Rock Squirrel Removal in Austin & Central Texas
Humane Rock Squirrel Trapping & Exclusion for Austin Homes and Businesses
Fast, humane trapping and exclusion to protect your foundation, patios, and landscaping from destructive rock squirrel burrows. While most people are familiar with the tree squirrels that run along fences and nest in attics, Central Texas is home to a different, highly destructive species: the Rock Squirrel. Known for their large size and extensive burrowing habits, rock squirrels can cause severe structural and landscaping damage if left unchecked. At Cen-Tex Wildlife Control, we specialize in the humane trapping, removal, and exclusion of rock squirrels for residential and commercial properties throughout the Greater Austin area.
Warning Signs of a Rock Squirrel Problem
Rock squirrels are burrowing animals, and the damage they cause often starts underground. Rock squirrel colonies grow quickly, and the deeper the burrows get, the more costly the repair. Contact Cen-Tex Wildlife Control today for a professional inspection and fast, humane removal.
- Burrow entrances near your foundation: Large, circular holes (2–4 inches wide) along your home's base, retaining walls, or concrete slabs.
- Sunken or uneven pavers: Burrowing underneath patios, walkways, and driveways causes soil to shift and surfaces to crack or sink.
- Chewed irrigation lines and garden damage: Rock squirrels gnaw through drip lines, plastic tubing, and garden edging, and will raid vegetable gardens and fruit trees.
- Daytime sightings of large squirrels: Unlike nocturnal pests, rock squirrels are active during the day. They are larger and heavier than tree squirrels, often seen foraging at ground level.
- Unexplained odors near your foundation: Musky smells near burrow entrances can indicate an established, active colony.
Rock Squirrels vs. Tree Squirrels: What’s the Difference?
It's important to know what kind of squirrel is damaging your property so it can be treated correctly.
Tree Squirrels (like the Eastern Gray Squirrel) prefer to nest high up in trees or inside your home's attic. Rock Squirrels are ground-dwellers. They are larger, often have a mottled grayish-brown coat, and prefer to dig deep burrows in the ground, especially under rocks, boulders, porches, and concrete slabs. While they can climb trees, they retreat to their underground burrows for safety.
Tree Squirrels (like the Eastern Gray Squirrel) prefer to nest high up in trees or inside your home's attic. Rock Squirrels are ground-dwellers. They are larger, often have a mottled grayish-brown coat, and prefer to dig deep burrows in the ground, especially under rocks, boulders, porches, and concrete slabs. While they can climb trees, they retreat to their underground burrows for safety.
How Can We Help You With Your Rock Squirrel Issue?
Service Locations
We proudly serve homeowners across Austin and the greater Central Texas area, including Leander, West Lake Hills, Spicewood, Manor, Bee Cave, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Hutto, Dripping Springs, Taylor, Tarrytown, Rollingwood, Horseshoe Bay, Driftwood, Lakeway, Liberty Hill, and nearby communities. Local experience means we understand Texas wildlife behavior and seasonal activity patterns.
The Damage Rock Squirrels Cause to Your Property
Because rock squirrels are burrowers, the damage they cause is often structural and can be incredibly costly to repair:
- Foundation & Concrete Damage: Rock squirrels love to dig their burrows under concrete slabs, patios, driveways, and retaining walls. Over time, this removes the dirt supporting the concrete, leading to cracking, sinking, and structural failure.
- Landscaping Destruction: They will aggressively dig up flower beds, eat garden vegetables, and destroy ornamental plants.
- Chewed Wires & Irrigation: Like all rodents, rock squirrels have teeth that never stop growing. They will chew through underground sprinkler lines, outdoor lighting wires, and even vehicle wiring if they nest near your driveway.
- Erosion & Trip Hazards: Their large burrow entrances create severe trip hazards and can cause significant soil erosion during heavy Texas rainstorms.
Our Proven Rock Squirrel Removal Process
Rock squirrels are highly intelligent and cautious, making DIY trapping incredibly difficult. Our state-certified wildlife technicians use proven methods to eliminate the problem permanently.
1. Comprehensive Property InspectionWe start by inspecting your yard, foundation, and landscaping to identify active rock squirrel burrows, assess the structural risks, and determine their travel paths.
2. Strategic Humane TrappingWe use heavy-duty, humane live traps placed strategically near burrow entrances and along their natural foraging routes. We use specialized baiting and placement techniques that rock squirrels can't resist.
3. Safe Removal & RelocationOnce captured, we safely and legally remove the rock squirrels from your property in accordance with Texas state wildlife regulations.
4. Burrow Filling & ExclusionRemoving the squirrel is only the first step. To prevent new rodents or snakes from taking over the abandoned burrow, we offer exclusion services. We can fill the burrows and install heavy-duty wire mesh barriers (trenching) around vulnerable areas like porches and sheds to ensure they can never dig underneath them again.
1. Comprehensive Property InspectionWe start by inspecting your yard, foundation, and landscaping to identify active rock squirrel burrows, assess the structural risks, and determine their travel paths.
2. Strategic Humane TrappingWe use heavy-duty, humane live traps placed strategically near burrow entrances and along their natural foraging routes. We use specialized baiting and placement techniques that rock squirrels can't resist.
3. Safe Removal & RelocationOnce captured, we safely and legally remove the rock squirrels from your property in accordance with Texas state wildlife regulations.
4. Burrow Filling & ExclusionRemoving the squirrel is only the first step. To prevent new rodents or snakes from taking over the abandoned burrow, we offer exclusion services. We can fill the burrows and install heavy-duty wire mesh barriers (trenching) around vulnerable areas like porches and sheds to ensure they can never dig underneath them again.
Frequently Asked Rock Squirrel Removal Questions
What is a rock squirrel and why is it a problem in Austin?
The rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) is the largest squirrel species in Texas and one of the most destructive. Unlike the Eastern fox squirrel commonly seen in trees and attics, rock squirrels are ground-dwelling burrowers. Central Texas's rocky terrain, warm climate, and suburban landscaping make Austin an ideal habitat. Their extensive burrow systems can undermine foundations, crack concrete, collapse retaining walls, and destroy landscaping — damage that worsens the longer the problem goes unaddressed.
How is a rock squirrel different from a regular tree squirrel?
Rock squirrels are noticeably larger and heavier than tree squirrels — often reaching 20+ inches in length including the tail. They live and burrow underground rather than nesting in trees or attics. Their damage is structural rather than interior: think cracked patios and undermined foundations rather than chewed wiring or attic insulation. They also reproduce more aggressively and are harder to deter once a colony is established.
What are the signs of a rock squirrel problem on my property?
Key signs include: large burrow entrances (2–4 inches wide) near your foundation, retaining walls, or patio; sunken or cracked pavers; eroding soil around landscaping; chewed irrigation lines or garden damage; and sightings of large, heavy-bodied squirrels foraging at ground level during daylight hours. A musky odor near your foundation can also indicate an active, established colony.
Can rock squirrels damage my foundation?
Yes — this is the most serious risk. Rock squirrels dig extensive tunnel networks that can extend several feet underground and directly beneath concrete slabs, footings, and retaining walls. Over time, this causes soil to shift and compact unevenly, leading to cracked concrete, sinking slabs, and in severe cases, compromised structural integrity. Foundation repairs resulting from unchecked burrow damage can run into thousands of dollars.
Do rock squirrels carry diseases?
Rock squirrels can carry plague (Yersinia pestis), tularemia, and rabies, and their fleas can transmit these diseases to pets and humans. While transmission is uncommon in urban settings, it is a documented risk — particularly in Texas and across the Southwest. This is one reason professional removal and exclusion is strongly recommended over DIY handling.
Will rock squirrels ever enter my home?
Rock squirrels rarely enter living spaces the way tree squirrels do, but they can access crawl spaces, garages, and low-profile openings at ground level. They are also known to gnaw through wood, irrigation lines, and utility penetrations near the base of a structure. If burrows are located directly against your foundation, interior access is possible through gaps in the slab or utility entries.
How do you remove rock squirrels?
We use humane live trapping as our primary removal method, placing traps near active burrow entrances and high-traffic foraging areas. Once the population is reduced, we move into the exclusion phase — backfilling and treating burrows, installing underground barriers, and modifying the landscape to eliminate harborage. Removal without exclusion almost always results in re-infestation, either by the same animals or new ones attracted to the established burrow system.
Can I remove rock squirrels myself?
DIY trapping is legal in Texas for nuisance squirrels on your own property, but it is rarely effective long-term. Rock squirrels are trap-shy, reproduce quickly, and will reinvade open burrow systems. Improper handling also poses a disease risk. Without professional exclusion — underground barriers, burrow backfilling, and habitat modification — new squirrels will move into the same tunnels within weeks. Professional removal is faster, safer, and more cost-effective over time.
What does rock squirrel exclusion involve?
Exclusion focuses on making your property inhospitable and physically inaccessible. This includes: backfilling active burrows with compacted fill and repellent materials, installing underground wire mesh barriers along foundations and retaining walls, removing brush piles and ground cover that provide shelter, and trimming vegetation that offers food or concealment. We also address any structural gaps at ground level that could allow entry into crawl spaces or garages.
Austin's #1 Rock Squirrel Removal & Wildlife Control Company
We are a professional rock squirrel removal company based in Austin, Texas, delivering the highest quality wildlife control services for over 12 years. Call us today and we will solve your rock squirrel problem fast!