Local squirrel information

Squirrel control in Iowa

Learn what to look for around your property, explore your city, and ask about an inspection or a quote.

Squirrels in Iowa: what to know

Around Iowa

Conditions vary across the state. Choose your city below, then describe what’s happening around your home or business.

What to note

Where you see squirrels, how long it has been going on, and anything you’ve already tried are the most useful details to mention.

A useful next step

Ask about an inspection, what treatment would involve, and whether follow-up visits are included. You don’t need to identify the problem yourself before getting in touch.

Local research

Squirrels in Iowa: what the public record shows

Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which squirrels actually live in Iowa, when they are busiest, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.

Fox squirrel and eastern gray squirrel

Squirrel species hunted

Fox squirrels favor open pasture timber and woodlots; grays hold mature timber.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Late August or early September through January 31

Season

The 2025-26 season ran August 30 through January 31 with no restriction on shooting hours.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

6 daily, 12 in possession

Bag limit

Requires a hunting license and habitat fee.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Squirrel species recorded in Iowa

Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) — Game animal in most eastern states; introduced and unclassified in Washington and California.
Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) — Game animal in the East; in California an introduced species that may be controlled any time when damaging property.

When squirrels are busiest in Iowa

Hunting runs late summer into January; attic entry peaks in fall as squirrels cache and again in late winter before the first litter.

Rules that apply in Iowa

Iowa DNR Small Game Hunting

For context, nationally

Two, with 1-8 pups each — Gray squirrel litters per year. Penn State Extension
Mid-December or early January, and again in June — Gray squirrel breeding periods. Penn State Extension

Sources: Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Tree Squirrels; Pest Notes: Tree Squirrels. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources

Explore Iowa cities

Ames

Humid Continental · suburban setting

Squirrel control in Iowa

Squirrels in Iowa: what to know

Around Iowa

What to note

A useful next step

Squirrels in Iowa: what the public record shows

Squirrel species recorded in Iowa

When squirrels are busiest in Iowa

Rules that apply in Iowa

For context, nationally

Explore Iowa cities

Ames

Ankeny

Cedar Falls

Cedar Rapids

Council Bluffs

Davenport

Des Moines

Dubuque

Iowa City

Marion

Sioux City

Urbandale

Waterloo

West Des Moines

Fort Dodge

Ask about squirrel control in Iowa