Coming in all shapes and sizes, pests can be unmistakably grotesque to nearly cute to some people. Where some can just have nothing more than the startling factor, most are either a health risk or cause damage to property; or even a combination. No matter their afflictions, having pests isn’t a welcome problem and when the infestation gets out of control, professionals from A-Tex Pest Management are ready to respond. Squirrels are among the questionable pests that although many may find adorable, can still cause issues around the property grounds and home. Today, we would like to relate the fundamentals of ground squirrels.
Ground Squirrel Damage
Ground squirrels are not only commonly burrowing in Texas but throughout the United States. They are especially populated around farmland. Ground squirrels share quite a few habits and characteristics that are similar in different areas of the country. Because of their burrowing instincts, ground squirrels disturb crop fields and home gardens, inflicting a fair amount of damage. They need to control the length of their teeth by constantly chewing. As a result, they are commonly the culprits in structural or cosmetic damage to a building or other property. Ground squirrels can be thought of as beneficial, in some circumstances, as their diet also includes eating harmful insects. However, they will destroy both cash crops and ornamental plants and so they are classified as a pest. From the ground squirrel’s burrowing habits and the abundant holes it leaves behind, mowing can be problematic, the tree’s roots can dehydrate, and the structure’s foundation can be left weakened. Not only can ground squirrels pose a threat to the property, but they are common hosts for parasitic ticks, lice, mites, and fleas often, bring additional pest problems with them.
What Does a Ground Squirrel Look Like?
Frequently mistaken for chipmunks, ground squirrels, generally weigh just over five ounces and average twelve inches in length. With small ears, ground squirrels range in colors of brown and gray. They will either have spots or stripes on their back that extend down to their short bushy tails.
Where Do Ground Squirrels Live?
Ground squirrels favor areas where the ground is easy to dig like close to riverbanks as well as ponds and tend to keep close grassy areas also like meadows and prairies for coverage. They prefer to avoid urban centers and are found often congregate in suburban and rural areas as they live more comfortably in the tall grasses and open spaces. Additionally, ground squirrels will bypass the woodland areas whenever possible and in the suburban locations, they tend to live in places such as public parks, grazing pastures, golf courses, and lawns.
What Do Squirrels Eat?
When these rodents do encroach on homes, property owners often discover them terrorizing their farmlands, gardens, and yards. Due to their reputation for prominent diets including bulbs of plants and seeds, they are notorious among farmers. Though they are rarely interested in coming indoors, ground squirrels can easily squeeze through tiny cavities of chimneys, vents, torn door or window screens, broken or open windows, and other such openings to gain entry to buildings if the need for food or water drives them inside.
Squirrel Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park, Texas
To reduce the risk of ground squirrel infestations, keep the grass well-manicured, and remove the debris and brush piles to limit the hiding places. If you have discovered ground squirrels, call in the professionals of A-Tex Pest Management.