Booming squirrel population drives popular Southern California beach community nuts

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Booming squirrel population drives popular Southern California beach community nuts

A squirrel population that appears to be growing out of control has residents at one famous Southern California beach community concerned.

Dozens of fuzzy critters were seen running around Santa Monica’s Palisades Park, stretching along Ocean Avenue, as KTLA’s Kimberly Cheng talked to residents Monday.

“These squirrels have become kind of desensitized to all of the people … I almost trip over them when I jog because they don’t get out of your way,” Santa Monica resident Gary Spiegel said.

Squirrels are not new to the area, but some say the population has exploded since the COVID pandemic in 2020.

Squirrels are seen in Santa Monica’s Palisades Park on May 12, 2025. (KTLA)

The city of Santa Monica has posted signs asking the public not to feed squirrels or birds in the area.

The red and white signs say it “creates an imbalance in native ecology” and increases their dependence on humans for food, media outlet

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Despite the signs, KTLA cameras caught several visitors to the park handing food over to the squirrels.

“It’s crazy. People come and they play with them. They feed them all the time now … I’m just like, guys, stop. Please stop feeding the squirrels,” said Santa Monica resident Aimee Flaherty, who also said the squirrels aren’t afraid of people.

“I was just sitting in the park and the squirrels came up to me and one actually crawled on my leg,” she said.

Flaherty was urging people to stop feeding the squirrels because she doesn’t want the population to be controlled by the city or for any poisons to be used.

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