Remarkably, a number of larger animals will also dig holes near homes. Yes, skunks may make holes in lawns. Nocturnal animals that dig holes include armadillos, badgers, chipmunks, foxes, moles, rats, gophers, woodchucks, voles and skunks. There are actually many different kinds of insects and animals that leave some type of hole or holes in the ground. Many kinds of small animals, such as moles, voles, chipmunks and rats, make holes in the ground. Wood mice dig burrows in cereal fields and similar open situations. Exclude Animals with Wire. Skunks can also be under sheds, porches and other covered and dark crawl spaces. Burrowing animals are the prime suspects when a homeowner discovers tunnels and holes in the yard. Very small holes may be caused by birds, earthworms, or solitary ground nesting bees. This is actually beneficial to the lawn as grubs eat the roots of grass, which will kill the lawn. The animal digs holes in turf up to 3 inches deep and 5 inches in diameter as it searches for insects, worms and grubs. You will often find dropping, leaves and grass near the … Burrowing animals are the prime suspects when a homeowner discovers tunnels and holes in the yard. Stopping digging animals is accomplished by placing an obstruction in the way so that the digging is unable to proceed. Shrews feed on insects, spiders, worms, amphibians, and small rodents. According to where you live, you may have groundhogs, gophers, moles, and chipmunks, just to name a few. Numerous animals dig holes and make tunnels. Skunk odor is not always present. Wade Hutcheson, my Extension colleague in Spalding county, gets plenty of calls from the citizens of his area asking his help in identifying various holes in their landscapes. We’ll review some of the animals that may dig holes in your garden. Diagnosing (Identifying) Holes in the Yard Sometimes many heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem. Use the links above the graphic to find more information about many of the offenders and be sure to check out our Problem Wildlife page for more details on other wildlife conflicts around homes and farms. Ground squirrels and gophers will dig separate entrance and exit holes to their homes. A hole can be a sign of birds or animals feeding, a rodent or pest problem, or a minor-to-serious underground hazard ranging from a decomposed stump to a full-blown sinkhole. The four main kinds of small burrowing animals likely to cause damage in Colorado are voles, pocket gophers, prairie dogs, and Wyoming ground squirrels. Dealing With Animals Digging In Your Yard Or Next To The House The image of a perfect lawn and attractive flower beds in the yard or next to your home can be perfect when you imagine them, but finding that animals have been digging or burrowing can damage the look of the house. To conserve energy when food and water are scarce, some desert species seek the safety of their dens and go into a … Scarlet kingsnakes (Lampropeltis elapsoides) like to live under the bark of dead pine trees, while black rat snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) live in the holes of hardwood trees high above the ground. They also dig burrows 10 inches across and 3 to 4 feet deep in soft soil across their feeding territory. Burrowing animals are the prime suspects when a homeowner discovers tunnels and holes in the yard. Snakes spend much of their lives hiding from predators, and they use a variety of micro-habitats to accomplish this. MOUSE HOLE Bank voles, wood mice and yellow-necked mice can dig extensive burrow systems, often under tree roots. Many holes in the ground aren't necessarily long-term residences; they are dug to provide temporary safety from pursuers and extreme weather. Cayenne Pepper: most animals that dig in your lawn have very sensitive noses so one home remedy is to apply cayenne pepper to the damaged areas. Most of the time though, it will end up being a raccoon or a skunk. Using an online wildlife key that leads you through descriptions of the damage is another way to discover which animal is making holes in your yard. By the time you returned, it had erupted in dirt mounds. The tunnels are generally only a few centimetres below ground, with entrance holes about 3cm in diameter. The roots and vegetables found on the surface will be eaten by these animals. One of these animals is the striped skunk. Talk about a rude homecoming: When you left for vacation, you had a level, well-manicured yard. Some, such as moles, create complex tunnel systems, while others, such as rats, dig burrows in which to hide. Ground Squirrels (Chipmunks), Gophers, and Rabbits. They push the soil up, but there are no visible holes left in the ground. The entrances are 5 to 6 inches wide. They dig dens in late summer or early fall. Some snakes dig their own burrows, but many just use holes dug by other animals. What to Do If an Animal Is Digging up Your Lawn or Garden. Measuring the diameter of the hole will help you identify the type of burrowing animals in your yard. This guide helps diagnose what's digging, tunneling, feeding, and otherwise disturbing turf grasses. Snakes also live in ground holes. Many desert animals are fossorial, which means they cope with extreme temperatures by concealing themselves in holes, or burrows, in the ground.