Anticoagulant bait generally requires 2 to 4 weeks or more to be effective. Continue baiting until all feeding ceases and no squirrels are observed. While few ground squirrels will die aboveground, those that do should be picked up and disposed of as described in the section above on Trapping and in accordance with label directions. Habitat Modification Ground squirrels generally are found in open areas, although they sometimes use available cover. Remove brush piles and debris to make an area less desirable to ground squirrels, which also aids in detection of squirrels and their burrows, and improves access during control operations.
Ground squirrels can reinvade a site by moving into vacant burrows.
Simply filling in the burrows with soil does not prevent reinvasion as ground squirrels easily find and reopen old burrows. Other Control Techniques Shooting squirrels with a .22 rifle may provide some control, but is very time-consuming. Shooting is recommended only when it can be safely done in rural locations where squirrel numbers are very low. There are no effective frightening devices or repellents that will cause ground squirrels to leave their burrows or avoid an area or crop. Natural Control Many predators, including hawks, eagles, rattlesnakes, and coyotes, eat ground squirrels.