POTENTIAL OF VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FOR GROUND SQUIRREL CONTROL

Authors

Wendy S. Fitzgerald, Division of Flood Management, Floodway Protection Branch, California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento, California
Rex E. Marsh, Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, University of California, Davis, California

Date of this Version

March 1986

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Manipulation or alteration of habitat vegetation is used frequently with integrated pest management of certain vertebrate pest species. However, it has been less than satisfactory with ground squirrel species in many situations. Special plantings of tall grasses and broadleaf species were experimentally explored in an effort to make levee habitat less suitable for the California ground squirrel in the Sacramento Valley. The experimental plantings failed to achieve that objective for a variety of apparent or suspected reasons and, in fact, in some grass plots the number of ground squirrels increased over what was present prior to planting. Other problems associated with these experimental plantings, including aggressive tendencies of some species, are discussed.