What Is a Ground Squirrel?

Well, California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) are small burrowing rodents that have a mix of gray, light brown, and dusky fur. This gives them an advantage on blending in with their environment- which is the mottled appearance.

Strips of darker fur extend from the head to the mid-back, while gray fur is speckled around the sides of the head and shoulders. Their underside is a pale buff or grayish yellow. Their tails are usually seen a thin and wire-y.

What Kind of Damage do They Cause?

Burrowing

Ground squirrels and other burrowing rodents can uproot plants and shrubs while also leaving behind many holes that can attract other critters or be dangerous for livestock and large animals.

Structural Damage

The burrows underneath important buildings can be compromised with unrepairable cracks or impact the stability of the structure.

Lawn/Irrigation Damage

These type of critters can chew through sprinkler heads and irrigation lines and boxes. They can also leave imperfect patches in the grass with uprooting or grazing.

Garden Damage

If you're planting something that's on their menu, you're more than likely going to run into some very frustrating encounters with trying to save your garden and vegetables.

Ground Squirrels vs Tree Squirrels- How to Tell Them Apart??

This can be quite a challenge since tree squirrels can be seen on the ground and ground squirrels can be seen in the trees. So, How do you tell them apart?

Well, If you look a tad bit closer and monitor them, you'll be able to spot key differences.

While most ground squirrels have brown-gray mottled fur with dots of white or cream color, tree squirrels come in a wider range of fur colors. A tree squirrel’s fur can be be white and brown, black, gray or red.

Size is another determining factor. Ground squirrels tend to be larger with sizes ranging from seven to eight inches in length and weights ranging between eight to fourteen ounces. Tree squirrels are much smaller.

Tree squirrels have earned their name because they prefer to nest in trees. They spend a good amount of time on the ground, especially for foraging purposes. Ground squirrels dig into the earth to establish their burrows. These burrows can go as far as four feet below the earth and often they form an underground network.

Still Unsure? Contact us today for a Consultation!