Overview
Small woodland animals may be cute to look at, but they can cause much damage to crops, livestock, buildings and equipment if not controlled properly. The animals listed below are regulated as an agricultural nuisance in Alberta, which means people can control them on their property if they so choose.
Mice control
There is no way of placing a monetary value on human suffering and damage caused by mice. The greatest loss is probably not what mice eat, but what is wasted, contaminated or destroyed. They also carry disease which impacts public health.
Mice are a large group of mammals, with more than 130 species found worldwide. In Alberta, there are 7 species of mice and 12 species of voles.
The most troublesome and economically important of the species found in Alberta are the house mouse, the whitefooted mouse and the meadow vole (commonly called field mouse). Visit Mouse control to learn how to identify, prevent and control mice.
Pocket gophers and ground squirrels
Pocket gophers (moles) and ground squirrels can cause considerable damage to garden and crops by feeding on roots and vegetation.
Pocket gophers and ground squirrels require different control methods. Read the following manuals for extensive detail on how to manage these pests.
Bushy-tailed wood rat
Bushy-tailed wood rats (pack rats) are most commonly found in the foothills and mountain regions of Alberta. However, they can be transported to other areas of the province inadvertently through human activities, such as hitchhiking on vehicles, equipment or transported materials.
Visit Bushy-tailed wood rat to learn more.