Ground Squirrel
Ground squirrels are members of the squirrel family of rodents that spend most of their lives living on or in the ground. Several species occur throughout Wyoming, but the species most often associated with agricultural and land management issues in the state is the Wyoming ground squirrel. This species was formerly referred to as the Richardson's ground squirrel and is widely distributed across grasslands, agricultural fields, and open rangeland in Wyoming.
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Wyoming ground squirrels can have significant impacts on agricultural lands and managed landscapes. They consume grasses, forbs, grains, and other crops, which can result in competition with livestock for available forage and damage to agricultural production. Their burrowing activity can also cause soil disturbance and structural damage in hay fields, irrigation ditches, ornamental landscaping, golf courses, and cemeteries.
Ground squirrel burrows are often fanned out and relatively level with the surrounding ground surface, making them less visible than prairie dog mounds. This can make them particularly hazardous to livestock and equipment operating in fields. Their burrows are sometimes confused with those of the Black-tailed prairie dog; however, unlike prairie dogs, Wyoming ground squirrels hibernate during the winter months, emerging in early spring to feed and reproduce.
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Historical records show that ground squirrels have long been recognized as a pest in Wyoming agriculture. In 1892, researchers at the University of Wyoming reported that ground squirrels caused such extensive damage to barley at the Laramie Experiment Farm that, in some cases, harvest yields were lower than the amount of seed originally planted.
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Ground squirrels were first officially identified as a nuisance rodent by the 1886 Wyoming Territorial Legislature. Later, in 1973, the Wyoming Legislature designated ground squirrels as a state pest under the current weed and pest law. This designation allows county Weed and Pest Control Districts, coordinated through the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council, to work with local landowners and land managers to develop management programs, which may include integrated pest management strategies and cost-share agreements to help reduce ground squirrel populations and limit damage to rangelands and agricultural lands.
