California Forests

Rats can contaminate our food, damage structures, and spread diseases. To help residents and urban pest professionals safely and effectively manage rats, UC IPM has updated the Pest Notes: Rats publication.

In this blog article we answer some frequently asked questions about moles, voles, and gophers and their management. How can I tell if I have moles, voles, gophers, or something else? Moles: look for circular or volcano-shaped mounds with the plug in the middle, or a plug may not be apparent.

Our expert guide to selecting, planting, and caring for street trees in Alameda County. Tips on site evaluation, approved species, and proper care.

Pocket gophers can cause significant damage to valuable turf, girdle trees, and chew irrigation lines. Their mounds can create tripping hazards and lead to erosion concerns when found on slopes.

Choosing fruit trees for your Alameda County garden? Use this checklist to find the best varieties and set yourself up for a fruitful harvest.

Create wildlife habitats in your Alameda County garden with tips on supporting birds, bees, and other beneficial creatures around your home landscape.

Most people don't think about rats or mice until they become pests in or around the home. But with experts predicting that these pests will be particularly bad this upcoming winter, you might want to spend some more time rodent-proofing your home and other buildings.

Many of us at UC IPM are cat lovers and owners. Cats are popular household pets that bring joy and companionship to many families. Feral cats, on the other hand, can cause problems in our communities and around our homes and gardens. Feral cats are unsocialized, unowned cats that live outdoors.

Voles are small, mouselike rodents that can be pests in gardens and landscapes. They damage many types of plants with their gnawing, from vegetables to turf to trees. Voles can gnaw completely around the trunk or roots of trees, causing girdling, which can kill trees.

As you may know, Groundhog Day is observed on February 2nd to predict if there will be an early spring or if six more weeks of winter are in order. Groundhogs are large, ground-dwelling rodents found mainly on the East Coast that can cause severe damage to landscapes, gardens, and structures.