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

Identifying Yard-Digging Wildlife in Mississippi

Mississippi's warm, humid subtropical climate keeps digging wildlife active through most of the year. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension both rank burrowing and turf-digging animals among the most common nuisance wildlife complaints in the state. The state splits into the fertile alluvial flats of the Delta in the west, the red-clay hills of central and north Mississippi, and the sandy Pine Belt and Gulf Coastal Plain in the south — and each region favors different diggers.

Armadillos are by far the standout Mississippi digger — the species was unknown in the state until the 1950s but has since spread across every county, with populations building explosively in the Delta and Coastal Plain. In the sandy southeast, southeastern pocket gophers dominate. Moles, skunks, raccoons, and groundhogs round out the rest of the digging cast.

Key Identification Tip: Before you identify the species, check whether your holes have mounds. Large shallow cone-shaped holes with overturned soil and no mound = armadillo. Flat fan-shaped mounds with an off-center soil plug, often in an arc = pocket gopher. Raised volcano mounds or ridged surface tunnels = mole. Large 6-8 inch open burrow entrances with a dirt apron in a field edge or under a shed = woodchuck. Small scattered conical pits without mounds = skunk or raccoon grub-foraging. This one distinction eliminates most possibilities immediately.

Mississippi Yard-Digging Animal Identification Table

Animal	Hole Size & Shape	Depth	Damage Pattern	Mississippi Range
Nine-Banded Armadillo	Shallow cone-shaped holes, 3-5 inches wide; overturned soil patches	4-8 inches deep	Overturned soil, torn sod, cone holes in lines, disturbed mulch and garden beds	Statewide; most numerous in Delta, Coastal Plain, and Pine Belt
Southeastern Pocket Gopher	Flat, fan-shaped mounds with off-center soil plug	6-18 inches deep, tunnel systems	Fan-shaped mounds in arcs; plants pulled down, roots stripped in gardens	Southeast; Coastal Plain and Pine Belt sandy soils
Eastern Mole	Volcano-shaped mounds, 8-12 inches wide	Surface tunnels, 2-4 inches below grade	Raised ridged tunnels across lawns, dead grass strips	Statewide, moist lawns and fields
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; 4-6 inch holes pulled toward center	Shallow	Torn turf, overturned planters and trash, dug-up bulbs	Statewide, including all major cities
Woodchuck (Groundhog)	Large open entrance, 6-8 inches wide with dirt apron	Burrows up to 3-5 feet deep	Den entrances in field edges, under sheds and decks; stripped garden plants	Northern and central Mississippi

Nine-Banded Armadillo

The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is the signature yard digger across Mississippi and the single most common source of lawn damage in the deep South. Armadillos were virtually absent from Mississippi until the 1950s, but since then they have expanded across all 82 counties, with the fastest growth in the Delta and along the Gulf Coastal Plain. Populations build explosively in part because females give birth to identical quadruplets.

Armadillos dig constantly for beetle grubs, earthworms, and other insects. They leave shallow cone-shaped holes 3-5 inches wide and large areas of overturned soil, often in long lines as they work a grub patch. Because they forage almost entirely at night, the damage appears overnight, and they frequently dig up newly planted beds, mulch, and bulbs, and tear sod away from irrigation lines and landscape borders.

MDWFP considers the armadillo unprotected, so landowners may trap them on their own property. Control is mostly a matter of reducing grub habitat and protecting beds with buried hardware cloth. A large cage trap baited with earthworms or overturned soil, combined with grub reduction, is the most common approach. Armadillos are not a rabies vector species and rarely enter structures, but they can undermine foundations, walkways, and driveways when they burrow beside them.

Southeastern Pocket Gopher

The southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetis) is Mississippi's most damaging rodent digger and a specialty pest of the state's sandy southeast. It is strongly tied to the deep, well-drained sandy soils of the Coastal Plain and Pine Belt, where it excavates elaborate tunnel systems and pushes up flat, fan-shaped mounds capped with a distinctive off-center soil plug — very different from the volcano mounds of moles.

Pocket gophers eat roots, tubers, and entire plants, pulling young garden plants down into their tunnels and leaving sudden disappearance holes. They are a persistent pest in pecan orchards, sweet potato fields, pastures, and residential lawns on sandy ground, and their mounds often appear in a rough arc as the animals seal their tunnels behind them.

Because the southeastern pocket gopher is not protected in Mississippi, landowners can use tunnel trapping with pincher or box traps set in the main tunnel, and registered gopher baits placed in lateral tunnels. Always follow MDWFP and label guidance to avoid harming non-target wildlife. Exclusion with buried gravel or hardware cloth protects specific beds and orchards.

Eastern Mole

The eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is Mississippi's most common mole and a statewide turf pest in moist, loose soils. It throws up volcano-shaped mounds 8-12 inches across and raised ridged surface tunnels that crisscross lawns, especially after wet weather in the Mississippi Delta's rich river soils. Moles eat insects and earthworms rather than plant roots, but the raised tunnels dry out soil and kill grass in strips.

Moles are most active in spring and fall when soils stay moist and food is plentiful. Their tunnels commonly follow fence lines, driveways, and other hard edges. Trapping with scissor-jaw or harpoon traps set in fresh straight-run tunnels is the most reliable control in Mississippi, as repellents and sonic devices give inconsistent results, especially in the state's heavy clay and deep alluvial soils.

Striped Skunk

Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) forage for grubs in Mississippi lawns at night, leaving small conical holes 3-4 inches across scattered across the sod. Their probing holes often appear in clusters or lines where they worked a grub patch. Skunks also dig under porches, decks, and sheds to den. MDWFP classifies the striped skunk as a furbearer, so trapping requires a valid license, follows a defined season, and relocation rules apply.

The main concerns are odor and disease. A startled skunk sprays a musk that is very hard to remove, and skunks can carry rabies, so never approach one — especially one active in daylight — and keep pets vaccinated. Secure garbage, eliminate outdoor pet food, remove grubs with beneficial nematodes, and seal under-deck and under-porch openings with hardware cloth.

Raccoon

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are abundant across Mississippi, including the state's 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 the most common animal found living in Mississippi attics and crawl spaces, and the species is a rabies vector animal in the state.

Reduce attractants with locking garbage lids, bring pet food indoors at night, and harvest fruit promptly. Raccoons are furbearers and may be taken under MDWFP furbearer rules, but eviction of an animal living under a home or in an attic should happen only after any kits are old enough to leave on their own. For an animal in a structure, professional removal is recommended.

Woodchuck (Groundhog)

Woodchucks (Marmota monax) are the northernmost digger on this list and are most common in northern and central Mississippi. They dig large open burrow entrances 6-8 inches across with a characteristic dirt apron, usually in field edges, fence rows, and under sheds, decks, or foundations. They strip garden vegetables and can undermine walkways and outbuildings with their deep burrows.

Woodchucks are rarely numerous enough in the deep South to become a widespread pest, but where they settle they are persistent. MDWFP treats them as unprotected in most circumstances. Exclusion with buried fencing, trapping, and clearing brush cover are the standard controls, and professional help is advisable when a burrow threatens a foundation or outbuilding.

Seasonal Digging Patterns in Mississippi

Season	Most Active Diggers	Why
Spring	Armadillos, eastern moles	Warm, wet soil softens for tunneling; breeding drives new burrow and surface activity
Summer	Armadillos, pocket gophers, skunks, raccoons	Humid nights drive grub-foraging; armadillos peak; gophers damage sandy beds and fields
Fall	Armadillos, eastern moles, pocket gophers	Animals build winter food stores; moles stay active in moist soils
Winter	Armadillos (central/south), eastern moles	Armadillos stay active through mild Gulf winters; moles tunnel under wet turf

How to Get Rid of Animals Digging in Your Mississippi Yard

1. Identify Before You Treat

Correct identification is the first step because MDWFP regulations differ sharply between protected furbearers (skunk, raccoon) and unprotected species (armadillo, pocket gopher, mole). Use the identification table above, or contact your county MSU Extension office to help confirm an armadillo versus a gopher versus a mole before you invest in traps or baits.

2. Trapping (Armadillos, Moles & Gophers)

Trapping is the most reliable method. For armadillos, use a large cage trap (at least 24 inches long) baited with earthworms or overturned soil, set along fence lines and grub patches. For moles, set scissor-jaw or harpoon traps in fresh, straight-run tunnels. For pocket gophers, locate the main tunnel and set pincher or box traps facing both directions. Check traps daily and reset in fresh tunnels as activity shifts.

3. Grub Control & Exclusion Fencing

Reduce skunk, raccoon, and armadillo foraging by controlling lawn grubs with beneficial nematodes and following MSU IPM guidance. Bury 1/4-inch hardware cloth 18-24 inches deep along garden and foundation borders, with an outward flange at the bottom, to stop gophers, moles, and armadillos. Protect new beds, orchards, and young trees the same way.

4. Habitat Modification

Clear brush piles, tall grass, and wooded edges that shelter diggers, and remove food sources such as fallen fruit, birdseed spills, and outdoor pet food. Keep lawns mowed, reduce soil moisture near borders, and seal gaps under porches, decks, sheds, and foundations that give skunks, raccoons, and woodchucks den access.

5. Professional Wildlife Removal

If DIY methods fail or you have a protected or persistent species, contact a licensed wildlife removal service. For species under MDWFP furbearer rules — skunks and raccoons — only licensed operators can legally trap within season. Search for Mississippi wildlife removal to find qualified operators. The average cost for professional wildlife removal in Mississippi ranges from $250 to $1,000, depending on species, severity, and site access.

Mississippi-Specific Regulations

• Nine-banded armadillo: Not protected by MDWFP. Landowners may trap armadillos causing property damage.
• Southeastern pocket gopher: Not protected. May be trapped or baited by landowners using registered methods.
• Eastern mole: Not protected. May be trapped by landowners or their agents.
• Woodchuck (groundhog): Generally unprotected; may be controlled by landowners.
• Striped skunk: Classified as a furbearer by MDWFP. Trapping requires a valid license and follows the defined season; relocation rules apply.
• Raccoon: Classified as a furbearer. May be taken under MDWFP furbearer rules, typically by licensed wildlife control operators, and is subject to local ordinances.

FAQ: Mississippi Yard Digging

What animal is digging up my Mississippi yard at night?

The most likely culprit is the nine-banded armadillo, which forages at night and leaves shallow cone-shaped holes and large areas of overturned soil, especially in the Delta and Coastal Plain. Raccoons and striped skunks also dig at night hunting grubs, leaving smaller holes and peeled sod. Fresh holes appearing overnight point to one of these three.

How do I tell an armadillo from a pocket gopher?

Armadillos leave shallow cone-shaped holes 3-5 inches wide with overturned soil, often in lines, and no mounds. Southeastern pocket gophers leave flat, fan-shaped mounds capped with an off-center soil plug, often in an arc, and pull plants down into their tunnels. The mound shape and the presence of torn-up sod are the easiest distinguishing features.

Does Mississippi have pocket gophers?

Yes. The southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetis) is common in the sandy soils of the Coastal Plain and Pine Belt, where it throws up its distinctive fan-shaped mounds. It is a significant pest of pecan orchards, sweet potato fields, and lawns on sandy ground.

Are armadillos protected in Mississippi?

No. The MDWFP considers the nine-banded armadillo unprotected, so private landowners may trap armadillos causing property damage without a license. Live relocation and any trapping for sale of the animals follow separate MDWFP rules, so check current guidance before relocating.

Is it legal to trap skunks and raccoons in Mississippi?

Both striped skunks and raccoons are classified as furbearers by MDWFP. Taking them is legal only during the designated season and requires a valid resident or non-resident hunting or fur-catching license, or handling by a licensed wildlife control operator. Check current MDWFP season dates and local ordinances before acting.

What is making cone-shaped dirt mounds in my yard in Mississippi?

Cone-shaped volcanoes or raised ridged surface ridges point to the eastern mole. Mole mounds are smooth volcano shapes with no visible opening and no plant damage. Flat fan-shaped mounds with a soil plug indicate a southeastern pocket gopher, while scattered shallow holes with no mound indicate skunks or raccoons hunting grubs.

Professional Wildlife Removal in Mississippi

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

• Jackson, MISSISSIPPI — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
• Gulfport, MISSISSIPPI — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
• Hattiesburg, MISSISSIPPI — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
• Southaven, MISSISSIPPI — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide

Professional Wildlife Removal in Mississippi

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: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional wildlife management advice.