PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item #12.B
Meeting Date: April 15, 2025
TITLE:
Discussion of Squirrel Control Options
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an overview of current practices relating to squirrel control in City parks and provide direction to staff on future practices.
DISCUSSION:
Squirrel control has become an issue in City parks due to the damage they create to parks and bluffs. Squirrel holes accelerate bluff erosion, contributing to bluff failures.
Approximately two years ago, the City Council directed staff to discontinue using bait to control squirrels due to concern that it may be ingested by other non-target animals. The state discontinued use for this same reason. After staff discontinued baiting, the squirrel population has grown significantly and continues to increase yearly. When baiting was discontinued, staff switched to a system of carbon monoxide injection as a control method. It has become apparent that this method is ineffective, in part due to the fact it cannot be used on bluff top areas and also since the tunnels have more than one opening and it allows the gas to escape. Staff was exploring options to return to baiting as a control measure; however, during the two-year period that the use of bait was discontinued by the State of California. All bait was banned except one called Rozal.
Rozal is a poison that cannot be used in walkways, within 50 feet of a dwelling or water, or where there are a lot of people. Rozal is primarily designed for agricultural settings, not park settings. Additionally, Rozal is a food chain poison, meaning that, for example, if it is ingested by a squirrel and a bird eats the squirrel, then the bird becomes poisoned as well.
The current available methods of control are:
Rozal poison – This method is not recommended due to high toxicity risk to people and animals, especially dogs. It is not recommended for a park setting. If the Rozal option were to be selected, the City would need to obtain a special permit, as Rozal is a restricted material.
Carbon monoxide poisoning – This is the current method in use. This is practiced every two weeks and is largely ineffective.
Mechanical control – This method involves live trapping of pests and then dispatching them on site. The state does not allow transportation of pests from the trap location, requiring them to be dispatched on site. Birth control – Squirrels breed two times a year from June through August and from December through February. These are the best times to practice trapping. There Council Agenda 4-15-2025 12.B-1
is currently no birth control approved or available in the U.S. and development for this is in its infancy.
Carbon monoxide is not as effective near bluff locations as it might be in more inland areas. Given that the State of California no longer allows the method of baiting of squirrels that the City previously found to be successful, and given that Rozal appears to be a more potent poison with potential unintended consequences, staff believes that contracting out mechanical control twice a year at breeding time is likely the most effective solution to control squirrels in City parks.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council receive this report and provide direction to staff if desired. If directed to move forward with mechanical control, staff will obtain bids for the work.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this presentation.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
Prepared by:
Mark Wilson, Facilities Manager
Submitted by: Rosemarie R. Gaglione, PE, Director of Public Works City Manager Approval:
Council Agenda 4-15-2025 12.B-2