Remove brush, woodpiles, and other debris to make your yard less attractive for ground squirrels.
Ground squirrels are prey animals, so they use brush and vegetation for shelter. Protect your property from ground squirrel damage in the winter with these tips: 1. The most common ground squirrel disease is bubonic plague, which can be transmitted to humans and pets via infected fleas carried by the squirrels. When they dig near trees, they can displace so much soil that a tree’s root system dries out, eventually toppling and killing the tree.įinally, ground squirrels can carry diseases that are dangerous for people, domestic pets, and livestock. When they dig burrows, ground squirrels create mounds that can damage farm or lawn machinery, cause a hazard for people and livestock, and even create soil instability that threatens the foundations of buildings. Ground squirrels will also chew on underground irrigation and utility lines and can destroy sprinkler heads. They may also use their teeth to strip the bark from young shrubs or to gnaw the leaves off vines, girdling tree trunks and killing young plants. Ground squirrels can destroy or consume tender young seedlings in gardens and landscaping as they search for food. They’re especially fond of apple, apricot, orange, and peach trees. Thanks to their sharp teeth, they’re skilled chewers who can decimate grain crops and fruit and nut trees. What Damage Do They Cause?Įven in the winter, ground squirrels can cause extensive damage to ornamental and food-bearing plants. They store food in their burrows to ensure they have enough food for the winter. They’ll eat grains, nuts, and seeds during the winter or drought periods when food is scarce. They feed on fresh, green grass and herbaceous plants in the spring. Ground squirrels are herbivores, and their diet changes seasonally.
When they come out to feed, ground squirrels will travel about 75-100 yards from their burrow entrance before darting back into the safety of their tunnels. In the winter, they may dig even deeper to get below the frost line. Ground squirrel burrows are usually between 5-30 feet long and about 2.5-4’ below the surface of the soil.
Instead, they spend more time in their underground burrows, living in colonies of 2-20 (or more) animals. Where Do They Go?Ĭalifornia ground squirrels don’t go anywhere different during the winter. In California, mating starts as early as January (in warmer parts of the state) and can continue until July, with the breeding season peaking between March- June. This means they spend much of their time foraging for food near their burrows, resting with the other squirrels in their colonies, and breeding during late winter.įascinatingly, less active ground squirrels regulate their blood concentrations during the winter months, redirecting electrolytes like sodium to be stored in areas of the body like the bladder, which helps the animals stay hydrated when food is scarce. What do Ground Squirrels Do in the Winter?ĭuring the winter, ground squirrels focus on conserving their energy and finding the food they need to make it through the season. In places like the San Joaquin Valley, ground squirrels are less active during winter but don’t truly hibernate. In the coastal areas of Southern California, these little rodents are active throughout the year. While those squirrels do hibernate, that is considered a relatively rare ground squirrel behavior here in the Golden State. The only exception is populations of ground squirrels in inland areas with extreme seasonal temperature variations. Most California ground squirrels do not hibernate in the winter. Do California Ground Squirrels Hibernate in the Winter? In this blog, we’ll share a few critical California ground squirrel hibernation facts and discuss how you can control these pests on your property during the winter months. While these rodents may be less visible during the winter, they are no less active. If you live in California, one critter you likely won’t get a winter break from is the California ground squirrel. Winter has arrived, which means most pests should be taking a break, right? Wrong.
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