There are actually many different kinds of insects and animals that leave some type of hole or holes in the ground. The key to identifying the culprit is to look at the width and depth of the hole, and examine the area around the hole. Holes in and around the lawn can be as diverse in size and shape as the causes behind them. Print this fact sheet. Skunks: Skunks will dig specific and individual holes in their quest for grubs and lawn insects. These nocturnal, opossum-sized gray animals are distinguished by a hard, hairless outer shell that covers their bodies. We’ll review some of the animals that may dig holes in your garden. by Sharon Bokan, Karen Crumbaker, Travis Hoesli, Deborah Lester and Irene Shonle* (2/16) Quick Facts. To conserve energy when food and water are scarce, some desert species seek the safety of their dens and go into a … Shrews mostly occupy burrows dug by other animals and surface every 2-3 hours to feed themselves. This guide helps diagnose what's digging, tunneling, feeding, and otherwise disturbing turf grasses. Vole holes may be even as small as a dime. Many animals dig holes in the ground - several holes in one area are more likely to be some animal digging … Numerous animals dig holes and make tunnels. 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 tunnels are generally only a few centimetres below ground, with entrance holes about 3cm in diameter. The common shrew is native to Britain and exists commonly in scrubland, grassland, hedgerows, and woodland. Burrowing animals are the prime suspects when a homeowner discovers tunnels and holes in the yard. They dig for many reasons – to hide from predators, to build nests or shelters and to find food. 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. Snakes also live in ground holes. Some snakes dig their own burrows, but many just use holes dug by other animals. Most of the time though, it will end up being a raccoon or a skunk. They will be systematic, moving from section to section each night. They also dig burrows 10 inches across and 3 to 4 feet deep in soft soil across their feeding territory. You may be seeing the work of chipmunks, squirrels, skunks, raccoons or shrews. Exclude Animals with Wire. You will often find dropping, leaves and grass near the … By the time you returned, it had erupted in dirt mounds. Skunks can also be under sheds, porches and other covered and dark crawl spaces. Wood mice dig burrows in cereal fields and similar open situations. All three of these animals will dig holes as entrances to their dens. Skunks like to dig their holes in dry, well-drained sites. Groundhogs and other animals have learned that tunneling under a structure provides them a very nice habitat. 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. The roots and vegetables found on the surface will be eaten by these animals. Many desert-dwelling mammals of the order rodentia are fossorial, including the three ground squirrels found in the Sonoran Desert of North America -- the Harris’ antelope squirrel, round-tailed ground squirrel and rock squirrel -- all of which have strong claws designed for digging. If you live in the southeastern United States and find shallow holes scattered across your lawn, your culprit could be a nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Many kinds of small animals, such as moles, voles, chipmunks and rats, make holes in the ground. A wild animal digging up your yard can create a huge mess that can ruin … Yes, skunks may make holes in lawns. Soapy Water: even though animals don’t have good table manners they do have half decent taste buds. They dig dens in late summer or early fall. Many desert animals are fossorial, which means they cope with extreme temperatures by concealing themselves in holes, or burrows, in the ground. Many holes in the ground aren't necessarily long-term residences; they are dug to provide temporary safety from pursuers and extreme weather. Most of the time though, it will end up being a raccoon or a skunk. Very small holes may be caused by birds, earthworms, or solitary ground nesting bees. They push the soil up, but there are no visible holes left in the ground. One sniff of this send them running over to your neighbors lawn. Pesky voles and shrews create small holes with openings of about 1 to 1 1/2 inches while squirrels and chipmunks leave behind 2-inch holes. Burrowing animals are the prime suspects when a homeowner discovers tunnels and holes in the yard. Shrews feed on insects, spiders, worms, amphibians, and small rodents. Talk about a rude homecoming: When you left for vacation, you had a level, well-manicured yard. Diagnosing (Identifying) Holes in the Yard Sometimes many heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem. Burrowing animals are the prime suspects when a homeowner discovers tunnels and holes in the yard. 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.