Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Piute ground squirrels, a subspecies of Townsends ground squirrels, are adapted to the Great Basin, which is characterized by extreme seasonal temperatures and highly variable precipitation that concentrates plant growth between February and July. Current available methods to manage ground squirrel populations in southern Utah were ineffective. We tested spot treating ground squirrel burrows with either Ditrac or Rozol, spot treatment of Ditrac compared to Rozol via bait stations, treating cabbage with zinc phosphide and baiting in fallow corners of irrigated agriculture, and spot treating with Rozol in early spring as possible methods to manage this subspecies of ground squirrel. Spot treating ground squirrel burrows with Ditrac and Rozol in early spring resulted in a decrease in the number of squirrels and active burrows counted. Spot treating with Ditrac and using Rozol bait stations in mid-spring did not result in a decrease in the number of squirrels and active burrows counted. Finally, using a 2% zinc phosphide solution baited with cabbage during the early summer resulted in a decrease in both squirrel numbers and active burrows, with minimal above-ground carcasses. Although early spring is not a common time to use grain-based bait, this method is effective at reducing ground squirrel numbers in alfalfa fields in Utah. Furthermore, using zinc phosphide is a possible new control method for Utah. Future research with larger sample size, in additional areas with this species is recommended.