Hole with piled soil of a solitary ground-dwelling bee.

Pigsty with piled soil of a solitary footing-dwelling bee.
Joey Williamson, ©2014 HGIC, Clemson Extension

When holes and excavations mysteriously appear in lawns, it is helpful to note the season, location, and size. These are helpful clues when trying to place the culprit and forestall further damage. The following information should assistance match the holes to the cause.

Birds

If you are very observant, you lot may see small holes as if something was poked into the ground, but no mounds or loose soil. These are probably caused by birds looking for food.

Earthworms

If the soil in your g has a good for you population of earthworms, you may notice 1-inch high piles of pocket-size, granular pellets of soil. These castings were passed through the body of earthworms the nighttime before and were brought to the surface equally tunnels were cleared. They are more mutual in spring and autumn when soil moisture and temperatures are conducive to earthworm activity. There is usually no pigsty in the tiptop.

Insects

Eastern cicada killer wasp (Sphecius speciosus) attempting to fly to its nest in the ground with a captured cicada.

Eastern cicada killer wasp (Sphecius speciosus) attempting to fly to its nest in the footing with a captured cicada.
Joey Williamson, ©2014 HGIC, Clemson Extension

At that place are many insects that spend the wintertime in the soil, during which time they transform from a larva into an adult. In the spring and early on summertime, specially after a rain, you may encounter nickel-size holes caused by their emergence. These holes may be surrounded past pocket-sized mounds of loose soil and fecal pellets. Examples include cicadas and June beetles.

Lone Bees

There are as well insects that prefer to alive in the basis during their adult stage. Many bees, for example, are solitary and will dig cylindrical tunnels in loose soil as they create chambers for egg-laying. These holes are typically between ¼-and ½-inch wide and are institute where vegetation is sparse. The entrance may exist surrounded by a mound of loose soil every bit loftier as 2 inches.

Cicada Killers

Cicada killers are large wasps that chase cicadas and employ them to feed their developing young. Females create a ½- to1-inch diameter tunnel into which they drag immobilized cicadas. They prefer areas that are dry and bare but may as well be establish where grass is maintained very brusk. You may notice a modest, u-shaped mound of clay at the archway as well as lines in the soil where cicadas accept been dragged.

Crayfish

Shallow, 2-inch diameter hole dug in lawn by an Eastern gray squirrel. Joey Williamson, ©2014 HGIC, Clemson Extension

Shallow, two-inch diameter pigsty dug in backyard past an Eastern gray squirrel.
Joey Williamson, ©2014 HGIC, Clemson Extension

If you live near h2o, you may find 2-to four-inch high towers made of balls of mud, with a one-inch broad hole in the top. These are the work of crayfish, which are nocturnal and tunnel in areas where there is a lot of soil water movement.

Voles

Voles are small rodents, also chosen meadow mice or field mice. They practise non hibernate, and then they may be seen any time of the year. They construct surface runways as well equally underground tunnels and eat a diversity of plant material, especially hostas, roses, nandinas and hibiscus. Tunnel entrances are 1 to 1½ inches in diameter and no mound of soil is present.

Squirrels

Eastern gray squirrels volition coffin and dig upwards nuts in the backyard and in mulched beds. Holes are typically 2 inches in diameter, shallow and there is no mound of soil effectually them.

Chipmunks

Raised soil from an Eastern mole tunnel in lawn.

Raised soil from an Eastern mole tunnel in lawn.
Joey Williamson, ©2014 HGIC, Clemson Extension

Entrances to Eastern chipmunk tunnels are usually found in less conspicuous places such as about stumps, buildings, castor piles or log piles. They are virtually ii inches in diameter, and typically have no loose or piled soil nigh the opening.

Moles

Equally moles create deep tunnels, or encounter roots, rocks or hard to compress clay soils in shallow tunnels, they push button the backlog soil out of the tunnel and to the surface. These and then-called mole hills can exist from two inches to 24 inches alpine and are volcano shaped. Over time, they may flatten and become a blank surface area. Moles primarily feed on protrude larvae (grubs) and earthworms.

Ground Hogs

Ground hogs have been known to visit vegetable gardens and help themselves to broccoli, carrot tops, and beans. They are active during daylight hours. Their burrow archway is usually ten to 12 inches in diameter and is distinguished by a large mound of excavated dirt.

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A big groundhog den entrance. Soil piled near hole has more often than not washed away.
Joey Williamson, ©2014 HGIC, Clemson Extension

Skunks & Raccoons

Damage from skunks and raccoons occurs at nighttime. They dig holes in lawns and gardens, looking for grubs and other insects. The holes are typically cone-shaped and iii to 4 inches wide, but the area disturbed may be as broad every bit 10 inches. Both of these rascals have been known to skin back newly laid sod.

Rats

Entrances to rat tunnels are as well institute in less conspicuous places such as virtually shrubbery or wood piles. They are as large as 3 inches in bore.

Armadillos

Damage to newly laid turfgrass sod by raccoons.

Harm to newly laid turfgrass sod by raccoons.
Joey Williamson, 2016 HGIC, Clemson Extension

Armadillos eat mostly insects, earthworms, and spiders. They are agile from dusk to early on morning hours and will root in lawns, vegetable gardens and flower beds, looking for food. Holes are typically one to iii inches deep and 3 to 5 inches broad, only the disturbed area can be as wide every bit 3 feet. Their couch is upward to 15 feet long and has an entrance that is seven to 8 inches in diameter. Recently, armadillos take be sited as far due north in Due south Carolina equally Anderson and York counties.

Backyard Pest Command

Eliminate beetle larvae (grubs) in the lawn, which may be fed upon by moles, skunks, raccoons and armadillos. In that location are many brands of grub killers sold in a granular course that can be spread over the lawn and watered in. The well-nigh efficient fourth dimension to treat is during early July when the grubs are small-scale and close to the surface. Grub treatments that contain contact insecticides will terminal about two weeks.

Chow treatments specifically containing the insecticide imidacloprid may be applied to the backyard during May. These imidacloprid products are systemic inside the turfgrass and will last the entire flavor. The grubs are controlled as they feed on the grass roots. Follow label directions for use for charge per unit, safe and instructions for watering in all granular products.

Moles and voles may be temporarily repelled from the lawn for nigh 2 weeks using a spray of brush oil to saturate the lawn. Many products are available equally hose-end applicators to thorough wet the lawn being damaged, or as granular products, such equally:

  • Liquid Debate Mole Repellent,
  • Natura Repellex Mole & Gopher Repellent,
  • Motomco Tom Cat Mole & Gopher Repellent,
  • Mole & Vole Stopper,
  • Sweeney's Mole & Gopher Repellent,
  • Monterey All Natural Mole Repellent,
  • I Must Garden Brand Mole & Vole Repellent,
  • Bonide MoleMax Mole & Vole Repellent,
  • Ortho Mole B Gon, and
  • Dr. T's Nature Products Whole Command Mole Repellent.

Mole may be controlled within their tunnels with poisonous substance worm baits that are inserted into actively traveled tunnels. These baits contain bromethalin, which will work inside 24 hours after being eaten to impale the moles. Examples of brands are:

  • Motomco Tom Cat Mole Killer,
  • Talpirid,
  • Victor Moleworms Kill Moles, and
  • Sweeney's Impale Moles Poison Moleworms.

Follow label directions for utilise, including the determination of which tunnels are actively used by the moles.

The SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR) does not allow the trapping and relocation of trapped animals to another location because of animal and man disease considerations, such every bit rabies. Even so, if the landowner has a big piece of property, the animal tin can be released further away from the dwelling house on the landowner'southward ain holding. If this is not an choice, and so the trapped animal must be killed, and then buried or bagged and disposed of in the garbage. At that place are many brands and sizes of wire cage traps, such equally those by Havahart Traps, Comstock Custom Cages, Tomahawk Alive Traps, Take hold of & Release Live Animal Traps, Kage-All Live Cages, JT Eaton Live Animal Cage Traps, and Petrum Humane Animal Trap Cages.

Voles tin be defenseless using apple slices as bait in the wire cage traps, or in rat snap traps baited with apple slices and placed near their holes.

Chipmunks can be caught in rat snap traps baited with peanut butter. Both squirrels and chipmunks tin be baited into wire cage traps with sunflower seeds or peanut butter. Squirrels may be repelled by the use of sprays containing capsaicin, such every bit:

  • Scoot Squirrel Repellent
  • Bonide Become Away! Deer & Rabbit Repellent
  • Hot Pepper Wax Brute Repellent
  • Squirrel Abroad
  • Havahart Critter Ridder

The Havahart Cridder Ridder production label besides lists that it repels chipmunks.

Groundhogs, raccoons and skunks may be caught using larger wire cage traps. Use pieces of cantaloupe, sweet corn, or lettuce to entice groundhogs into the trap. Traps may be baited with watermelon, sweet corn, salary, wet cat nutrient, fish or whatever cooked fatty meat for raccoons. Skunks can be baited with sardines, canned cat nutrient, bacon or bread with peanut butter into wire cage traps. Some trap brands are available with solid sides to prevent the person from beingness sprayed through the cage during removal. However, information technology may exist advisable to rent a professional to remove animals, such as raccoons and skunks which are capable of transmitting rabies. Havahart Cridder Ridder (containing capsaicin) besides lists on the label that information technology repels skunks and raccoons.

Armadillos harm lawns as they feed on earthworms and insects in the turf. Wire cage traps can be used to capture armadillos, only baits are not typically used. Instead, the all-time locations to gear up traps are along pathways to armadillo burrows and along fences, buildings or the side of the house where the animals have traveled. "Wings" can exist made using 1 x 6 inch boards to funnel the animals into the traps (i.due east., in a V-shaped organisation). Sweeney's Mole & Gopher Repellent (containing brush oil) too lists on the characterization that information technology repels armadillos. Avoid touching armadillos considering in the Southern states they may be carriers of Hansen'south disease.

For more data about specific nuisance wild animals command, delight come across the The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.

For assistance in removal of nuisance wildlife from private property, there is a current list of professional nuisance wildlife control operators (NWCO) at the SC DNR website. In one case on the website, search for NWCO companies by county listings. These companies are in the business concern of wild fauna control, and like most businesses, do accuse a fee for their services.