Forests

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Roof rat on a kitchen sink. (Credit: N Quinn)
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Rats and Mice: How to Manage Using Snap Traps

January 15, 2020
By Niamh M Quinn
Trapping is the safest and most effective method for controlling rats and mice in and around homes, garages, and other structures. Rodents that live in close association with humans are called commensal rodents. Rats and mice are the most frequently encountered commensal rodents in California.
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Mule deer (Credit: WP Gorenzel)
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Oh Deer!

December 5, 2019
The sight of deer in the wild can be delightful but when these animals invade your garden, devouring everything in sight, people's ideas might change. The internet is full of advice for ridding your garden of deer, but beware, much of it is ineffective.
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A flock of wild turkeys in a residential neighborhood.<br>(Credit: K Windbiel-Rojas)
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The Truth About Turkeys

November 25, 2019
It has been rumored that Ben Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird and symbol of our nation. Whether this is true or not, there is evidence that Franklin thought highly of this holiday bird.
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A conk, the fruiting body of the fungus <i>Phellinus ignarius</i> on black walnut. (Credit: AJ Downer, UCCE Ventura County)
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Wood Decay Fungi in Landscape Trees

August 23, 2019
Landscape trees provide welcome shade, fruit, homes for wildlife, and even a place for kids to climb. But if the wood is damaged, disease-causing fungi can infect the tree. A number of fungal diseases decay wood in both tree branches and trunks, weakening and sometimes killing the tree.
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Keep Your Palm Trees Disease-free

August 15, 2019
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Palm trees are commonly seen in California, making some think about the tree-lined streets of Hollywood, or sitting by the pool somewhere.
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Adult pocket gopher peeking out of a burrow entrance. [Credit: T. Chalmers]
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Got Gophers?

August 14, 2019
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Gophers are well-known and certainly unwelcome pests in landscapes, gardens, lawns, and athletic turf. More correctly called pocket gophers, these rodents mostly remain hidden underground in tunnels and feed on plants from below, sometimes pulling whole plants into their tunnels.
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Adult California ground squirrel. (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
Article

Ground Squirrels: Furry Foes

March 21, 2019
Although they're small, cute, and furry, ground squirrels can be a real pest for California residents and gardeners. Found throughout California, burrowing ground squirrels cause damage to landscapes and structures while feeding on ornamental or food-bearing plants.
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