Annually on February 2, groundhogs get a lot of coverage. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are burrowing rodents often found in the eastern United States. But in California, any shadows from burrowing rodents are unlikely to be a groundhog. Here in the Golden State, you will find other types of burrowing rodents including pocket gophers, ground squirrels, voles, and Norway rats....

We took a look at which titles were of greatest interest during the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic when many Californians were staying home. These are the top ten most viewed Pest Notes from March to August 2020.

#10 Pocket Gophers

Pocket gophers are active all year round but,...

Here are the answers to the traps pictured in yesterday's blog post. How did you do? Let us know in the comments section.

As long as you use integrated pest management when seeking to fend off your pest enemies, you can be assured that Admiral Akbar would be proud.

Answers:

1. Yellow sticky trap, used for monitoring and detecting small winged insects like Asian citrus psyllid and whiteflies.

2. Live catch trap....

Although they're small, cute, and furry, ground squirrels can be a real pest for California residents and gardeners. Found throughout California, burrowing ground squirrels cause damage to landscapes and structures while feeding on ornamental or food-bearing plants.

How can you get rid of ground squirrels?

There are several management options for ground squirrels. They might include:

• habitat modification
• exclusion
• trapping
• fumigation and toxic baits

It's important to understand the life cycle and behavior of ground squirrels for...