Ground Squirrels
NuisanceWhat it is
A group of burrowing squirrels that live primarily on or below the ground. Their tunnels can damage landscapes, undermine structures, and create trip hazards, while the animals may feed on gardens and crops.
How to recognize it
Burrow entrances in lawns, gardens, and embankments, and chewed plants.
Where you will find it
Lawns, fields, and open ground.
Why it matters
Their tunnels can damage landscaping and undermine structures.
What to do
- Store food, including pet food and birdseed, in sealed containers and keep trash secured.
- Avoid sweeping or vacuuming dry droppings, since that can stir up dust. Ask a professional about safe cleanup.
- Note where you hear or see activity and take a photo of any droppings or gnaw marks.
- Contact a licensed pest professional. Store-bought traps and poisons can leave animals in walls and put children and pets at risk.
When to call a professional
- You hear scratching in walls or the attic.
- You find droppings, gnaw marks, or nests.
- You see a rodent in daylight, which can mean a large population.
Related pests
Chipmunks
Small striped ground squirrels that burrow near foundations, landscaping, retaining walls, and gardens. They can disturb soil, raid birdseed, and occasionally enter garages or structures.
Read more →Deer Mice
Small mice with a brownish back, white underside, large eyes, and a distinctly bicolored tail. They are common in rural or wooded settings and may enter sheds, garages, attics, and homes.
Read more →Flying Squirrels
Nocturnal squirrels with a skin membrane that allows gliding between trees. They may enter attics and wall spaces through small openings and can create noise, nesting, contamination, or chewing damage.
Read more →Groundhogs
Also called a woodchuck, this large burrowing rodent feeds on vegetation and can damage gardens, lawns, foundations, slabs, and embankments through digging.
Read more →This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Pests vary by region and situation, and an on-site inspection is the reliable way to know what you have.