Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota is grappling with an unusual and persistent threat—thousands of Richardson Ground Squirrels, commonly known in the region as “Dak-Rats.”

These unassuming rodents have become a major nuisance to base personnel and their families, disrupting daily life and posing a threat to infrastructure.

Last week, base leadership formally acknowledged the escalating squirrel problem in a statement shared via social media.

“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,” read the post on the base’s official Facebook page. “The health, safety and welfare of base residents is paramount.”

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Minot Air Force Base, located near the Canadian border, is no stranger to challenges.

The base endures harsh winters, isolation, and the constant oversight that comes with being home to some of the nation's most critical nuclear assets.

Now, the infestation of these small, burrowing rodents has added another layer of complexity to life on the installation.

The squirrels may not be involved in any clandestine “Secret Squirrel” missions, but they have proven themselves to be masters of disruption.

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According to a 2009 Air Force report, dakrats are known to spread disease and cause significant infrastructure damage with their extensive tunneling.

Their destructive habits threaten everything from family housing units to critical operational surfaces like runways.

Minot serves as a central node in the U.S. military’s strategic command, housing both the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing.

Despite its significance, the base’s location and lack of natural predators within its developed areas have made it a breeding ground for these rodents.

In 2019, pest management officials at the base reported a dramatic surge in squirrel populations—from an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 per year to well over double that figure.

Over the years, Minot has experimented with various mitigation techniques, including trapping, flooding burrows, and deploying certain poisons. Yet, despite these efforts, the squirrels remain a stubborn and recurring problem.

This time, base leadership has decided on a more structured and strategic approach to managing the infestation.

They’ve brought in “subject matter experts” to work alongside housing officials to assess damage prevention strategies and improve trapping methods. The team is developing a comprehensive and phased response to the crisis.

The campaign to reclaim the base from the squirrel occupation consists of three distinct phases. Phase one mobilized base residents to set out traps in an immediate effort to curb the most pressing rodent activity in residential areas.

With that groundwork laid, the base has moved into phase two: a two-week deployment of a coordinated trapping and removal operation led by pest control professionals. This phase is focused on broader and more aggressive removal efforts, incorporating data and recommendations from the subject matter experts.

Phase three aims to create a sustainable solution, focusing on long-term prevention. The base plans to allocate resources each spring and fall to mitigate future dakrat populations and prevent them from gaining a foothold again.

Despite the humor that some may find in the idea of a high-security nuclear base battling a rodent invasion, the issue is serious for the men and women stationed there.

Squirrel-induced damage can cost the military thousands in repairs and maintenance—not to mention the health risks and general disruption to quality of life for families living on base.

For now, the fight against the dakrats continues. With leadership taking a proactive stance and residents engaged in trapping efforts, Minot Air Force Base is hopeful that this multi-pronged campaign will finally bring the infestation under control.

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