The thirteen-lined ground squirrel’s food preference for insects and field mice may provide some benefit to the agricultural community. However, large concentrations of these ground squirrels in pastures, fields, and gardens can cause loss of forages and crops. They will dig up newly planted seeds, clip emerging plant shoots, and pull down ripening wheat, barley, and oats to eat the grain. They will readily feed on commonly grown home or truck garden vegetables, often damaging much more than they consume.
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels will also invade golf courses, parks, lawns, athletic fields, cemeteries, and similar wide-open grassy sites. Their burrowing and feeding activity can cause major economic and aesthetic damage in such places.
You will often know they are present simply by seeing them scurrying around. You can also recognize their burrow entrances as holes 2 to 3 inches in diameter, often obscured by surrounding vegetation.
Resources: (online)
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels
