Rock Squirrels: A Tucson Gardener's Prickly Predicament

brian

05 Jun 2025 • 5 min read

Alright backyard gardeners, let's talk about those adorable, bushy-tailed critters that can turn your vegetable patch into a buffet – rock squirrels. If you’ve been gardening in the desert southwest for any amount of time you’ll know what I’m talking about, but did you know according to a study from Texas State University, rock squirrels are considered urban adaptors, exhibiting behavioral flexibility in response to changing environments.

Who Are These Little Guys?

Rock squirrels (Otospermophilus variegatus) are common in our Sonoran Desert environment. They’re bigger than your average ground squirrel and are excellent climbers, which means your raised beds and fruit trees are not off-limits. These guys embody "thriving in aridity," but sometimes, their resourcefulness can feel a bit too targeted at our hard-earned harvest. Rock squirrels mate in early Spring according to the Sonoran Desert Museum, and you’ll see an uptick in activity from March to July, they can have second litters in the Fall.

Identification

The Sky Island Alliance describes Rock squirrels as ground dwellers who make dens in burrows and prefer rocky areas like outcrops, boulder piles, and canyon walls, though they are adaptable and also use urban structures like buildings, bridges, roads, and stone walls. This is different from tree squirrels like the Arizona gray squirrel and Abert's squirrel, which make nests in trees and primarily inhabit woodlands or forests. While Harris' antelope squirrels and round-tailed ground squirrels are also ground dwellers, they have different habitat preferences according to the Saguaro National Park; Harris' prefer rockier deserts, while round-tailed prefer flat, open areas with deeper sandy soils.

The Damage They Do

These little renegades aren't just nibbling. They can decimate a garden in no time. We're talking:

Eating fruits and vegetables, sometimes taking just one bite out of each before moving on to the next.
Digging holes and burrows, disturbing plant roots.
Gnawing on irrigation lines.

And my least favorite, breaking fruit tree branches. It’s one thing to lose a few fruits, but when these hefty critters go foraging they can ruin your production for years to come.

Pragmatic Prevention & Deterrents

Now, we’re not about to suggest anything cruel. But there are no guaranteed humane ways to remove rock squirrels from your garden. Here are some strategies I’ve tried over the years with varying degrees of success.

Warning: Cautionary tales of mitigation techniques gone wrong ahead…

Physical Barriers

This can be the most effective and humane way to protect your crops. It all comes down to the effort and money you are willing to commit. I’m talking wire mesh, netting, and other barriers, both above and below ground. Let’s be clear, you are not going to be able to keep a determined squirrel out, but you can create an obstacle course that gives your plants a fighting chance!

I’ve had success with insect or bird netting and continue to use this strategy, but I don’t bury wire below my beds to prevent digging. Squirrels do dig under my beds but I sense it is more to find a place to cool off. If you do want to prevent digging a study from New Mexico State University recommends the fence be buried and flared outward at the bottom.

PRO: Effective, cheap, and humane netting can deter squirrels, birds, and bugs!

CON: Barriers to squirrels are barriers to gardeners too, making every garden chore take twice as long.

I can vouch for the bug nets above. They are UV protected and very strong. I prefer them to bird nets because the lizards don’t get tangled up in them. They stop birds, bugs, and squirrels plus they last for several seasons.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GVHYTJQ

Trap and Release (With Caution)

If you opt to trap, be sure you know the regulations and have a plan for relocation, far away from your garden. Research from Texas State University found that Rock squirrels have large ranges in the wild and are surprisingly capable of finding their way home. I’ve released squirrels miles away, only to see them turn and run in the exact direction of my garden.

Traps are purchasable from Ace, Home Depot, or Amazon, and are super effective when baited with pecans.

If you choose this option, be careful. I’ve had several squirrels over the years perish in “humane” traps. Stress, heat, and unattentiveness can all lead to inadvertent death. It’s for this reason I only set a trap if I have a squirrel that is particularly destructive.

PRO: Effective when dealing with a troublesome squirrel and gives your garden recovery time before a new guy moves in.

CON: Well, other than the possibility of having to pry a dead squirrel out of a cage. I often see a new squirrel in the garden in only a few days. You could catch 2 squirrels a week if you wanted.

Here is the model I’ve had for the last five years. It is very durable and will probably last a lifetime!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UFLIA0

Dogs Always Work (Raised Beds)

If you have raised beds and an enclosed yard around your garden, there is no better way to keep all kinds of critters out than a dog. Unfortunately, my garden is mostly in ground beds and is disconnected from my main yard. But when my garden was in my backyard, I didn’t even know what a rock squirrel looked like!

The University of Arizona warns that Rock Squirrels can transmit bubonic plague and also create a risk for other zoonotic disease transmissions.

PRO: Guaranteed effective! Plus dogs are awesome!

CON: It is all good when they chase them, but no fun when they catch one…

Repellents

Some gardeners have success with commercial repellents, although I have not. I’ve tried capsaicin, blood, and urine based repellents and none have been worth the money or stink!

It's hard to be mad I guess…

Dealing with rock squirrels is a challenge. It’s part of gardening in the Sonoran Desert. Each season, these critters provide us with lessons in resilience and adaptability. By facing this challenge, we strengthen our resolve and become better gardeners.

At the end of the day these are awesome little animals. I’ve found that with a combination of fences, nets, and the occasional exiling of a troublemaker I’m able to enjoy my garden and the wildlife that comes with it!

Sources: