Photo: Egor Valeev (Shutterstock)
Let’s say you walk outside one morning only to find that it appears as though someone—or something—has been digging holes, searching for buried treasure (albeit a relatively small one) in your yard. You’d probably want to get to the bottom of it.
Why? If genuine curiosity isn’t reason enough, but you would like to encourage the critter(s) to move on, it would be helpful to know which one(s) is destroying your property. Here are some of the animals that may be responsible for your new landscaping, and how to identify their handiwork.
Moles
Dig holes shaped like volcanoes Also dig raised tunnels with entrances the size of a quarterYour soil likely contains earthworms and grubs (i.e. a mole buffet)Voles
Create narrow paths called “runways” throughout yards (typically 1"-2" wide and in the top 2"-3" inches of soil) Sometimes also dig shallow underground tunnelsFavorite nesting locations include: Near gardens, usually beneath shrubs, ground-cover plants, or thick mulch, or in woodpilesChipmunks
Leave shallow holes from digging for foodCreate extensive systems of tunnels when they burrow, with entrances the size of a 50-cent coin and surrounded by dirt Favorite burrow locations include: Under sidewalks, next to houses and sheds, and along root systems of treesG/O Media may get a commission