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.
The squirrels, known as Richardson’s ground squirrels or “Dak-Rats,” are native to the area and seem to have proliferated because there are no natural predators in and around the base. They have been a problem at Minot for years, but recently their numbers have surged from between 3,000 and 5,000 a year to more than double that, according to Task & Purpose.
“Base leadership is aware of the noticeably increased presence of Richardson Ground Squirrels, commonly called ‘Dak-Rats,’ in base housing and the nuisance they present to residents,” the base posted on its Facebook page on June 23. “The health, safety, and welfare of base residents is paramount.”
Officials said they will deploy additional resources for “fall and spring mitigation efforts to significantly decrease the on-base population.”
Minot AFB is home to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing, which maintains intercontinental ballistic missiles and missile launch control centers. About 6,000 military personnel are stationed there, and the base’s total population is about 14,600.
