The discovery of freshly dug holes in a manicured lawn or garden bed is a common source of frustration for homeowners and gardeners alike. This destructive behavior, whether shallow scrapes or deep tunnels, can quickly ruin landscaping efforts and damage plant roots. Stopping animals from digging requires a strategic approach that moves beyond simple patching and focuses on understanding the underlying biological drivers of the behavior. Effective deterrence depends entirely on accurately identifying the specific animal responsible for the damage. The ultimate success in preserving your yard depends on addressing the animal’s motivation for seeking shelter, food, or engaging in instinctual activity.
Decoding the Digging: Identifying the Culprit
Understanding the shape and location of the excavation provides the first diagnostic clue to identifying the culprit. Shallow, conical holes that resemble small scoops are frequently the work of skunks or raccoons foraging for insects and grubs just beneath the soil surface. These animals use their sensitive noses and claws to rapidly overturn small patches of turf when they detect prey. The damage is often scattered across the lawn and rarely involves deep tunneling.
When the damage involves distinct soil mounds rather than open holes, the presence of a mole is likely. Moles are insectivores that create complex subsurface tunnels, pushing up excess dirt in volcano-shaped hills as they excavate their routes. Conversely, voles, which are herbivores, leave small, visible entry holes without the large dirt mounds, as they typically use existing tunnels or burrow near plant roots.
Larger, more haphazard excavations with significant amounts of thrown-out dirt are frequently attributed to domestic dogs, which dig for exercise, to bury objects, or to escape confinement. Smaller, neat burrows located close to house foundations, sheds, or dense shrubbery often indicate an animal seeking shelter. Woodchucks (groundhogs) create large, distinct entrances to their dens, while gophers create crescent-shaped dirt mounds that appear plugged. Analyzing the specific structure of the hole—its depth, shape, and associated dirt piles—is the necessary first step before any effective control measures can be implemented.
Eliminating the Motivation: Habitat and Food Source Modification
The most sustainable method for preventing digging activity involves removing the core reasons that attract the animal to the yard in the first place. Since many culprits, including skunks and raccoons, are primarily motivated by a search for subterranean food, controlling the insect population is a highly effective strategy.
Controlling Subterranean Pests
Applying beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic roundworms that parasitize and kill pest larvae, can significantly reduce the grub population without resorting to harsh chemical pesticides. Another long-term biological control option is the application of milky spore powder, a naturally occurring bacterium that specifically targets Japanese beetle grubs.
Securing Scavenger Food Sources
Beyond insects, securing other accessible food sources is paramount for deterring scavengers. All outdoor pet food bowls, especially those left out overnight, should be removed, as the kibble provides an easy, high-calorie meal for nocturnal visitors. Trash cans must have tightly secured, locking lids, and compost piles should be enclosed to prevent access by raccoons and opossums.
Modifying Habitat
Managing secondary food sources, such as mice and voles, is also important, as these rodents serve as prey for larger predators like foxes. Reducing dense ground cover, eliminating brush piles, and clearing overgrown areas removes the habitat that rodents rely on for shelter and breeding. Furthermore, removing easy access to standing water, such as leaky spigots or bird baths, can reduce the overall attractiveness of the yard as a complete habitat.
Implementing Physical and Sensory Deterrents
When removing the underlying motivation is insufficient, the next phase involves the implementation of direct barriers and sensory repellents to physically or psychologically deter the animal. Physical exclusion is often the most reliable solution for persistent diggers.
Physical Barriers
For animals that burrow under fences, installing a specialized L-foot or apron barrier is highly recommended. This involves burying galvanized hardware cloth or chicken wire six to twelve inches deep and bending the bottom foot outwards at a 90-degree angle, extending it away from the fence line. This outward flange prevents animals from being able to dig directly down next to the barrier because the wire obstructs their downward excavation path. For protecting specific garden beds or small areas, covering the soil surface with wire mesh or gravel can discourage digging. The mesh should be anchored securely to the ground, allowing plants to grow through the openings while creating an uncomfortable surface for animals to excavate.
Sensory Repellents
Sensory deterrents manipulate the animal’s sense of smell, taste, or fear to encourage avoidance. Scent-based repellents, such as those containing capsaicin or putrescent egg solids, create an unpleasant taste or odor that conditions the animal to associate the area with a negative experience. These non-harmful products must be reapplied frequently, especially after rain or irrigation, to maintain their effective concentration.
Some commercial products utilize the scent of predator urine, such as fox or coyote, to create the perception of danger, triggering an innate flight response in prey species. However, the efficacy of these methods can vary widely depending on the concentration and the animal’s familiarity with the specific environment.
Motion-activated devices offer an immediate, startling response that is highly effective against many nocturnal species. Motion-activated sprinklers, which spray a sudden burst of water when triggered, are particularly successful as they combine a physical surprise with an undesirable sensory experience. Ultrasonic sound devices, which emit high-frequency sound waves that are irritating to many animals but generally inaudible to humans, can also be employed as a non-confrontational deterrent. The placement and consistency of these deterrents are important, as animals are quick to habituate to predictable or ineffective measures.
Addressing Domestic Pets and Wildlife Regulations
The approach to managing digging behavior differs significantly depending on whether the culprit is a domestic pet or local wildlife.
Domestic Pets
For one’s own dog, the digging is often a behavioral issue stemming from boredom or excess energy rather than a search for food. Addressing this requires increasing daily exercise and mental stimulation to reduce anxiety and destructive habits. Creating a designated digging area, such as a sandbox, can also redirect the dog’s natural instinct to an appropriate location.
Wildlife Regulations
When dealing with wild animals, it is important to recognize the legal framework governing intervention. The trapping and relocation of wildlife, particularly protected species, is often illegal or requires specific permits from state or local agencies. Attempting to trap and move an animal without proper authorization can result in legal penalties and may simply displace the problem to a new area. Homeowners should consult local animal control or wildlife management services for guidance on humane and lawful methods, ensuring any action taken aligns with regional regulations regarding wildlife interaction.