SANTA MONICA—On June 8, officials with the city of Santa Monica issued a request to those visiting area parks to not feed rodents, specifically, squirrels. According to reports, Palisades Park is experiencing the largest uptick in the squirrel population. Officials reported that the squirrels in that area have become a nuisance and are bold and aggressive.
Rodents depend on the handouts, creating an unnatural food supply, and are pursuing those visiting the park for snacks. Squirrels like other rodents’ nest near their food source and breed twice annually once around February and during the summer (June-August). Squirrels can birth anywhere from 2 to 9 kits.
According to Coast and Canyon Wildlife Rehabilitation specialist, Marcia Rybak, the local squirrel population is no longer leaning on their own instincts to forage for food. Rybak told KCBS that, “The problem is, it’s always the food supply. Everything is shelter and food with wildlife, or all animals, really.”
Coast and Canyon Wildlife Rehabilitation is a volunteer run organization that rescues orphaned wildlife in the area, primarily baby squirrels. According to the Coast and Canyon website, their team of volunteers “cared for over 1,100 orphaned, injured, or displaced wild animals in Los Angeles County. We pride ourselves in never turning away an animal in need and never letting the cost of animal care determine its future.”
City officials started posting signs advising the public not to feed the rodents. Rybak noted if people stop feeding the squirrels, they will move on.
Santa Monica does not use poisons to thin the population due to the threat of harming other wildlife. Wildlife experts encourage the city to stop the public feeding of the squirrels, and “Let nature take over,” to protect the local ecosystem and the structural integrity of the Palisades Bluffs, which reports indicate that the squirrels burrowing habits have begun to take over.
By Sharon