Quick Answer
The most common animals digging holes in Nevada yards are pocket gophers and ground squirrels rather than moles, which are largely absent from most of the desert state. Botta's pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae) cause the most turf damage in the Reno and Carson City areas, while Townsend's ground squirrels (Urocitellus townsendii) are the top digger across northern Nevada. In the Las Vegas Valley and south, shallow scrapes usually come from desert cottontails, kangaroo rats, striped skunks, and raccoons. Remember that the desert tortoise — a protected endangered species — is also an active burrower, and disturbing its burrow is illegal in Nevada.
Identifying Yard-Digging Wildlife in Nevada
Nevada is the driest state in the nation, and that dryness shapes every digging problem you will see. Water is scarce, so animals tunnel to reach moisture, roots, and burrow shelter from the intense desert heat. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Extension Service both rank burrowing rodents and grub-foraging mammals among the most common nuisance wildlife complaints in the state.
Key Identification Tip: Before you identify the species, check whether your holes have mounds and where the soil is disturbed. Fan-shaped mounds with an off-center plug = pocket gophers. Open, cup-shaped burrow entrances in colonies = ground squirrels. Shallow scattered pits and flipped sod = skunks or raccoons grub-hunting. Small dust-bath or scraped depressions with no mound at all = desert cottontails or kangaroo rats. This one distinction eliminates most possibilities immediately.
Nevada Yard-Digging Animal Identification Table
| Animal | Hole Size & Shape | Depth | Damage Pattern | Nevada Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botta's Pocket Gopher | Fan-shaped mounds with off-center plug | 6-18 inches deep, tunnel systems | Kidney-shaped mounds in arcs; plants pulled down into tunnels | Reno, Carson City, western and central Nevada |
| Townsend's Ground Squirrel | Open cup-shaped entrances, 3-5 inches wide | Burrows 3-6 feet deep with multiple openings | Colonies of holes; stripped vegetation; holes along fences and siding | Northern Nevada, sagebrush country |
| Desert Cottontail | Shallow scrapes and dusting depressions, 4-6 inches | Very shallow, surface-level | Shallow depressions, no real burrow; nibbled plants | Statewide, especially southern Nevada |
| Kangaroo Rat | Small tunnels and entrance holes, 1.5-3 inches | Burrows 1-2 feet deep, branched | Small holes among rocks and sparse ground cover; seed theft | Deserts statewide, sandy soils |
| Striped Skunk | 3-4 inch conical holes | Shallow, 1-2 inches | Small scattered holes and flipped sod (grub hunting) | Statewide near water and irrigated lawns |
| Raccoon | Large peeled-back sod patches | Shallow, rolls up turf | Lifted turf sections; overturned planters and trash | Urban areas, Las Vegas Valley and Reno |
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) is the most damaging tunnel-digger in Nevada, especially in irrigated lawns and gardens around Reno and Carson City. It is completely adapted to dry western soils, and where irrigation keeps soil soft and roots abundant, gophers thrive. UNR Extension identifies pocket gophers as the top rodent turf pest in western Nevada's valleys.
Pocket gophers are solitary and mostly underground. They push up fan-shaped mounds capped with an off-center soil plug, and because they seal the tunnel behind themselves, fresh mounds often appear in a rough arc. They feed on roots, tubers, and entire plants, pulling young garden plants and ornamentals down into their tunnels — a plant that disappears overnight is a classic gopher sign.
Trapping with pincher or box traps set in the main tunnel is the most reliable control. Baiting with registered gopher baits placed in lateral tunnels works on larger properties but must follow label guidance to avoid harming burrowing owls, badgers, and other wildlife. Pocket gophers are not protected in Nevada, so landowners may trap or bait them freely. Exclusion with buried hardware cloth protects specific beds and along foundation borders.
Townsend's Ground Squirrel
Townsend's ground squirrel (Urocitellus townsendii) is the most common ground squirrel across northern Nevada's sagebrush country and the main digger of open burrow colonies near homes and outbuildings. Unlike the solitary pocket gopher, ground squirrels live in social colonies, so their damage appears as many open, cup-shaped holes clustered across a field, along a fence line, or beside a foundation.
Colonies can include dozens of burrow entrances, each 3-5 inches across, leading to extensive tunnel systems several feet deep. Ground squirrels strip grain, alfalfa, and green vegetation and are a recognized agricultural pest over much of northern Nevada. They are diurnal — active during the day — which makes them easy to spot compared with nocturnal diggers like skunks and raccoons.
NDOW classifies Townsend's ground squirrels as controllable animals, so they may be trapped, poisoned with registered baits, or managed on private property. Exclusion fencing buried 1-2 feet deep with a bottom flange helps protect gardens and foundations, and removing food sources discourages colonies from settling. Because they carry fleas, use care and gloves when handling carcasses or traps.
Desert Cottontail
Desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii) are present statewide but most common in southern Nevada. They do not tunnel, but they create shallow scrapes and dusting depressions as they sit, rest, and cool off in loose soil, and they feed heavily on young plants, which can look like digging damage when whole seedlings vanish.
Their shallow scrapes are surface-level with no tunnel system, which distinguishes them from gopher mounds and squirrel burrows. Cottontails are mostly active at dawn, dusk, and night, and in desert heat they stay in the shade and in shallow scrapes during midday.
Control is fencing and exclusion. A 2-3 foot wire fence, or a buried 18-inch hardware cloth barrier at garden borders, keeps cottontails out. They are a game species managed by NDOW with seasonal hunting rules, so live relocation typically is not allowed without a permit. Habitat modification — clearing brush piles and tall grass where they shelter — reduces their presence.
Kangaroo Rat
Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys species) are desert specialists found across Nevada's sandy and gravelly soils, and they dig small burrows and one-way escape holes near homes on the desert fringe. They are well known for their huge hind legs and hopping gait, and they hardly ever drink water, getting moisture from the seeds they cache.
Their burrows are small — entrances 1.5-3 inches across — often hidden among rocks and sparse vegetation, and their damage is mostly minor compared with gophers and ground squirrels. They do occasionally dig under foundations, patios, and garden borders in search of shelter from the heat, which can create small settling or entry points.
Kangaroo rats are a native component of Nevada's desert ecosystem, and NDOW discourages lethal control of healthy populations. Exclusion along foundations with buried hardware cloth, sealing gaps, and reducing open seed sources are the recommended approaches. They are active at night, so fresh small holes appearing overnight near desert landscaping point strongly to kangaroo rats.
Striped Skunk
Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are present across Nevada wherever food and water exist, which in the desert means they concentrate around irrigated lawns, golf courses, and the suburban fringe of the Las Vegas Valley. At night they probe turf for beetle grubs, leaving small conical holes 3-4 inches across scattered across sod.
Skunks also dig under porches, decks, slabs, and sheds to den, and in dry Nevada they are drawn to the moisture and shade found under structures. The odor risk is the main concern — a startled skunk sprays a musk that is famously difficult to remove. Skunks are rabies vector species in Nevada and are active year-round, though they reduce activity in the coldest weeks.
The best prevention is removing food, water, and shelter: secure garbage, eliminate outdoor pet food, fix leaky irrigation, and seal under-deck and under-porch openings with hardware cloth. Because of rabies risk, never approach a skunk — especially one active in daylight — and keep pets vaccinated. NDOW classifies skunks as controllable furbearers in Nevada with fur-trapping seasons; relocate only through a licensed operator when permitted.
Raccoon
Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are abundant in Nevada's urban corridors, particularly the Las Vegas Valley, Reno, and Henderson, where development borders desert washes. In yards they roll back sod and peel up patches while hunting grubs, overturn planters and garbage cans, and dig around drip-irrigation lines. Their damage tends to be patchy, peeled-back sections of turf that appear overnight.
Because Nevada's water is so concentrated in irrigated landscapes, raccoons and skunks fight over the same small patches of green turf, so grub-rich lawns near washes and parks can take heavy nightly damage. Raccoons are nocturnal — fresh torn sod in the morning is a strong sign. They also den in attics, crawl spaces, and under sheds.
Reduce attractants with locking garbage lids, bring pet food and birdseed indoors at night, and fix dripping outdoor faucets and irrigation leaks. For an animal denning in an attic or crawl space, professional removal is recommended — raccoons are a rabies vector species in Nevada, and kits must be old enough to leave on their own before eviction.
Desert Tortoise: A Protected Digger
One burrowing animal you must not disturb in Nevada is the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a federally threatened and state-protected species in the Mojave Desert region around Las Vegas. Desert tortoises dig deep, half-moon burrows at the base of a slope or caliche bank, and their burrows shelter not just the tortoise but many other desert animals.
If you find a large half-moon opening at the edge of your property in the Mojave region, stop digging and do not collapse, plug, or enlarge the burrow. Damaging a desert tortoise or its burrow is illegal under NDOW regulations and the federal Endangered Species Act, with significant fines. Desert tortoises are so important that Nevada celebrates Tortoise Month and requires tortoise-awareness fencing in many developments. Contact NDOW before doing any earthwork where tortoise burrows may be present.
Seasonal Digging Patterns in Nevada
| Season | Most Active Diggers | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Pocket gophers, ground squirrels, desert tortoises | Breeding drives new burrow activity; gophers peak as irrigation resumes and green-up begins |
| Summer | Striped skunks, raccoons, kangaroo rats | Warm nights drive grub-foraging; desert heat pushes diggers to watered, shady turf |
| Fall | Ground squirrels, pocket gophers | Animals build winter caches and fat stores before the cold of northern Nevada |
| Winter | Ground squirrels (hibernation burrows), desert cottontails | Ground squirrels repair/enter hibernation burrows; cottontail scraping continues in mild southern winter |
How to Get Rid of Animals Digging in Your Nevada Yard
1. Identify Before You Treat
Because Nevada's digging animals range from protected species (desert tortoise) and native rodents (kangaroo rats) to heavy turf pests (pocket gophers, ground squirrels), correct identification is the first and most legally important step. Use the identification table above, or contact UNR Extension for help confirming a gopher versus ground squirrel versus skunk before you invest in traps or baits.
2. Trapping (Gophers & Ground Squirrels)
Trapping is the most reliable method for pocket gophers. Set pincher or box traps in the freshly opened main tunnel, facing both directions, and cover the opening to keep light and predators out. For Townsend's ground squirrels, use approved traps near active burrow entrances in daylight hours. Check traps daily and reset in fresh tunnels as activity shifts.
3. Exclusion Fencing
For ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, and cottontails, bury 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch hardware cloth at least 18 inches deep along garden and foundation borders, with an outward flange at the bottom so animals cannot dig under it. Use solid-adjacent wire and gate completely to protect vegetable beds, trees, and utility access points.
4. Habitat Modification & Water Management
In Nevada's dry climate, water is the magnet — animals dig toward irrigation. Fix leaky drip lines, avoid over-irrigating turf near borders and foundations, and reduce grubs with beneficial nematodes to stop skunk and raccoon foraging. Clear brush piles, rock stacks, and dense ground cover that shelter diggers, and remove fallen fruit, birdseed spills, and outdoor pet food.
5. Professional Wildlife Removal
If DIY methods fail or you have a protected species or a persistent colony, contact a licensed wildlife removal service. Licensed operators have the equipment, permits, and experience to handle stubborn gophers, large ground squirrel colonies, and raccoons in attics without risk to protected species like the desert tortoise. Search for Nevada wildlife removal to find qualified operators. The average cost for professional wildlife removal in Nevada ranges from $250 to $1,000, depending on species, severity, and site access.
Nevada-Specific Regulations
- Botta's pocket gopher: Not protected in Nevada. May be trapped or baited on private property by landowners using registered methods.
- Townsend's ground squirrel: Classified by NDOW as controllable. May be trapped, poisoned, or managed on private property; follow all label guidance when baiting.
- Desert cottontail: Game species managed by NDOW with seasonal hunting rules. Live relocation typically requires a permit; fencing is the primary control.
- Kangaroo rat: Native species; NDOW discourages lethal control of healthy populations. Exclusion and habitat modification are recommended.
- Striped skunk: Controllable furbearer in Nevada with fur-trapping seasons; relocation only through a licensed operator when permitted. Rabies vector species.
- Raccoon: May be trapped by licensed wildlife control operators; check local ordinances before any action. Rabies vector species.
- Desert tortoise: Federally threatened and state-protected. It is illegal to harm, harass, or collapse its burrow. Contact NDOW before earthwork in the Mojave region.
FAQ: Nevada Yard Digging
What is making small holes in my lawn at night in Nevada?
Small holes appearing overnight are typically from striped skunks probing for grubs, leaving conical holes 3-4 inches across, often in clusters. Raccoons leave larger peeled-back patches of sod, and both are mostly nocturnal — in Nevada they concentrate on irrigated turf because the surrounding desert is dry.
How do I tell a pocket gopher from a ground squirrel in Nevada?
Pocket gophers are solitary, stay underground, and make fan-shaped mounds with an off-center plug. Ground squirrels live in colonies, dig open cup-shaped burrow entrances 3-5 inches across, and are active during the day. The presence of open entry holes versus sealed mounds is the easiest distinguishing feature.
Does Nevada have moles digging in yards?
Moles are largely absent from most of Nevada because the soil is too dry for the earthworms and grubs they eat. Across most of the state, "mole-like" that damage is actually from pocket gophers. Moles are uncommon except in isolated irrigated settings in western Nevada.
Are desert tortoises protected in Nevada?
Yes. The desert tortoise is federally threatened and protected under the Endangered Species Act and NDOW regulations. It is illegal to harm, harass, or collapse its half-moon burrow in the Mojave region. If you find one, leave it and the burrow undisturbed and contact NDOW.
How do I get rid of pocket gophers in Nevada?
Trapping in the freshly opened main tunnel is the most effective method. Locate a new fan-shaped mound, open the tunnel 6-12 inches away, and set a pincher or box trap facing both directions. Check daily and reset as activity shifts. Registered gopher baits work on larger properties but must follow label guidance to protect other wildlife.
What is digging holes in my yard at night in Nevada?
Nocturnal diggers in Nevada are most commonly striped skunks and raccoons hunting grubs on watered turf, which leave small conical holes and peeled-back sod. Kangaroo rats also make small holes at night near desert landscaping. If fresh holes appear overnight, it is almost certainly one of these species.
Professional Wildlife Removal in Nevada
If you need professional wildlife removal or pest control services in Nevada, our local guides cover the following cities:
- Las Vegas, NEVADA — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
- Reno, NEVADA — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
- Henderson, NEVADA — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
- North Las Vegas, NEVADA — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
- Carson City, NEVADA — Wildlife & Pest Identification Guide
Professional Wildlife Removal in Nevada
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, and in Nevada's desert climate solving the water source is often more important to a lasting fix than the removal itself.
Sources: Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Extension Service, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, US Fish and Wildlife Service (desert tortoise). This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional wildlife management advice. Desert conditions — low rainfall, high heat, and scrub vegetation — shape which species dig across the state.