activity
• Contact a professional pest management company like Smith’s at the first sign of ground squirrel infestation