Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Description of control techniques and methods for grounds squirrels in California are provided in detail, as well as some history of their development. Poisoning, trapping, and burrow fumigation are the only known procedures that give satisfactory control, with poisoning usually the best method. Of the toxicants used, sodium fluoroacetate is the most effective. Burrow fumigation has proved successful with both carbon bisulphide and methyl bromide, and the former is described in detail. Techniques are described for bait formulation, bait acceptance testing, and bait application that will allow use of these rodenticides in a manner that does not seriously endanger nontarget wildlife or domestic animals.