What Animal Is Digging Holes in My Connecticut Yard? (Identification Guide)

Identifying Yard-Digging Wildlife in Connecticut

Connecticut sits squarely in southern New England, where cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers shape which animals dig and when. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife Division and UConn Extension both rank burrowing and turf-digging animals among the most common nuisance wildlife complaints in the state. Two very different problems dominate: surface turf damage from moles and grub-foraging skunks, and structural burrow damage from groundhogs and chipmunks.

Key Identification Tip: Before you identify the species, check whether your holes have mounds. Raised volcano mounds or ridged surface tunnels = eastern moles. Large 6-12 inch entrances with a big apron of excavated dirt = groundhog (woodchuck). Clean 2-inch holes near rocks, walls, or walkways with no mound = eastern chipmunk. Small holes connected by runways through grass, without mounds = meadow voles. Shallow scattered pits or peeled-back sod = skunks or raccoons grub-hunting at night. This one distinction eliminates half the possibilities immediately.

Connecticut Yard-Digging Animal Identification Table

Animal	Hole Size & Shape	Depth	Damage Pattern	Connecticut Range
Eastern Mole	Volcano-shaped mounds, 8-14 inches wide	Surface tunnels, 2-4 inches below grade	Raised ridged tunnels across lawns, dead grass strips	Statewide, moist loamy soils
Groundhog (Woodchuck)	Large entrance, 6-12 inches wide with big dirt apron	Burrows 2-5 feet deep, tunnels up to 45 feet long	Big den entrances, excavated soil, undermined sheds, patios, and foundations	Statewide, field edges and yards
Eastern Chipmunk	Clean 2-inch round holes, no mound (or scattered spoil)	Burrows 3-6 feet long, shallow	Small holes near rocks, stone walls, and walkways	Statewide, woodland edges
Meadow Vole	1-2 inch holes with surface runways	Shallow, 1-4 inches	Runways through grass, girdled trees and shrubs	Statewide
Striped Skunk	3-4 inch conical holes	Shallow, 1-2 inches	Small scattered holes and flipped sod (grub hunting)	Statewide
Raccoon	Peeled-back sod patches, overturned clumps of turf	Shallow, up to 2-3 inches	Rolled-up turf, overturned planters, tipped garbage	Statewide, suburbs and cities

Eastern Mole

The eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is the most common mole in Connecticut and the primary cause of lawn damage across the state. It favors moist, loamy, well-drained soils where earthworms and grubs thrive, which is exactly what New England's wet springs and fall rains produce. UConn Extension reports mole damage is among the most frequent lawn complaints from Stamford to Hartford to the Quiet Corner.

Eastern moles throw up volcano-shaped mounds and raised ridged tunnels that crisscross lawns. The ridges are shallow feeding runs, and mounds tend to cluster near fence lines, driveways, and other hard edges. Moles do not eat plant roots, but the raised tunnels dry out soil and kill grass, leaving the lawn bumpy and unsightly. Because Connecticut soils stay damp well into the fall, mole tunneling often lingers later in the season than in drier states.

Trapping is the most reliable control. UConn Extension recommends scissor-jaw or harpoon traps set in actively used tunnels. Locate a fresh tunnel (a straight run connecting two mounds), open it, and set the trap. Repellents and sonic devices have inconsistent results. Eastern moles are not protected in Connecticut, so landowners may trap them on their own property.

Groundhog (Woodchuck)

The groundhog, or woodchuck (Marmota monax), is one of the heaviest excavators in Connecticut. It digs large burrow systems with an entrance 6-12 inches across and a prominent apron of excavated dirt, and its tunnels can extend 2-5 feet deep and as much as 30-45 feet long. Groundhogs are true hibernators — they fatten up hard in late summer and fall, then sleep through the New England winter.

Groundhog damage is structural as well as aesthetic. Burrows under patios, sheds, decks, and building foundations can settle, crack, or collapse over time, making them a genuine property hazard rather than just a lawn nuisance. They also strip and eat garden vegetables and clip vegetation in a wide arc around the den.

Because they are not specially protected in Connecticut, DEEP allows landowners to control groundhogs on their own property. Live-trapping with a large (e.g., 24-inch) trap near the den entrance is the most common removal method, followed by relocating or, where appropriate, dispatching the animal humanely. After removal, fill in the burrow and install exclusion so a new animal simply arrives. Groundhogs under sheds and patios can be some of the most stubborn diggers, and professional removal is often the fastest, safest option.

Eastern Chipmunk

The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is abundant throughout Connecticut, especially in the wooded suburbs of Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties. It digs a clean, roughly 2-inch entrance hole with no mound, often tucked beside rocks, stone walls, stairs, retaining walls, and walkways. Unlike groundhogs, chipmunks seal and backfill much of their excavated soil, so the entrance looks surprisingly neat.

Chipmunk burrow systems can run 3-6 feet long and include a nest chamber and food stores. While chipmunks do little harm to turf itself, their digging undermines walkways, patios, and foundation borders, and they rustle through and steal from birdfeeders. Because their holes are entrance-only and lack the runways of voles or the apron of groundhogs, they are easy to identify if you know what to look for.

Managed by the DEEP Wildlife Division, eastern chipmunks generally do not require a permit for landowners to control on their own property. Exclusion with buried 1/4-inch hardware cloth along wall and walkway bases is very effective, and live-trapping with small traps baited with peanut butter, walnut, or sunflower seeds is common. Removing stone rubble and brush piles that provide cover also reduces activity.

Meadow Vole

Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) are present statewide and cause some of the most underrated yard damage in Connecticut. They dig small 1-2 inch entrance holes connected by shallow surface runways through grass, and they girdle the bark of young trees, shrubs, and perennials — damage that often only shows up as plants die back in spring after the snow melts.

Voles are most damaging in winter when they tunnel under snow or heavy mulch — a signature New England problem — and their populations cycle, with boom years causing sudden, widespread lawn damage. They are commonly mistaken for moles, but voles leave runways and chew plants at ground level rather than raising soil ridges or making mounds.

Control is habitat-focused: keep grass mowed, clear mulch and ground cover away from plant bases, and protect young trees with hardware cloth cylinders. Mowing and reducing thatch are the single most effective non-chemical measures. Rodenticide baiting should follow UConn Extension IPM guidance to avoid risks to hawks, owls, and pets that prey on voles.

Skunk

The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) forages for grubs in Connecticut lawns at night, leaving small conical holes 3-4 inches wide scattered across the sod. Skunks probe the turf for beetle grubs, and their holes often appear in clusters or lines where they worked a grub patch.

Skunks also dig under porches, decks, and sheds to den, and the odor risk is the main concern — a startled skunk sprays a musk that is very hard to remove. Skunks do not hibernate but may den up for weeks during the coldest stretch of the New England winter, resuming foraging on warm days. In fall they feed heavily to build fat stores, which is why skunk dig damage often peaks in September and October.

The best prevention is removing food and shelter: secure garbage, eliminate outdoor pet food, and seal under-deck openings with hardware cloth. Because skunks can carry rabies, never approach one — especially one active in daylight — and keep pets vaccinated. In Connecticut, skunks are classified as furbearers under DEEP, and trapping requires appropriate permits.

Raccoon

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are abundant across Connecticut, including its largest cities. In yards they roll back sod and peel up patches while hunting grubs, overturn planters and trash cans, and dig up newly planted bulbs. Their damage tends to be patchy and looks like lifted sections of turf.

Raccoons are also a common animal found living in Connecticut attics and crawl spaces. They are nocturnal, so damage that appears overnight — torn sod, tipped garbage — is a strong sign of raccoons. In fall, raccoons forage heavily to build fat for winter, so digging and trash activity often rise noticeably in October and November. They quickly learn to defeat simple deterrents.

Reduce attractants with locking garbage lids, bring pet food indoors at night, and harvest fruit promptly. For an animal living in an attic or crawl space, professional removal is recommended — raccoons are a rabies vector species in Connecticut, and eviction should happen only after any kits are old enough to leave on their own. Raccoons are classified as furbearers under DEEP, and both live-trapping and body-gripping traps for raccoons require a DEEP permit.

Seasonal Digging Patterns in Connecticut

Season	Most Active Diggers	Why
Spring	Eastern moles, groundhogs, chipmunks	Wet soil is ideal for tunneling; breeding drives new burrow activity and molts of last year's damage
Summer	Skunks, raccoons, chipmunks	Warm nights drive grub-foraging; groundhogs and chipmunks actively feed and expand burrows
Fall	Moles, voles, skunks, groundhogs, chipmunks	Animals build winter food caches and fat stores; groundhogs feed heavily before hibernation
Winter	Voles (under snow), moles	Groundhogs hibernate; voles tunnel beneath snow and mulch in New England; moles stay active under frozen turf

New England note: On top of the national pattern, Connecticut's hard winter shifts the calendar. Groundhogs hibernate from roughly October to February, so their digging mostly stops in cold months and resumes in early spring. Chipmunks hoard seeds through fall and sleep through much of the winter in their tunnels. Voles are the standout winter diggers because snow and mulch let them stay busy above the frost, and mole activity can continue in the mild spells of a New England winter while the ground is thawed.

How to Get Rid of Animals Digging in Your Connecticut Yard

1. Identify Before You Treat

Because Connecticut's digging animals range from protected furbearers (skunk, raccoon) to common turf pests (eastern mole, vole), correct identification is the first step. Use the identification table above, or contact your county Extension office through UConn Extension for help confirming a mole versus vole versus chipmunk before you invest in traps or baits.

2. Trapping (Moles, Groundhogs & Chipmunks)

Trapping remains the most reliable method for moles, groundhogs, and chipmunks. For moles, set scissor-jaw or harpoon traps in fresh, straight-run tunnels. For groundhogs, set a large live trap (24 inches or larger) near the den entrance, and for chipmunks use a smaller live trap baited with peanut butter or sunflower seeds. Check traps regularly and reset in fresh runs as needed.

3. Exclusion Fencing

For voles, chipmunks, and groundhogs, bury 1/4-inch hardware cloth at least 18 inches deep along garden, walkway, and foundation borders, with an outward flange at the bottom. Protect young trees and shrubs with wire cylinders. Sealing openings under decks, sheds, and patios is essential for groundhogs, skunks, and raccoons denning beneath structures.

4. Habitat Modification & Grub Control

Reduce skunk and raccoon foraging by controlling lawn grubs with beneficial nematodes and following UConn Extension IPM guidance. Clear brush piles, tall grass, and dense ground cover that shelter diggers. Keep lawns mowed and eliminate food sources such as fallen fruit, birdseed spills, and outdoor pet food. Remove rock and stone rubble that chipmunks use for cover.

5. Professional Wildlife Removal

If DIY methods fail or you have a protected or persistent species, contact a licensed wildlife removal service. Licensed operators have the equipment, permits, and experience to handle stubborn groundhogs, moles, and raccoons in attics and crawl spaces. Search for Connecticut wildlife removal to find qualified operators. The average cost for professional wildlife removal in Connecticut ranges from $300 to $1,200, depending on species, severity, and site access.

Connecticut-Specific Regulations

• Eastern mole: Not protected in Connecticut. May be trapped on private property by landowners or their agents.
• Groundhog (woodchuck): Not specially protected. Managed by the DEEP Wildlife Division; landowners may control groundhogs on their own property.
• Eastern chipmunk: Managed by DEEP; generally no permit is required for landowners to control chipmunks on their own property.
• Meadow vole: Not protected. May be trapped, excluded, or controlled by landowners.
• Striped skunk: Classified as a furbearer by DEEP. Live-trapping requires a permit, and body-gripping traps must be used by a permitted trapper.
• Raccoon: Classified as a furbearer by DEEP. Live-trapping and body-gripping traps for raccoons require a DEEP permit; check local ordinances before any action.

FAQ: Connecticut Yard Digging

What is making small holes in my lawn at night in Connecticut?

Small holes appearing overnight are typically from striped skunks probing for grubs. They leave conical holes 3-4 inches across, often in clusters. Raccoons leave larger peeled-back patches of sod, and their activity is also mostly nocturnal — both are especially noticeable in fall as they feed up for winter.

How do I tell a mole from a groundhog in Connecticut?

Eastern moles make volcano-shaped mounds and raised surface ridges and eat insects. Groundhogs (woodchucks) dig large 6-12 inch burrow entrances with a big apron of dirt, tunnel deep under sheds and patios, and eat plants. The entrance size and the presence or absence of surface ridges are the easiest distinguishing features.

Are groundhogs protected in Connecticut?

No, groundhogs are not specially protected in Connecticut. They are managed by the DEEP Wildlife Division, and landowners are allowed to control (trap or otherwise manage) groundhogs on their own property without a permit.

How do I tell chipmunk holes from vole holes?

Chipmunks dig clean 2-inch entrance holes near rocks, stone walls, and walkways, usually with no mound. Voles dig smaller 1-2 inch holes connected by surface runways through the grass and girdle plants at ground level. The runways and near-plant damage point to voles.

How do I get rid of moles in Connecticut?

Trapping in active tunnels is the most effective method. Locate a fresh straight run connecting two mounds, open it, and set a scissor-jaw or harpoon trap. Repeat in different tunnels as activity shifts. Repellents have limited, inconsistent results in Connecticut's moist soils.

Why is my yard full of holes in the fall in Connecticut?

Fall is the busiest digging season in New England because animals are building food caches and fat stores before winter. Voles and moles expand their tunnel systems, skunks forage more heavily for grubs, groundhogs feed constantly before hibernation, and chipmunks stock their burrows with seeds.

Professional Wildlife Removal in Connecticut

If you need professional wildlife removal or pest control services in Connecticut, our local guides cover the following cities:

• Bridgeport, CONNECTICUT — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
• New Haven, CONNECTICUT — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
• Hartford, CONNECTICUT — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
• Stamford, CONNECTICUT — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide

Professional Wildlife Removal in Connecticut

If you need professional help, see our Wildlife Removal Cost: $200-$1,500 (2026 Complete Price Guide) for pricing information. Costs vary by animal type and infestation severity.

Sources: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife Division, UConn Extension, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional wildlife management advice.