The small holes appearing in a yard or garden are a common sign of a neighborhood squirrel at work. These mammals are highly active during the day, and their digging habits result from two primary, instinctual behaviors centered around food. Understanding the difference between these motivations—one focused on future survival and the other on immediate hunger—is the first step toward managing damage to your lawn and flowerbeds.
The Primary Motivation: Scatter Hoarding
The majority of squirrel digging relates to a long-term survival strategy known as scatter hoarding. Instead of storing all their winter food in a single location (larder hoarding), gray squirrels bury individual nuts and seeds in multiple, small caches across a wide territory. This behavior is prevalent in the fall as the animals prepare for the cold months, though they remain active throughout the winter.
The process involves digging a shallow hole, depositing a single item like an acorn or walnut, and then meticulously covering the spot with soil, leaves, or debris to camouflage it. This distribution strategy protects the squirrel from losing its entire food supply to a competitor or predator, as only a small portion is stored in any one place.
The animal relies on a combination of spatial memory and its sense of smell to relocate these buried treasures later, often marking the site with saliva, which acts as an olfactory signpost. Any nuts that are forgotten or left unretrieved result in the squirrel planting a new tree, playing an important role in forest regeneration.
Digging for Immediate Consumption
A distinct type of digging occurs when squirrels forage for a meal they intend to eat immediately. This activity is characterized by a more exploratory pattern, resulting in shallower, more numerous holes than those created for caching. One common target is insect larvae, or grubs, which live beneath the soil and are a protein source for squirrels. If an infestation of these pests is present, the squirrel’s excellent sense of smell will lead it to tear up patches of turf in its hunt for a quick meal.
Squirrels also dig for newly planted bulbs, particularly those high in starch and protein, like tulips and crocuses. They are attracted by the scent of the bulb and the freshly disturbed earth, which signals a recent burial. They will unearth these items to consume them on the spot, or sometimes carry them off to eat elsewhere. This foraging behavior is distinct from scatter hoarding because the goal is to find and consume the food right away.
Practical Strategies for Deterrence
Reducing the incentive for squirrels to dig involves removing food sources and establishing physical barriers. Since bird feeders are a major attractant, switching to squirrel-proof feeders or regularly cleaning up spilled seeds can significantly reduce their presence. Securing trash bins and promptly removing fallen nuts, berries, or fruit from trees limits easy foraging opportunities.
Physical barriers offer an effective way to protect specific areas, such as vegetable gardens or flowerbeds. A layer of wire mesh or chicken wire can be laid flat over vulnerable soil and secured with landscape staples, allowing plants to grow through while preventing squirrels from digging. For individual bulbs, planting them inside wire cages or hardware cloth baskets offers protection.
Using natural scent deterrents can make an area less appealing to squirrels, who rely heavily on their sense of smell. They dislike strong odors, so sprinkling cayenne pepper, chili powder, or garlic flakes on the soil can be a temporary solution. The effectiveness of these repellents is reduced by rain or watering, requiring frequent reapplication. Planting varieties like daffodils, alliums, or hyacinths, which contain unappetizing compounds, provides a more long-term, passive form of protection for flowerbeds.