Santa Monica’s Palisades Park has become overrun with squirrels, prompting city officials to seek the community’s assistance in managing the rapidly growing population of these furry creatures.
The surge in the squirrel population in recent years is largely due to visitors feeding them unhealthy snacks. This steady stream of food has led to a boom in their numbers, creating an imbalance that the city is now striving to address.
Officials are urging the public to refrain from feeding the squirrels, emphasizing that this is a crucial step in controlling their population. Marcia Rybak, director of Coast and Canyon Wildlife Rehabilitation, explained to CBS News that the key issue is the availability of food.
“It’s always about the food supply,” Rybak noted. “For wildlife, or all animals really, everything revolves around shelter and food.” She pointed out that while other methods could be considered, they would not be as effective as simply stopping the feeding.
Footage captured at the park on Monday highlighted the extent of the problem, showing numerous squirrels roaming about and indulging in snacks like cheese crackers and even a packet of ranch dressing.
Video taken from the park on Monday showed dozens of squirrels meandering about, some snacking on food items such as cheese crackers and even a packet of ranch dressing.
“They’re very dominant squirrels,” said Nicole Smith, who was at the park on Monday. “This is their park. They’ve taken over.”
Another visitor, Joe Affleck, added, “I do understand both sides, and you don’t want to go down the path of getting rid of what’s naturally there.”
Another unidentified visitor told CBS on camera that the squirrels were, “super cute,” adding, “we were wondering why they’re, yeah, everywhere.”
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The squirrels are native to the area, with their natural habitat burrowed into the cliffs surrounding the park, with the city posting signs last year to try and get residents to stop feeding them.
The signs say that feeding birds and squirrels, “creates an imbalance in native ecology,” adding that it, “increases their dependence on people for food.”
When asked if the squirrel population explosion has caused any erosion into the cliffside, Rybak said, “Well, I don’t know if we’ve actually seen erosion caused by ground squirrels, but it could happen.”
Rybak did say that city leaders considered an idea 20 years ago to give squirrels birth control, though that never came to fruition, adding that a sudden decrease in food could lead to more aggressive behaviors.
Smith was also asked if she thought the squirrels should be removed from the park, but she responded saying, “I think they’re fine. Leave the squirrels alone. Save the wildlife.”
