Ground Squirrels
Twenty three species of ground squirrels exist in the United States. The Belding ground squirrel occupies the northeastern part of California, extending northward into eastern Oregon and eastward into southwestern Idaho. It also ranges into the north central portion of Nevada. It is the most numerous and troublesome squirrel in this area.
Belding ground squirrels live mainly in natural meadows and grasslands but are adaptive to alfalfa, irrigated pastures, the margins of grain fields, and landscaped areas adjacent to native habitat.
Ground squirrels are basically herbivores, but insects sometimes make up a very small portion of their diet. They sometimes will consume eggs of small ground nesting birds such as quail. Ground squirrels feed almost exclusively on green vegetation when they emerge from hibernation and throughout their gestation and lactation period.
The Belding feeds extensively on the leaves, stems, and seeds of wild and cultivated grasses; however, the diet is heavily slanted toward succulent vegetation rather than seeds. They also consume flowers, stems, leaves and roots of herbaceous plants, depending on its habitat.
All species of ground squirrels dig burrows for shelter and safety. The burrow systems are occupied year after year and are extended in length and complexity annually. Each system has numerous entrances which are always left open and never plugged with soil. A number of squirrels may occupy the same burrow system, however, the Belding is less colonial and its burrows more widely dispersed.
Belding ground squirrels are considered serious agricultural pests where they are found in moderate to high densities adjacent to susceptible crops or home gardens. They have also been implicated in the transmission of certain diseases to people, notably plague.
Ground squirrel burrowing activity weakens levees, ditch banks, and earthen dams, and undermines roadways and buildings. Burrows can also result in loss of irrigation water by unwanted diversions, and in natural habitats they may cause accelerated soil erosion by channeling rain and snow runoff.
Burrow entrances in playgrounds, parks and other recreational areas are responsible for debilitating falls, occasionally resulting in sprained or broken ankles or limbs. The same applies to horse exercising or jumping arenas, equestrian trails and tracks where the burrows can lead to serious injuries to horse and rider.
The Belding ground squirrel, under favorable conditions, reaches incredible densities, often exceeding 100/acre. Extensive losses may be experienced in range forage, irrigated pastures, alfalfa, wheat, oats, barley and rye.
