A lawn riddled with holes is a frustrating sight, transforming a manicured space into a hazard zone. These holes are almost always a telltale sign of animal activity, whether the creatures are foraging for a meal, caching food for later, or establishing a permanent underground shelter. Correctly identifying the culprit is the first step toward effective management, as the solution for a burrowing rodent differs significantly from that for a nocturnal insect hunter. The size, shape, and surrounding soil of the hole provide the necessary clues to determine which species is using your yard.
Identifying Signs of Subsurface Tunnelers
Damage that suggests an animal is living primarily beneath the surface often appears as raised earth rather than distinct holes. Moles, which are insectivores, create two types of damage as they hunt for earthworms and grubs. The most recognizable sign is the volcano-shaped molehill, a conical mound of finely sifted soil that lacks a clear opening in the center.
Moles also leave behind raised ridges, or runways, that snake across the lawn just below the surface, feeling spongy when stepped on. Pocket gophers, in contrast, are herbivorous rodents that create deeper tunnel systems, pushing soil to the surface in crescent-shaped or fan-shaped mounds. These mounds typically feature a visible dirt plug off to one side, marking the sealed entrance.
Voles, which are small rodents, create very different signs. They make clean, open holes, usually about one to two inches in diameter, and do not leave behind large mounds of excavated soil. Their activity is also characterized by visible, above-ground trails through the grass, where they clip vegetation while traveling between burrows.
Distinguishing Small, Clean Feeding and Caching Holes
The most common complaints involve small, scattered holes that appear overnight, indicating an animal is digging for food or storage rather than making a home. Skunks are notorious for this type of foraging, leaving behind small, cone-shaped or inverted divots that are typically one to three inches wide. This digging occurs when they hunt for subsurface insects, particularly beetle grubs.
Squirrels also create numerous small holes, but their purpose is caching and retrieving nuts, seeds, and acorns. These holes are shallow, distinct, and clean, often appearing like a finger-sized puncture in the lawn. Birds, such as robins, also create very small pecking holes as they probe the soil for worms and insects.
Raccoons, while also hunting for grubs, cause a much more destructive type of damage compared to the neat skunk holes. Instead of small cone-shaped digs, raccoons will often peel back sections of turf as if rolling up a carpet to access the insects beneath. This action leaves behind large, irregular patches of disturbed or stripped sod, which is a key differentiator from the discrete holes left by skunks.
Recognizing Larger Burrows with Clear Dirt Piles
When a hole is large, permanent, and accompanied by a significant pile of excavated soil, the cause is usually a large burrowing mammal or solitary insect. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, create main entrances that can be quite large, ranging from four to twelve inches in diameter. Their burrows are extensive, sometimes reaching five feet deep and stretching over thirty feet, and the entrance is marked by a clear mound of soil, or spoil pile.
These main groundhog burrows are often located in less conspicuous areas, such as under sheds, decks, or along fence lines, providing both cover and structural support. Rats are another source of larger holes, with their tunnel entrances typically around three inches in diameter, often found in sheltered spots near woodpiles or debris. The presence of a large, permanent entrance hole with a visible spoil pile differentiates these from the temporary feeding holes of smaller animals.
Ground-nesting insects also create distinctive holes with a large spoil pile. Female Cicada Killer Wasps, for instance, excavate burrows with a perfectly circular entrance about one-half to one inch across. The soil they remove forms a visible, often U-shaped or crescent-shaped, mound of loose, granular dirt right at the entrance. Solitary digger bees create similar, though smaller, pencil-diameter holes, often with a tiny, volcano-like mound of soil that resembles an anthill.
Safe and Effective Management Strategies
Once the animal responsible for the holes has been correctly identified, the most effective management strategy involves modifying the yard’s habitat to make it less appealing. Removing the primary food source for many digging mammals, such as grubs and earthworms, can significantly reduce foraging activity. Applying beneficial nematodes or controlling lawn moisture to discourage insect populations are two non-chemical approaches to grub reduction.
Exclusion is an effective tactic for larger animals, often involving the installation of physical barriers. For burrowing mammals, this means burying fencing or hardware cloth at least twelve to twenty-four inches deep, with a portion bent outward to prevent the animal from digging underneath. Humane, non-toxic deterrents, such as commercial castor oil applications, can be used to make the soil unappetizing for moles.
For serious or persistent infestations, contacting a professional wildlife control specialist is often the best course of action. These experts can employ targeted trapping or removal methods that are compliant with local wildlife regulations. Maintaining a dense, healthy turf also naturally discourages many pests, as bare or thin spots are more inviting for ground-nesting insects and digging animals.