Ground Squirrel and Prairie Dog Solutions

Squirrels love trees! Even ground squirrels love them! Instead of scurrying about the branches, the little diggers do what they do best - chew and dig. They dig at the base of trees and eat the roots, bark and the fruit or nuts the tree produces.   Since rodents live to chew, even irrigation equipment is in danger. Sometimes when they feel the coolness of the irrigation hose, they'll bite right into it to get a blast of water. Chances are if you are a farmer, you have seen the bite marks on irrigation hoses and have been forced to make costly repairs.   Orchards would be fine if ground squirrels only ate a few pieces of fruit. The problem is when there is an over-population of them and they do what they do in massive quantities. Hundreds of ground squirrels chewing and digging in an orchard means massive destruction.  Did you know that crews have refused to harvest crops because of the overabundance of dangerous ground squirrel holes? In one walnut ...

Are you a rancher or farmer? Do you golf or play and hike in your local parks? If you spend any time outdoors, chances are you have encountered ground squirrels and their holes. Ground squirrels are an important part of our eco-system. They are only a problem when their natural predators are eliminated and the result is an overpopulation of these rodents. When they take over a pasture, their many holes and burrows are a safety hazard to horses and other animals. They also chew on irrigation hoses, destroy crops and trees, and carry disease. How do you deal with too many ground squirrels? Do you use pesticides and poisons? Do you use hazardous gases and fire? What works for you? Do you care about how the places you visit deal with ground squirrel problems? Over the last few years, I have been studying ground squirrels and how to control their populations. My family has a ranch and we worry about the safety of our animals. Too many ground squirrels create an un...