Discovering unexpected damage to your yard can be a frustrating experience. The distinct patterns of disturbance left behind—whether mounds of dirt, shallow scrapes, or chewed foliage—are the most reliable clues to identifying the source of the trouble. Understanding the specific habits of animals and pests that frequent residential areas is the first step in diagnosing the problem. Examining the physical signs of activity allows for accurate identification based on the type of destruction present in your landscape, leading to a more informed and effective response.
Identifying Subsurface Tunneling and Mounds
Damage that involves distinct soil displacement, such as mounds or raised ridges, typically points to animals that live and forage beneath the surface. The shape of the excavated soil helps determine the species at work.
Volcano-shaped hills of soil, often symmetrical and conical, are the signature sign of a mole’s activity. These mounds rarely have a visible entry hole, as the animal pushes dirt vertically from deep tunnels. Moles are insectivores, feeding primarily on earthworms and grubs. Their tunneling creates shallow, raised ridges or runways across the lawn that feel spongy when stepped on. Their damage is structural, causing turf to lift and roots to be disturbed, but they do not eat the plants themselves.
In contrast, gophers create crescent-shaped or fan-shaped mounds where the entry hole is usually plugged with dirt. These mounds are generally asymmetrical and larger than molehills, indicating the gopher pushed soil laterally out of its deep tunnel system. Gophers are herbivores that feed on the roots and underground parts of plants, often causing plants above the tunnels to wilt or disappear entirely. The plugged hole is a diagnostic feature, differentiating their work from moles.
Voles, sometimes called meadow mice, cause less dramatic soil displacement but leave small, pencil-sized open holes in the ground. They also create distinct surface runways or trails through the grass, which appear as narrow paths of dead vegetation. Voles are herbivores that chew on the roots, bulbs, and bark of plants. Their damage is often located under dense cover like mulch or tall grass, and they frequently use existing tunnels dug by other animals.
Identifying Surface Digging and Torn Sod
When the damage involves shallow scraping or tearing of the turf, the culprit is likely nocturnal wildlife foraging for insects just beneath the surface. This damage is characterized by numerous small excavations rather than a deep, connected tunnel system.
Skunks leave behind small, cone-shaped holes, typically three to four inches deep. They use their claws and sense of smell to locate and dig for beetle larvae, or grubs, which are a concentrated source of protein. This focused, shallow digging often leaves a pattern of concentrated divots across the lawn.
Raccoons also feed on grubs and other soil-dwelling invertebrates, but their damage is more destructive, often involving entire sections of sod being rolled back or flipped over. These animals use their front paws to tear up the turf in chunks, leaving ragged patches of exposed soil. The resulting damage is typically more extensive and messy than that caused by skunks, often looking like the lawn has been peeled away.
Armadillos create scattered, larger holes, usually one to three inches deep and three to five inches wide, often accompanied by overturned soil. They forage by rooting around with their snouts in moist soil, disrupting a wide area in search of earthworms and insects. If the damage involves random, scattered holes and general soil upheaval, an armadillo is a possible source. Domestic dogs or cats may also dig, but their holes are typically deeper, more random, and sometimes include visible paw prints.
Identifying Damage to Foliage and Grass Blades
Damage that focuses on the consumption of plant material—grass blades, stems, or leaves—is caused by grazing mammals, insects, or biological agents like fungi. The appearance of the cut or tear on the plant provides the clearest distinction.
When stems or leaves are cleanly clipped close to the ground, the damage is typically caused by rabbits. They possess sharp incisor teeth that create a neat, angled cut. Conversely, deer lack upper incisors, forcing them to tear foliage away, which results in a ragged, frayed, or shredded appearance on the remaining plant material. Deer browsing damage is often found higher up on shrubs and trees, while rabbit feeding is generally limited to vegetation near the soil line.
Insect damage to grass often mimics the appearance of drought or disease. If grass blades are chewed and look ragged, the culprits may be surface-feeding insects like armyworms or sod webworms, sometimes leaving behind small patches of webbing. When the grass turns brown in patches and can be easily pulled up, this indicates a root-feeding pest like white grubs, which have severed the grass’s connection to the soil. This root damage often gives the lawn a noticeable spongy feel underfoot.
Lawn disease, caused by fungi or bacteria, presents as irregular or circular brown patches that lack the physical excavation or clipped edges of animal damage. Fungal infections often create distinct patterns, such as rings or spots on individual blades, especially during periods of high humidity and warmth. Unlike sudden animal or insect damage, disease damage often progresses in a more predictable pattern.
Next Steps After Identifying the Culprit
Once the visual evidence has been analyzed and a likely suspect identified, the next step is confirmation. Look for secondary signs like animal tracks, droppings, or a pattern of damage that correlates with the animal’s activity.
Consult local resources, such as your county extension office or state fish and wildlife department, for guidance on managing the identified animal. These experts can provide region-specific information on legal and effective management strategies. Simply eliminating the animal may not solve the problem if the underlying attraction remains, especially when wildlife is digging for a high concentration of grubs. Addressing the pest’s food source, such as treating for a grub infestation, can reduce the incentive for continued foraging and prevent future damage.