There are a number of ways to stop animals from digging holes in your yard, but before we get into that, it is important to understand why they are doing this.
There are many reasons why an animal might dig holes in your yard. Some include looking for food or water, nesting, marking territory, or escaping predators. How you go about stopping them will depend on the reason behind their actions.
Why Do Animals Dig Holes In Your Yard
There are a number of reasons why animals dig holes in your yard, the main ones being the following.
1. To Get Water
They might be trying to find a source of water. This is not likely during winter. It happens during other seasons when there isn’t any rain or snowfall.
2. To Find Food
Another reason why animals dig holes in your yard could be because they’re looking for something to eat. This may occur if there is a small hole in your fence, giving predators access.
3. To Escape
One reason why an animal might be digging a hole could be because they’re trying to get away from something or someone.
4. To Nest
A female might be trying to dig out a small area for her young one if she feels threatened or senses danger outside. Plus, she might just feel safe in your yard and try to settle there.
5. To Mark Their Territory
Some animals are territorial. If they get attached to your yard, they might dig holes to mark their territory.
What Kind of Problems Can Holes In Your Yard Create
There are five main problems that animals digging holes can create in your yard.
- The Holes: The obvious problem is that they will create unattractive holes in your yard that will take away from its beauty. They can really be an eyesore, especially for lawn lovers or people who have a flat-surfaced lawn.
- Plant Damage: Animals who are invading your property may dig around the base of trees or shrubs. When that happens, it can disrupt your plants. They may even cause trees or shrubs to fall over.
- Stolen Fruits: As we mentioned earlier, some animals come to your yard looking for food. If that’s the case, they won’t hesitate to steal fruits, vegetables, or any other food items from your garden.
- Pipe Damage: While digging in the ground, the invading animals may accidentally damage the vent or pipes in your water system.
- Property Damage: Unfortunately, animals aren’t careful like humans. When they dig, they often go in a random pattern which can lead to access in spaces where they can do immense damage to the structure of your property. They can even go as far as weakening the walls of your home.
How to Stop Animals from Digging Holes In Yard
In order to stop your yard from being dug up by wild or domestic creatures, there are dozens of steps you can take. We will discuss the ten most effective ones.
1. Seed Regularly
One way to stop animals from digging holes in your yard is to seed it regularly. That will prevent them from wanting anything that isn’t grass because there won’t be anything else growing underground or above ground.
This method works best for small holes dug by mice and chipmunks. It also stops rabbits but not foxes who are usually too big for this method to work.
2. Get Rid of the Grub
Another way to stop animals from digging holes in your yard is to kill the grubs. This can be done by placing a powder or liquid on them that will prevent them from being able to grow healthy enough for their larvae stage.
The only downside to this method is that you may need to call a pest control service to help you with this one if it’s complicated or you don’t know how to do it correctly.
3. Use Humane Traps
If you want to catch the animals who are digging holes in your yard humanely, use a humane trap that catches the animal but doesn’t seriously injure them. Once they’re caught, call the animal control services and let them decide what to do.
4. Use Repellents
You can also use repellents to stop the animal from digging holes in your yard. There are many different types of these available at home improvement stores, garden centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
The only downside with this option is that you will need to know which animal is invading your yard. Only when you know the animal you’re trying to get rid of can you get a repellent that works against it. Furthermore, if there are several animals entering your yard, then you will probably need multiple repellents to keep all of them away.
5. Get a Fence or Another Physical Barrier
Many animals just leave when they can’t find an easy entrance to your property. So getting a fence or another physical barrier can really help minimize the number of animals that enter your yard.
This option is perfect for people who have pets because fences keep their pets safe from getting out of the property while still allowing them the freedom to roam outdoors.
6. Apply Beneficial Nematodes
What are nematodes? They are microscopic worms that prey on garden pests, including grubs and other larvae.
Nematodes are a great option because they kill the grubs and other larvae that are digging holes in your yard and then decompose. That’s a double-win for you because they will get rid of grubs and make your soil healthier as well.
7. Apply Cayenne Pepper
Another way to stop animals from digging holes in your yard is to apply cayenne pepper. How does it work? It’s simple: the animal will smell it and not want anything to do with your property because they don’t like spicy food.
8. Apply Soap and Water
Applying soap and water to your yard is one of the easiest ways to keep animals away. Just like cayenne pepper, animals don’t like scents that smell like dish soap or any other type of cleaner.
9. Get Rid of the Fallen Fruit
Are there fruit trees in your garden? If so, you need to ensure the fallen fruit doesn’t stay on the ground for too long. It’s one of the biggest attractions for animals roaming around looking for food.
10. Throw Away the Rotten Fruits and Veggies
Rotten fruits and veggies have a strong scent that attracts animals from far away. So never leave any rotten fruits or veggies lying around in your yard. Instead, always throw them in the trash as soon as you spot them.
Conclusion
With the help of this blog post, we hope that you now have a better understanding of how to get rid of the pesky critters that dig holes in your yard.
Which method did you like the best and are really looking forward to implementing? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
