Begin Ground Squirrel Control NOW 
Kari Lewis, MSU Extension - Glacier County   

Producers are encouraged to begin
 ground squirrel control now.
Photo by Kari Lewis.

I’ve recently seen a few Richardson ground squirrels out and that’s a good reminder that it’s time to think about control for these pesky pests. The Richardson ground squirrel, which is commonly referred to as a ‘gopher,’ is a medium sized ground squirrel with yellow-tan to gray coloring and typically weighs 11 to 18 ounces.  The Richardson ground squirrel predominately lives east of the Continental Divide of Montana and causes extensive damage in croplands, pastures, and hay fields.  Research has shown hay yields in alfalfa fields infested with ground squirrels have shown a 24% yield reduction.

                Ground squirrels emerge from hibernation between February and April, depending on local weather conditions and elevation.  The first ground squirrels to emerge from hibernation are the males.  The males establish their breeding territories in preparation for the females that emerge from hibernation 10 days to two weeks after the males emerge.  Once the females emerge from hibernation, again, there is a short breeding season and then after a three to four-week gestation period, the females give birth to a single litter in April or May.  Ground squirrels reproduce quite prolifically.  Typically, litters average six to seven ground squirrels per litter, but could have as many as 14 per litter.

                When the ground squirrel young are approximately five weeks of age, they emerge from the burrow and begin feeding on grass, crops, etc.  So, if we assume that the adult males will emerge from hibernation March 15, that would put the females emerging approximately March 25.  After a short breeding season and an approximate four-week gestation period, they would likely have their litter in early May and by the end of May, their 2 to 14 ground squirrel young have joined them in feeding on crops, rangeland, etc. 

            By being prepared to begin control in March and April, there are only the adult males and females to control.  By waiting until May or June to provide control (when the ground squirrel damage is clearly visible), there will be a much, much larger population of ground squirrels to control.  

For managing ground squirrels in large areas, such as on rangeland or cropland, toxicants are commonly used.  Toxicants are poisonous items that are designed to kill the animals that eat them.  Zinc phosphide and diphacinone are two toxicants registered for the control of Richardson’s ground squirrels. 

Zinc phosphide bait is most effective when applied early in the spring, shortly after ground squirrels emerge from hibernation, and before spring green-up.  Zinc phosphide should not be applied if moisture is forecasted within two days of application.  Zinc phosphide may be applied by hand baiting or broadcast baiting.  Broadcast baiting may be used in rangelands, pastures, non-crop areas, orchards and crop areas including barley, wheat and alfalfa. 

Ramik Green is an example of an anticoagulant which is a general use pesticide.  Ramik green must be placed in rat-sized tamper-resistant bait stations.  Stations must be maintained regularly to ensure a constant supply of bait for at least 30 days. 

In large acreages, the use of toxic grain bait may be the most cost-effective control method.  Bait should be applied when the entire squirrel population is active and readily accepting grain.  The breeding period, typically March, is the ideal time to control ground squirrels.  By controlling early, we can eliminate both adults and potential young as well, to help minimize crop damage.  If we wait to control ground squirrels, vegetation begins to green-up and the ground squirrels’ acceptance of grain bait is reduced.

If using a restricted use product, applicators must have a private pesticide applicator’s license prior to purchasing a restricted use product.  Licenses can be obtained through taking the test at your local extension office or attending an upcoming class, such as the one April 26 in Great Falls.  If you have any questions on receiving your private pesticide applicators license, please call your local extension office.

 

Tips for reducing fuel usage
Kari Lewis, MSU Extension - Glacier County 

This morning as I drove by the gas station, it looked like fuel prices had gone up $0.20 from just yesterday, ouch!  As we watch prices for seemingly everything rise, it’s easy to feel like there’s nothing we can do.  However, I think it’s important to focus on what we CAN control.  Today, I put together a few ideas for reducing fuel usage. 

First, consider taking advantage of free transportation.  Locally, we have the Northern Transit Interlocal bus service which is a partnership of Toole County Transit, Glacier County Transit, and Pondera County Transit.  This free service provides rides from Shelby, Sunburst, Sweet Grass, Shelby, Conrad, Browning, and Valier to Great Falls, Kalispell, and locations in between.  There is more information on their website, northern.rural-transit.com, or by calling 406-873-2207. 

Secondly, for the kids in school, this might be the time for them to start riding the bus again, if they aren’t already!  I’m always amazed at how often we’ll see two or three members of the same family each driving separately to and from school or town.  With a little coordination, some ride sharing could likely happen.

Next, map out your trips strategically – Keep a running list of what is needed where so when you do go out, you can make sure to hit as many stops as possible, in the correct order.  Rather than a trip to Great Falls or Kalispell to ‘stock up,’ I’d encourage you to watch the sales locally and shop here to support our local businesses. 

Lastly, discuss as a family what activities are most important this coming summer.  Will spring mean you carpool to baseball games with another family?  Or will you skip the baseball season to instead do summer golf or swim team?  Changes will likely have to be made, and it’s best to involve everyone in those discussions to prioritize family activities. 

When it comes to saving on fuel:

·         Make sure to properly maintenance your vehicle.  Dirty air filters, old spark plugs, or low fluid levels can lead to poor fuel economy.

·         Check your tire pressures regularly – a single tire underinflated by 2 PSI increases fuel consumption by 1%.

·         Slow down - According to FuelEconomy.gov, there’s an average 14 percent decrease in fuel efficiency from 60 to 70 mph and an additional 15.4 percent decrease when going from 70 to 80 mph.  At higher speeds, the vehicle is not only working harder to achieve the extra speed, but it also has to combat additional wind resistance.

·         Avoid over-revving your car – A study published by SAE International found that “aggressive behavior behind the wheel can lower gas mileage in light-duty vehicles by about 10 to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic and roughly 15 to 30 percent at highway speeds. This can equate to losing about $0.25 to $1 per gallon.”

·         Eliminate any unnecessary weight in your vehicle – As I thought about my car, I don’t think I’ll be unloading the muck boots and coveralls from the trunk yet, but if there’s extra tools in the back of the pickup, maybe that could be unloaded to reduce the weight. 

Again, I’d encourage you to focus on what you CAN control, and maybe choose one or two of today’s tips to put into practice.