You walk out with your coffee, expecting a nice, uniform green carpet. Instead, it looks like a miniature war zone. There are these little divots everywhere, maybe two inches wide, some with dirt mounded up and others just raw, open wounds in the turf. Honestly, it’s frustrating. You start googling pictures of squirrel holes in lawn because you need to know if you're dealing with a bushy-tailed nut-hoarder or something much more sinister, like a skunk or a family of rats.
Most people assume a hole is just a hole. It's not.
What Squirrel Holes Actually Look Like (And Why They're Different)
If you’re looking at pictures of squirrel holes in lawn, you’ll notice a specific pattern. Squirrels are "scatter hoarders." Unlike a chipmunk that builds a massive underground palace with a single, clean entrance, squirrels are disorganized. They dig small, shallow pits. Usually, these are about 1 to 3 inches deep. You won’t see a massive pile of excavated dirt next to them because the squirrel isn't living down there; it’s just "banking" a snack for later.
The edges of a squirrel hole are usually ragged. They use their front paws to scrap away the grass, leaving a little triangular or circular patch of bare soil. In the autumn, these holes are everywhere. They’re frantic. They’re burying acorns, walnuts, or those hickory nuts that hurt when they fall on your car. In the spring, the holes look different. They’re deeper and more aggressive because the squirrel is trying to find what it forgot six months ago.
Dr. John Koprowski, a leading squirrel expert and professor, has noted that squirrels can lose up to 25% of their buried nuts to "theft" or just plain forgetting where they put them. This means your lawn becomes a graveyard of forgotten snacks.
The "False Flag" Holes: Don't Blame the Squirrel Yet
Wait. Before you go buying a live trap, look closer at the dirt. Is there a volcano-shaped mound? If so, that is 100% not a squirrel.
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Moles create ridges and volcanoes. Voles—which sound like moles but act like mice—create "runways" that look like little bobsled tracks through your grass. Then there are skunks. If you see a hole that looks like a "cone," about 3 to 4 inches across and quite deep, that’s a skunk looking for grubs. Skunks are heavy-handed. They don't have the delicate touch of a squirrel. They flip the sod over like a carpet.
Rats are the ones that really freak people out. A rat hole is a burrow. It’s clean, it’s round, and it usually goes in at an angle near a fence or a shed. If you see a hole that looks like a perfectly smooth pipe was shoved into the ground, stop looking at pictures of squirrel holes in lawn and start looking at pest control for rodents.
Why Your Lawn Is a Target
It’s the buffet. If you have an oak tree, you have a problem. If your neighbor has an oak tree, you still have a problem.
Squirrels are surprisingly smart. They use "spatial memory" and their sense of smell to locate buried nuts, but they also use "deceptive caching." This is wild—researchers at UC Berkeley found that squirrels will pretend to bury a nut if they think another squirrel is watching them. They’ll dig a hole, pat it down, and leave... with the nut still in their mouth. So, some of those holes in your lawn might literally be "fake" holes designed to trick a rival squirrel.
Dealing With the Damage Without Losing Your Mind
You can't stop a squirrel from being a squirrel. It's their job. But you can make your lawn less "diggable."
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One common mistake is over-watering. Soft, moist soil is like a neon sign for a squirrel. It’s easy to dig. If your lawn is a bit firmer, they might head over to the neighbor’s house instead. Some people swear by cayenne pepper. You sprinkle it around the holes or the areas they frequent. It works, but only until the next rain or until the wind blows it away. It’s a temporary fix at best.
Then there’s the hardware cloth. If you have a specific flower bed or a patch of expensive sod they won't leave alone, you can lay down plastic or metal mesh just under the surface. They hate the feeling of their claws snagging on the wire.
The Grub Connection
Sometimes, the squirrels aren't even looking for nuts. They’re looking for protein. If you see them digging in late summer, they might be after beetle larvae (grubs). This is actually a bit of a favor, though it doesn't feel like it when your lawn looks like Swiss cheese. If you treat your lawn for grubs using a product with Acelepryn or Imidacloprid, you might find the digging stops because the "kitchen" is closed.
Are the Holes Dangerous?
Mostly to your ankles. A squirrel hole won't collapse your foundation. It won't kill your grass permanently; grass is resilient and will usually fill back in by the next growing season. The real danger is the "entry point" theory. If you have holes right up against your house, it encourages other animals to start investigating your crawlspace or siding.
Keep an eye on the location. If the holes are out in the middle of the yard, it's a cosmetic issue. If they are clustered near the base of your home, you need to be more aggressive with your deterrents.
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Real Steps to Fix Your Lawn Now
Don't just fill the holes with loose dirt. The squirrel will just dig it right back up because you've essentially created a "soft spot" that's even easier to penetrate.
- Tamp it down: When you fill a hole, pack the dirt tight with your heel.
- The "Over-Seeding" Trick: Put a little grass seed in the hole before you pack it. It helps the lawn recover faster so the bare spot doesn't become a permanent feature.
- Motion Sprinklers: These are hilarious and effective. A "Scarecrow" sprinkler detects motion and shoots a quick burst of water. Squirrels hate surprises.
- Check the Bird Feeder: If you have a bird feeder, you are subsidizing the destruction of your lawn. The seeds fall, the squirrels come for the easy meal, and then they decide to stay and "invest" their leftovers in your turf. Move the feeder or get a truly squirrel-proof version.
If you’re seeing dozens of holes every single day, it might be time to accept that you live in a high-traffic wildlife zone. Nature is messy. Sometimes the best "fix" is just a heavy rake and a bit of patience.
Summary of Identification
To be absolutely sure what you’re seeing, compare your lawn to these markers:
- Squirrels: Shallow, 1-2 inches, no mound, scattered randomly.
- Skunks: Deeper, 3-4 inches, "cone" shaped, often happens at night.
- Moles: Long raised ridges, "volcano" mounds of loose dirt.
- Chipmunks: Clean, 2-inch wide circular holes, usually near rocks or walls, no dirt outside.
Stop stressing about every single divot. If the holes are small and scattered, it’s just the local squirrels playing the long game with their winter food supply. Pack the dirt back in, move your bird feeder, and maybe look into a grub treatment if the digging gets out of hand.
Next Steps for Homeowners:
Walk your perimeter and check if holes are concentrated near the foundation; if they are, prioritize sealing gaps in your home's exterior. Buy a small bag of "sun and shade" grass seed mix to keep on hand for quick repairs as you find new divots throughout the week. If the digging is accompanied by large patches of dead grass that pull up like a rug, skip the squirrel deterrents and go straight to a localized grub application.