Mysterious holes in yards often lead homeowners to suspect deer, given their frequent presence. However, deer’s interactions with the ground are often misunderstood, and they are rarely responsible for excavating deep holes. The actual culprits behind yard holes are diverse.
Understanding Deer and Ground Disturbance
Deer are not natural burrowing animals, meaning they do not dig extensive underground tunnels or burrows for habitation. Their anatomy, specifically their hooves, is not adapted for deep excavation. Instead, deer generally engage in surface-level activities that disturb the soil rather than creating deep holes. While they can use their hooves to move earth, this is distinct from the sustained, purposeful digging seen in many other wildlife species.
Specific Deer Behaviors That Affect Soil
One notable behavior is the creation of “scrapes” by male deer. Bucks paw away leaves and debris to expose bare soil, often under an overhanging branch they mark with scent glands. These scrapes, typically three feet in diameter, serve as communication points for other deer.
Deer also create “bedding areas” by pawing and settling into soft soil or leaf litter to form shallow depressions where they rest. These flattened areas provide concealment. Resting spots are chosen for cover and proximity to food and water.
Deer also engage in shallow foraging, especially in softer ground. They might paw around for fallen acorns, nuts, or shallow roots and tubers, particularly during periods when other food sources are scarce. This activity is generally superficial, aiming to uncover surface-level food items rather than excavating deep into the soil. While some sources suggest deer may dig for grubs, their primary diet consists of plants, leaves, and stems, making extensive grub-hunting less common for them.
Common Causes of Holes in Yards
Since deer are typically not the primary excavators of deep holes, other animals are more likely responsible for significant yard damage.
- Moles create characteristic molehills, which are conical mounds of loose soil without an open hole, and raised ridges across lawns indicating their shallow tunnels. They are insectivores, tunneling to find earthworms and grubs.
- Voles, which are rodents, create small, dime-sized burrow openings and visible surface runways through grass, often concealed under vegetation. They feed on plants, roots, and bulbs.
- Gophers are also common burrowers, creating fan-shaped or crescent-shaped mounds of dirt with a plugged hole, indicating an extensive underground tunnel system. These rodents are herbivores that feed on roots and plants.
- Skunks dig small, conical holes, usually one to three inches deep and three to four inches wide, often surrounded by loose soil, as they forage for grubs and insects.
- Raccoons can also cause ground disturbance, pulling up sod or digging small to medium-sized holes in lawns while searching for insects and grubs. Their digging often results in uneven turf and disrupted soil.
- Armadillos leave behind numerous shallow holes, typically one to three inches deep and about five inches wide, as they root for insects and invertebrates. These holes are often scattered across the lawn.
- Domestic dogs frequently dig holes for various reasons, including hunting prey like rodents, seeking comfort in cool earth, burying items, or simply from boredom.