Burrowing can be quite destructive. Burrows around trees and shrubs can damage and desiccate roots, and sometimes topple trees. Burrows beneath buildings and other structures sometimes necessitate repair. Ground squirrels can harbor diseases harmful to humans, particularly when squirrel populations are dense. A major concern is bubonic plague transmitted to humans by fleas carried on the squirrels.
Ground squirrels are susceptible to plague, which has wiped out entire colonies.
If you find unusual numbers of squirrels or other rodents dead for no apparent reason, notify public health officials. Do not handle the carcasses. Although neither of these relatively small squirrels is likely to be misidentified as the much larger California ground squirrel, their ranges could overlap in some areas. Before using pesticides for ground squirrel control, read the product label to determine if any restrictions exist on rodent control within the ranges of these and other endangered and protected animals. Also, if the kit fox is found in your county, contact your county agricultural commissioner for additional information.