What makes little holes in the ground

If not mounded, the holes may be a squirrel looking for nuts or a raccoon looking for grubs and earthworms. Skip to content There are many creatures that will create holes in lawns. Previous Post Previous How can we keep Canada geese away from our pond? They claim that wood mulch is home to rodents of all kinds. We prefer wood bark. These were taken in my back yard where grass was until 1 month ago. Thanks for your help!!!

Insects are the most likely troublemakers but Clemson University discusses other possible culprits: Birds If you are very observant, you may see small holes as if something was poked into the ground, but no mounds or loose soil.

Earthworms If the soil in your yard has a healthy population of earthworms, you may find 1-inch high piles of small, granular pellets of soil.

Insects There are many insects that spend the winter in the soil, during which time they transform from a larva into an adult. Solitary Bees There are also insects that prefer to live in the ground during their adult stage.

Feel free to contact our office if you have other questions. Their burrow is up to 15 feet long and has an entrance that is 7 to 8 inches in diameter. Recently, armadillos have be sited as far north in South Carolina as Anderson and York counties. Eliminate beetle larvae grubs in the lawn, which may be fed upon by moles, skunks, raccoons and armadillos.

There are many brands of grub killers sold in a granular form that can be spread over the lawn and watered in. The most efficient time to treat is during early July when the grubs are small and close to the surface.

Grub treatments that contain contact insecticides will last about 2 weeks. Grub treatments specifically containing the insecticide imidacloprid may be applied to the lawn during May. These imidacloprid products are systemic within the turfgrass and will last the entire season. The grubs are controlled as they feed on the grass roots. Follow label directions for use for rate, safety and instructions for watering in all granular products.

Moles and voles may be temporarily repelled from the lawn for about 2 weeks using a spray of castor oil to saturate the lawn. Many products are available as hose-end applicators to thorough wet the lawn being damaged, or as granular products, such as:. Mole may be controlled within their tunnels with poison worm baits that are inserted into actively traveled tunnels. These baits contain bromethalin, which will work within 24 hours after being eaten to kill the moles.

Examples of brands are:. Follow label directions for use, 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 human disease considerations, such as rabies.

If this is not an option, then the trapped animal must be killed, and then buried or bagged and disposed of in the garbage. Voles can be caught 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 can be baited into wire cage traps with sunflower seeds or peanut butter.

Squirrels may be repelled by the use of sprays containing capsaicin, such as:. 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, bacon, wet cat food, fish or any cooked fatty meat for raccoons. Skunks can be baited with sardines, canned cat food, bacon or bread with peanut butter into wire cage traps.

There, the eggs hatch and mature and a new generation of scoliid wasps is ready to take to the sky. To get there though, they have to dig through the soil, leaving behind tiny holes. If the holes in your lawn are accompanied by a large amount of bright blue and black wasps, scoliid wasps are likely the ones to blame. Cicada-killer wasps are difficult to miss. These bright yellow and black wasps are two inches long and are quite stout.

After cicadas emerge, cicada-killers take flight in search of their prey. These wasps paralyze cicadas and bury them in the soil, leaving behind sizeable holes. Then, the wasps lay their eggs and repeat the process once again.

Pro Tip: If you think that scoliid or cicada-killer wasps are the culprits victimizing your lawn, check the holes for eggs. If you find eggs, be sure to excavate the hole. If there are holes surrounding a tree or in your garden, it could be the result of squirrels. Unlike squirrels, chipmunks tunnel beneath the soil in two different ways: smaller tunnels for them to hide in while foraging, and larger tunnels where they nest, store food and hibernate during the winter.

A chipmunk hole is approximately two inches in diameter, has little to no soil surrounding it and is most likely located in an area with ample ground cover. Which suspect could it be? Should we point the finger at burrowing insects, or tunnel-digging wildlife? From voles and moles to beetles and birds, we can help restore your lawn to its glory while protecting it against burrowing pests.

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