California Ground Squirrel — Complete Behavior and Control Guide

California ground squirrels are among the most common wildlife-pest species in Southern California and are frequently confused with gophers despite being very different animals. Understanding ground squirrel biology, behavior, and damage patterns is essential for effective control — and for knowing whether you are dealing with a ground squirrel problem or a gopher problem in the first place.

Identification

The California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) is a medium-sized ground-dwelling squirrel, typically 14-20 inches in total length including the bushy tail. It is gray-brown above with a speckled or mottled pattern created by lighter and darker hairs, and has a distinct whitish collar or mottling on the shoulders. The tail is moderately bushy — not as full as a tree squirrel's, but clearly squirrel-like.

The most important identification feature: ground squirrels are frequently seen above ground during daylight. They are diurnal animals that forage, sun themselves, and interact with each other on the surface regularly. If you can watch an animal moving around your yard during the day, you almost certainly have ground squirrels. Gophers are almost never seen above ground.

Burrow Identification

Ground squirrel burrow entrances are large, open holes — typically 3-4 inches in diameter — with no mound of pushed soil at the entrance. The entrance is clean and open, often with a flat area of bare, packed soil immediately in front where the squirrel has been sitting. Multiple open holes in a relatively small area are characteristic of a ground squirrel colony. Gopher mounds, by contrast, are fan-shaped piles of loose soil with the tunnel entrance usually plugged or partially covered.

Colonial Social Structure

Unlike the solitary gopher, California ground squirrels are social animals living in loose colonies. A colony may contain dozens of individuals sharing a network of interconnected burrow systems. This social structure means ground squirrel problems are colony problems — you are rarely dealing with just one animal. The colony's burrow network is extensive, often covering large areas of a yard, slope, or open space.

Damage

Ground squirrel damage is primarily above-ground — they gnaw on stems and bark at the base of plants, strip bark from young trees, eat fallen and ripening fruit, consume seeds, bulbs, and garden vegetables, and create extensive burrow systems that undermine slopes and create hazardous holes in lawns and athletic fields. The burrow systems themselves — large, open holes scattered across a property — are structural hazards for horses, athletes, and pedestrians. Ground squirrels are also significant vectors of fleas that can transmit plague.

Seasonal Activity

California ground squirrels are most active spring through early summer. In hot summer months some individuals may estivate — enter a summer dormancy period. In winter, particularly in inland areas with cold nights, some individuals reduce activity or enter partial torpor. In mild coastal Southern California, activity continues at reduced levels year-round. Spring is the peak activity period and the most visible time for colony assessment and control.

Control Methods

Ground squirrel control requires different approaches than gopher control given the colonial social structure and above-ground activity. Rodent Guys provides ground squirrel control throughout Southern California using methods appropriate to the colonial nature of the pest. Contact us to discuss the specific approach for your property and population.

Related Articles

• Gopher vs. Ground Squirrel — How to Tell the Difference
• Botta's Pocket Gopher — The Species Behind Southern California Gopher Problems
• Our Services — Gopher, Mole, and Ground Squirrel Control

Call 909-599-4711 for ground squirrel control throughout Southern California. Describe what you are seeing and we will confirm identification and recommend the right approach.