Grassland rodents are an important community component affecting the ecological balance of grasslands. Grassland rodent monitoring is also an important part of pest control. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) low-altitude remote sensing is a new pest monitoring method, which has high spatial resolution, high efficiency, low cost, and low potential for loss. A demonstration project was conducted in Xinjiang to assess its potential as a rodent monitoring and control method. This project was conducted in October 2015 and May 2016 in a desert forest, which is the typical habitat of Rhombomys opimus in Xinjiang, near the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert. A UAV low-altitude aerial survey was conducted in October 2015 and May 2016, 0.02m and 0.024m, respectively, to obtain ultra-high resolution images of the experimental area. The experimental area was divided into two sections for visual interpretation to determine the distribution and conduct a buffer analysis of gerbil holes, and to add a trend line to the gerbil-hole distribution map based on spatial distribution trend analysis and the relationship between the holes and topography in the mountain shadow map overlay. Using GIS grid and GIS overlay analysis, a coverage map of all gerbil holes was created. Based on the results, it was concluded that:UAV low-altitude remote sensing can provide highly accurate distribution information for Rhombomys opimus; the group coverage rate for Rhombomys opimus holes in the southern Gurbantunggut Desert forest zone was 19.4%, where 18.8% has been considered a high density; the research area for Rhombomys opimus exhibited accumulation and zonal distribution characteristics; characteristics of the distribution of Rhombomys opimus holes leading to burrows was obtained for the study area; the zonal distribution of Rhombomys opimus holes and topography were closely related; spatial distribution characteristics could be used for scientific planning of rodent control; and UAV low-altitude remote sensing has broad applications for rodent monitoring and control.