this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2025
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49
Ground squirrels are taking over a North Dakota city and officials are not amused (apnews.com)
submitted 2 days ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/news@lemmy.world
4 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The Richardson’s ground squirrel weighs less than a pound, is about a foot long and is native to the northern Plains.

The little creature also is a ferocious tunneler, and it’s exasperating the people of Minot, North Dakota, where it’s burrowing everywhere from vacant lots to the middle of town, and growing more plentiful over the past two decades.

Now North Dakota’s fourth-largest city is fighting back, but even the pest control guy leading the charge acknowledges that it will be difficult to turn the tide against the rodent.

Ground squirrels have been an issue in Minot, a city of nearly 50,000 people, for at least 20 years, but the problem has dramatically worsened in the last few years, said Minot Street Department Superintendent Kevin Braaten.

Herman says they damage driveways, sidewalks and lawns; create tripping hazards with their holes and can harbor disease from fleas.

Along an apartment building, the squirrels had dug under a concrete slab and against the foundation. Nearby in a vacant lot, the rodents popped in and out of holes.

North of town, Minot Air Force Base, which houses bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles, has fought the ground squirrels for years. Earlier this month, the base said it had trapped more than 800 “dak-rats,” a base name for the rodents.

Base officials declined to comment on the squirrels.

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[–] cymbal_king@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The prairie dogs are a native species, we're the invasive ones! I'd also say that all the oil drilling around Minot is more damaging than these cute little guys

[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 3 points 2 days ago

Exactly. They were probably there first, and human building and drilling has damaged their homes and food sources.

[–] Kraven_the_Hunter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

There are FOUR cities in North Dakota??!

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

I have family there and was shocked to see Minot is the fourth largest. I know Bismarck and Fargo are bigger but couldn't guess what the third place city is.