The appearance of holes in a yard often signals that a hidden animal is using the space for its own purposes. Identifying the culprit is difficult because many species operate entirely underground or only at night, leaving only excavation marks as evidence. These holes and mounds are generally created for three primary reasons: to construct shelter, to search for food, or to travel through an established subterranean network. By observing the size, shape, and structure of the disturbance, homeowners can narrow down the potential species.
Subterranean Tunnelers: Identification by Mounds and Ridges
The tell-tale sign of a mole invasion is the presence of volcano-shaped mounds known as molehills. These conical piles of finely sifted soil are pushed up from below as the animal excavates its deeper, more permanent tunnels. Unlike other burrow entrances, molehills are distinctive because they do not have a visible entry hole in the center.
Moles are insectivores, primarily hunting earthworms and grubs in shallow foraging tunnels just beneath the surface. This activity creates raised ridges or surface runways that crisscross the lawn, feeling spongy when stepped upon. These temporary tunnels are distinct from the deeper, permanent tunnels that form the volcano-shaped molehills.
Pocket gophers create mounds that are fan-shaped, crescent-shaped, or horseshoe-shaped. Their digging style results in a mound that is typically larger than a molehill, with the soil pushed out at an angle. The most reliable identification mark is the entrance hole, which the gopher plugs tightly with soil after pushing out the excavated dirt.
Gopher burrows are generally deeper than mole runways, often located four to eighteen inches below the surface. Gophers are herbivores, feeding on roots and other vegetation, which differs significantly from the mole’s insect-based diet. A single gopher can create hundreds of these plugged mounds annually, constantly expanding its complex, underground system.
Voles create numerous small, round entry holes, typically one to two inches in diameter. Voles are small rodents that do not leave large mounds, but rather an extensive network of visible surface runways in the grass. These runways are about two inches wide and appear as narrow paths where vegetation has been clipped short or eaten. The holes are often found near protective cover, such as dense vegetation, mulch, or ground-level objects.
Surface Foragers and Nesters: Identification by Conical and Entry Holes
Animals that dig sporadic holes primarily for food leave marks distinctly different from the continuous tunneling of moles and gophers. Skunks are a common culprit, creating small, shallow, conical, or bowl-shaped holes in the lawn. These holes are typically one to five inches wide and only a few inches deep, resulting from the animal rooting out grubs, earthworms, and other insects.
Skunk foraging often occurs at night, appearing as a widespread scattering of small, precise digs across the lawn. The holes are numerous but generally shallow, as the skunk targets prey found close to the surface. The presence of these excavations indicates the animal is hunting for a protein-rich meal.
Raccoons also dig for the same prey, but their technique results in a more destructive form of damage. Instead of creating neat, conical holes, raccoons use their dexterous paws to lift and peel back sections of turf or sod. This leaves behind large, irregular patches of overturned grass, making the lawn look as if it has been “rolled up” like a carpet.
This peeling action indicates a targeted search where the grub population is concentrated and the turf is weakened from root damage. The large, obvious main entrance hole of a groundhog (or woodchuck) is created for shelter, not foraging. These burrows are substantial, with the entrance measuring ten to twelve inches in diameter, often described as the size of a melon.
Groundhogs prefer to dig under protective structures like sheds, porches, or rock piles. Their activity is marked by a large pile of excavated dirt located right outside the main opening. The burrow system itself is deep and complex, extending up to six feet underground and sometimes running fifty feet in length.
Small and Specialized Excavators
Some holes are created by smaller, less obvious creatures. Insects like the Cicada Killer wasp or various ground bees create clean, perfectly round holes in the soil. These holes are typically pencil-sized, ranging from a quarter-inch to a half-inch in diameter.
These wasps are solitary nesters, meaning each female digs an individual burrow to provision her young. The holes are singular entry points, often found in well-drained, sandy soil exposed to full sunlight. The Cicada Killer may leave a small, U-shaped mound of soil around the entrance, but the hole is usually neat and not associated with extensive tunneling.
Small rodents, such as mice and shrews, leave minor holes in the yard. Mice create small, inconspicuous round holes, often without a significant dirt mound, typically hidden near foundations or thick ground cover. Shrews, which are voracious insectivores, may create dime-sized holes, about one inch in diameter, often to access existing tunnel systems of moles or voles. These small holes are usually found in moist, overgrown areas where insects are abundant.