Two major strategies for controlling ground squirrel pests are direct removal and habitat management. Beyond the probable effects on non-target species from the widespread distribution of poison baits, the strategy of direct ground squirrel control is founded on an ignorance of animal ecology. So long as suitable ground squirrel habitat remains unaltered squirrel removal campaigns will be followed by the growth and re-establishment of squirrel populations to damaging levels. Habitat management of ground squirrels is an ecologically based method of ground squirrel population control. This method involves breaking the ground squirrel predator-watch system by revegetation of denuded ground, encouraging predation and destroying existing burrow systems.
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