Wildlife

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A gopher poking it's head out of a mound of dirt in a lawn.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Managing Pocket Gophers

March 26, 2024
By Niamh M Quinn, Roger A Baldwin, Carolyn Whitesell
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.
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A close up of a brown mouse in a kitchen sink, with dishes in the background.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Prevent rodents from overwintering in your home!

October 26, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
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.
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A gray and white cat sitting outside of a house.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Feral Cats and Their Impact in Communities

July 12, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
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.
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A vole, also known as a meadow mouse. [Credit: Jack Kelly Clark]
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Voles in Your Yard?

April 12, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
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.
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A groundhog eating a flower.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Happy Groundhog Day!

February 1, 2023
By Lauren Fordyce
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.
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Male turkey toms roaming a neighborhood. Credit: Karey Windbiel-Rojas.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Turkey Time

November 17, 2022
By Lauren Fordyce
With many people thinking about turkey this time of year, we thought we would provide some interesting facts about wild turkeys for you to share during your holiday gatherings! Turkeys are not native to California but were introduced by European settlers.
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Adult house mouse. Photo by Jack Kelly Clark.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Rodent Awareness Week 2022

October 19, 2022
By Lauren Fordyce
You may not think about rodents such as rats, mice, or gophers until they become a pest around your home. Because rodents can be major pests in and around homes, gardens, landscapes, restaurants, and other buildings, each year pest control experts celebrate Rodent Awareness Week.
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A black-tailed jackrabbit, also known as a hare. [Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service]
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Bad Bunnies

October 4, 2022
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes, Lauren Fordyce
Many people think wild rabbits hopping around are adorablethere's even an international rabbit day celebrating wild and domestic rabbitsbut they're less welcome when they're eating your carefully tended garden. Wild rabbits in California can devour your garden vegetables, just like Peter Cottontail.
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Figure 1. A coyote scavenging a dead rat in a suburban backyard. Photo by game camera.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Rats, Rodenticides, and Research

June 20, 2022
By Niamh M Quinn
Where is rodenticide exposure in wildlife coming from? Is it from use by residents or farmers? Applications by marijuana growers? Or from applications by qualified and trained structural pest control professionals?
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