Ground Squirrels Are Overpopulating An SMC Park. Officials Plan To Kill Them

MENLO PARK, CA — A pesky pest has taken over a San Mateo County park, digging holes across the grassy fields and damaging tree root systems. Now county officials are fighting back.

The San Mateo County Parks Department officials say they're working to exterminate an overpopulation of ground squirrels wreaking havoc across Flood County Park in Menlo Park.

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"The ground squirrel population at Flood County Park has grown significantly," park officials said. "This has caused damage to walkways and trees, including oaks and redwoods."

It's unclear exactly how many ground squirrels live at the park or how many will be killed. Ground squirrels burrow holes where they live, store food and raise their pups, park officials said.

The rodents also damage facilities, walking paths, seedlings and tree bark, park officials said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Wildlife Services Division will fumigate the burrows with a "prescribed amount" of sodium nitrate and charcoal. Fumigation will take place each Wednesday in September and October, park officials said.

These fumigants are lethal to animals residing within the burrow. There's no harm to the public or animals outside the burrow, park officials said.

Workers will place traps outside the burrow during fumigation in case any squirrels exit during fumigation, park officials said.

" This approach allows the USDA to release any animal that may have been trapped other than squirrels," park officials said. "No poison or bait boxes will be used in this effort."

Trapping isn't effective in this case because of the number of ground squirrels, park officials said.

"Further, any live squirrel caught by traps must be relocated in the same area where it was caught or euthanized according to California laws," park officials said.

The San Mateo County Parks Department will monitor ground squirrel activity when pups are born in the spring to early summer, park officials said.

"If needed, a second management plan will be developed and implemented," park officials said.