Ground squirrels in our yard

[SlitherinSisters]

I'm not sure what to do about them if anything. Will they ruin our yard? I have bird feeders out so I'm not surprised that they hang around. They have been in our neighbors yard for several weeks, but the snuck over to ours this week. I just noticed our neighbors have a live trap outside, I hope they catch all of them!!! My parents have never had ground squirrels, but they did have a mole that ruined their entire yard. I'm going to be very angry if they ruin our yard

[bsash]

Well, they shouldn't ruin the yard, but they will chew into trash cans, bird feeders, or anything else that is easily accessible for food.

[2kdime]

We used to use these for moles

Works good

http://www.northerntool.com/images/p.../168907_lg.jpg

[angllady2]

True ground squirrels [ chipmunks ] are pretty harmless. They will chew holes in plastic bags and such, but so far as I know they won't destroy your yard.

I have them put here, and while they can't access my hanging feeder, they happily pilfer any spilled seeds. I much rather have them than common squirrels, who are noisy, messy, and very destructive.

Gale

[chris4554]

We used to use these for moles

Works good

http://www.northerntool.com/images/p.../168907_lg.jpg

That looks dangerous

[SlitherinSisters]

Thanks everyone! I will let them be then. I just didn't want them to ruin the yard! I'm glad they won't! I did notice they are going into my gutter....

[WingedWolfPsion]

Moles can damage sod because they dig tunnels just below the surface, which uplift the ground. They spend their entire lives under ground.

Ground squirrels may dig some small burrows, but they won't tunnel and damage the sod.
HOWEVER--make sure that ANY exposed electrical lines within reach of the little buggers are covered in something chew-resistant, and keep an eye out. The trouble with ground squirrels isn't the digging, it's the chewing. Rodents love to chew wires and many electrocute themselves and/or start fires in buildings as a result of that.
Make sure ALL access points into your attic are covered in strong mesh (a good idea anyhow! If they've climbed to your gutters, they could climb in any opening they find in the house.
They're not the world's worst neighbors, but you do have to keep an eye on them and be aware of what type of damage they can do, so you can keep vulnerable things out of harm's way.

Apart from that, they're fairly intelligent, and you can probably set out some treats specifically for them (such as unsalted peanuts) and enjoy watching them. They'll learn that you bring treats, and if you sit quietly, they'll get more used to you.

[SlitherinSisters]

Moles can damage sod because they dig tunnels just below the surface, which uplift the ground. They spend their entire lives under ground.

Ground squirrels may dig some small burrows, but they won't tunnel and damage the sod.
HOWEVER--make sure that ANY exposed electrical lines within reach of the little buggers are covered in something chew-resistant, and keep an eye out. The trouble with ground squirrels isn't the digging, it's the chewing. Rodents love to chew wires and many electrocute themselves and/or start fires in buildings as a result of that.
Make sure ALL access points into your attic are covered in strong mesh (a good idea anyhow! If they've climbed to your gutters, they could climb in any opening they find in the house.
They're not the world's worst neighbors, but you do have to keep an eye on them and be aware of what type of damage they can do, so you can keep vulnerable things out of harm's way.

Apart from that, they're fairly intelligent, and you can probably set out some treats specifically for them (such as unsalted peanuts) and enjoy watching them. They'll learn that you bring treats, and if you sit quietly, they'll get more used to you.

I'll have to watch those gutters! We need to get up top and see what's going on in the gutters and make sure there are no holes to the house! The people before us attached all the electrical/cable wires about midway up the house. It always bothered me that they did that, but now that you mention that they are terrible chewers, I guess I'm happy they are up high.

[mechnut450]

lol those mole traps are great.. I gotten many a mole with them ( matter fact I need toget theone back from a friend so Ican get the one in the yard here. as for squirrels and chipmucks( not got them here ) I bet a few paintballs will scare them off and cause no lasting damage.

[dragonmoon]

they dont really wreck the yard ..... in our yard we get groundhogs, squirrels, chipmunks, deer and now a skunk lol.... the most damage they seem to do is destroy a garbage bag or two each week