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Air Force Base Facing Flood of Squirrels

Military is laying traps and bringing in experts to deal with the problem at North Dakota installation.

A B-52H Stratofortress taxis during an alert exercise at Minot Air Force Base. [Credit: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Jocelyn Rich, via Wikimedia Commons]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota is experiencing a severe and persistent infestation of Richardson's ground squirrels, known as "Dak-Rats."
  • The squirrel population has surged significantly, more than doubling in recent years, primarily due to a lack of natural predators in the area.
  • These squirrels are causing damage to base housing and infrastructure, prompting base leadership to deploy traps, consult experts, and plan mitigation efforts to control their numbers.
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Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota is dealing with a unique but persistent threat—an infestation of squirrels that are damaging base housing and infrastructure.

First reported by online news site Task & Purpose, military officials at Minot AFB are setting up traps to catch the squirrels and bringing in “subject matter experts” to advise on the problem.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.

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