Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Trap a Grey Digger
How to Trap a Grey Digger. "Grey Digger" is a common name given to the California Ground Squirrel. Grey diggers range the length of California up into Oregon and across to Nevada. They thrive in farmlands, but city parks and yards attract them as well. They are classified as a destructive pest throughout their range, causing considerable damage to...
"Grey Digger" is a common name given to the California Ground Squirrel. Grey diggers range the length of California up into Oregon and across to Nevada. They thrive in farmlands, but city parks and yards attract them as well. They are classified as a destructive pest throughout their range, causing considerable damage to crops and landscapes by way of their aggressive burrowing and eating habits. Trapping is an accepted means of control throughout their range.
Things You'll Need
Steel traps, size 1
Trowel
Rebar wire
Locate the burrows used by grey diggers. Fresh dirt piled in front of a hole in the ground with tracks in the dirt indicates an active grey digger burrow.
Trowel out a1/2-inch-deep hollow 6 inches in front of the burrow hole. Place the set trap in the hollow with the jaw hinge pointing toward the hole so the grey digger steps between the trap jaws and not over them.
Twist one end of a strand of rebar wire to the trap chain ring and the other end of the wire fastened to a solid object. Cover the trap lightly with dirt from the burrow.
Set a trap in the same manner surrounded by scattered seeds or nut meats, which are attractive foods to grey diggers. Grey diggers will find the food and step in the trap when coming to eat it.
Check traps every day to remove any animals that are caught.
Tips & Warnings
If catching non-target animals is a concern, place a solid cardboard or wooden box over the burrow entrance and trap that allows only the burrowed grey digger access to the trap.
The small-size killer type traps can be used by placing the trap over the burrow entrance.
Before trapping in a city or urban area, check the local regulations for trapping.
Do not use leg hold or killer traps in areas frequented by wandering pets. In these areas use the squirrel-size live-catch traps.
