Quick Answer
The most common animals digging holes in New Hampshire yards are woodchucks (groundhogs), star-nosed and hairy-tailed moles, meadow voles, striped skunks, and raccoons, with eastern chipmunks close behind. New Hampshire's long winters and deep snow cover mean the grid of vole runways that appears after snowmelt is one of the most typical digging signs in the state. In moist, low-lying soils the star-nosed mole is the main mound maker, while the drier upland lawns of the interior and northern part of the state favor the hairy-tailed mole. Coyotes, present across the state and more common in the southern tier, occasionally dig in yards while hunting small mammals.
Identifying Yard-Digging Wildlife in New Hampshire
New Hampshire's digging problems are shaped by its long winters and heavy snow cover; much of the damage you notice in spring actually happened months earlier, hidden under the snow. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Cooperative Extension both list burrowing and grub-foraging mammals among the most common nuisance wildlife complaints in the state.
Key Identification Tip: Separate holes with mounds from holes without mounds first. A volcano-shaped mound with no visible opening = mole (star-nosed in wet soil, hairy-tailed in drier upland soil). A clean 1-2 inch hole connected to a runway through the grass = vole. A large 6-8 inch burrow entrance on a slope or fence line with piles of pushed-out soil = woodchuck. Small cone-shaped pits scattered across the turf = skunks. Peeled-back, lifted patches of sod = raccoons. Clean 2-3 inch holes near stone walls and foundations, with the animal often visible by day = eastern chipmunks. This single split eliminates half the possibilities.
New Hampshire Yard-Digging Animal Identification Table
| Animal | Hole Size & Shape | Depth | Damage Pattern | New Hampshire Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodchuck (Groundhog) | Large 6-8 inch burrow openings with pushed-out soil | Burrows up to 5 feet deep, 30 feet long | Dirt piles at entrances; eaten garden crops, clover, dandelions; collapsed holes on slopes | Statewide in open fields, farms, brushy fence lines, orchards, and settled areas |
| Star-Nosed Mole | Volcano-shaped mounds; raised surface ridges | Feeding tunnels just below turf; deep runs 6-18 inches | Raised, spongy ridges and round mounds of loose soil, worst in moist, worm-rich lawns | Moist, low-lying ground; wetlands, stream edges, and poorly drained lawns statewide |
| Hairy-Tailed Mole | Volcano-shaped mounds; less ridging | Deeper permanent runs 8-18 inches | Firm mounds in lawns and gardens, usually on drier, well-drained soils | Dry upland lawns and fields statewide; common in the interior and White Mountains foothills |
| Meadow Vole | 1-2 inch clean holes, flush with soil | Shallow, 1-3 inches | Surface runways through grass; grid of runways after snowmelt; girdled trees and shrubs | Statewide, heaviest in moist lawns, meadows, and orchards |
| Striped Skunk | 3-4 inch conical holes, scattered | Shallow, 1-2 inches | Clusters of small pits in turf (grub hunting); holes under porches, decks, sheds | Statewide, common in towns, suburbs, farms, and lowland river valleys |
| Raccoon | Peeled-back sod, 6-12 inch lifted patches | Shallow digging into top few inches | Lifted, rolled turf; overturned garbage and planters; dug-up bulbs | Statewide along rivers, lakes, wetlands, and in towns such as Manchester and Concord |
| Eastern Chipmunk | Small 2-3 inch clean holes, no mound | Burrows 1-3 feet deep near cover | Holes near stone walls, tree roots, foundations, and bird feeders; dug-up flower bulbs | Statewide wherever there is cover and open ground |
Woodchuck (Groundhog)
Woodchucks (Marmota monax), also called groundhogs, are the largest yard diggers in New Hampshire — about two feet long, with dark gray-brown fur, a stout body, short legs, and a short, bushy tail. NHFG describes them as the largest member of the squirrel family in the state. They dig burrows on slight slopes in open grassy areas, fields, small woodlots, orchards, and along brushy fence lines, and a single burrow can run up to five feet deep and 30 feet long with two or more entrances and large piles of pushed-out soil.
Woodchucks eat grasses, clover, dandelions, and garden crops, and they are most active in the mornings and evenings of warmer months. Abandoned woodchuck burrows are often reused by raccoons and skunks, so a hole you think is "just a groundhog hole" can quickly become a raccoon or skunk den. Woodchucks are unprotected in New Hampshire and property owners may take them, but the durable fix is exclusion fencing buried at least 2 feet with an outward flange, plus removing brush and rock piles that give them cover.
Star-Nosed Mole & Hairy-Tailed Mole
Two mole species dig in New Hampshire: the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) and the hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri). Both are insectivores that live almost entirely underground, hunting earthworms, grubs, and insects. Neither eats plant roots, but their tunneling heaves up turf and can dry out the root zone of young lawns.
Star-nosed moles favor moist, low-lying ground — wetlands, stream edges, streamside gardens, and poorly drained lawns — and take their name from the ring of pink tentacles around the snout. They build volcano-shaped mounds plus raised, spongy surface ridges that appear most often after rain, when worms move up near the surface. Hairy-tailed moles prefer drier, well-drained upland soils, especially in the interior and northern part of the state, and build firmer mounds with less surface ridging.
To confirm active moles, flatten a section of raised ridge and check the next day — if it is rebuilt, you have active tunneling. Moles are unprotected in New Hampshire and may be trapped on your own property. Because they are insectivores, the same grub and drainage management that discourages skunks and raccoons often also reduces mole pressure.
Meadow Vole
Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) dig small 1-2 inch holes flush with the soil surface, connected by shallow runways through grass, and eat roots, bulbs, stems, and bark — girdling young trees and shrubs so they die back in spring.
New Hampshire's snow cover makes voles especially troublesome. Voles tunnel under the snow all winter, feeding on grass and bark, and at snowmelt you see a telltale grid of flattened, brown runways crisscrossing the lawn — one of the most typical digging signs in the state. Vole populations also cycle, and in boom years the damage can appear statewide and suddenly.
Voles are often confused with moles, but voles leave surface runways and chew plants at ground level, while moles leave raised ridges and eat insects. Control is habitat-focused: keep grass mowed, pull mulch and ground cover away from plant bases, and protect young trees with hardware cloth cylinders. Voles are unprotected in New Hampshire, but trapping a population boom rarely wins — habitat change is the effective lever.
Striped Skunk
Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are common across New Hampshire and are the classic culprit behind clusters of small, cone-shaped holes scattered through the lawn — each hole about 3-4 inches across where the skunk probed for grubs and earthworms at night. Fresh holes with damp, loose soil in the morning strongly suggest overnight skunk activity.
Skunks also dig under porches, decks, sheds, and low foundations to den, and the main risk is their spray — a startled skunk's musk is extremely hard to remove and lingers for weeks. Skunks can carry rabies, so never approach one, especially one active in daylight, and keep pets vaccinated. NHFG classifies skunks as a furbearer with a defined season, and live relocation of a captured skunk is restricted under rabies-vector rules.
The best prevention is removing food and shelter: secure garbage, bring pet food indoors at night, and seal under-deck openings with hardware cloth buried a few inches. Controlling lawn grubs also removes the food source that drives most skunk digging.
Raccoon
Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are abundant across New Hampshire, especially along rivers, lakes, and wetlands and in towns like Manchester, Nashua, and Concord. In yards they roll back and lift patches of sod hunting grubs, overturn garbage cans and planters, and dig up newly planted bulbs. Their damage tends to be patchy, lifted sections of turf rather than neat holes.
Raccoons are a rabies-vector species in New Hampshire, and NHFG restricts how captured raccoons may be handled — in practice this usually means professional removal rather than hauling a live raccoon somewhere else. Reduce attractants with locking garbage lids, bring pet food inside at night, and harvest fruit promptly. For a raccoon denning under a porch or in a shed, wait until any kits are old enough to leave on their own, then seal the opening after the animal leaves. See our Raccoon Removal Cost Guide for what professional removal runs in New England.
Eastern Chipmunk
Eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) dig small, clean 2-3 inch holes with no mound, usually near stone walls, tree roots, foundations, woodpiles, and bird feeders. Their burrows run 1-3 feet deep and can extend under patios and walkways, sometimes causing settling.
Chipmunks also dig up flower bulbs and raid birdseed, and they are diurnal, so you will often see the chipmunk itself during the day — unlike most other diggers on this list. Chipmunks are unprotected in New Hampshire and may be live-trapped and excluded, but they are rarely worth more effort than removing birdseed and sealing foundation gaps.
Seasonal Digging Patterns in New Hampshire
| Season | Most Active Diggers | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Voles (under snow), moles | Voles tunnel under deep snow and mulch; moles stay active in insulated burrows while the ground thaws just below freezing; woodchucks hibernate |
| Early Spring | Voles, moles, woodchucks | Snowmelt reveals the full grid of vole runways; woodchucks emerge from hibernation and start new burrows; mole mounds appear as the ground thaws |
| Summer | Skunks, raccoons, moles, chipmunks | Warm nights bring grub-hunting skunks and raccoons; moles stay busy in moist lawns; chipmunks remain active by day |
| Fall | Woodchucks, raccoons, skunks, voles, chipmunks | Animals build fat stores and food caches before winter; woodchucks dig deeper before hibernation; raccoons and skunks seek winter den sites under porches and sheds |
How to Get Rid of Animals Digging in Your New Hampshire Yard
1. Identify Before You Treat
New Hampshire's diggers range from unprotected species you can manage yourself (woodchucks, moles, voles, chipmunks) to rabies-vector furbearers with real restrictions (skunks, raccoons). Use the identification table above, or contact your county UNH Cooperative Extension office to confirm the species before you invest in traps — especially if a large burrow could be a woodchuck burrow that skunks or raccoons may already be using.
2. Moles & Voles: Habitat First
For moles and voles, start with the lawn, not the trap. Improve drainage, reduce thatch, and control grubs with beneficial nematodes. For voles, keep grass mowed, clear mulch from plant bases, and wrap young trees in hardware cloth. Mole traps are effective but should be set in active, fresh tunnels only — see our Mole vs Vole vs Shrew Damage Guide to confirm which one you have before choosing a method.
3. Woodchucks: Exclusion & Trapping
Because woodchucks are unprotected in New Hampshire, you can trap them in cage traps baited with fruit or vegetables, but the durable fix is exclusion: bury 1/4-inch hardware cloth at least 2 feet deep with an outward flange along fences and foundations, and remove brush piles and rock piles that give them cover. Abandoned woodchuck burrows are often taken over by skunks or raccoons, so seal or monitor any large burrow you fill.
4. Skunks & Raccoons: Remove Food, Seal Shelter
Secure garbage with locking lids, bring pet food indoors at night, and remove fallen fruit. For skunk digging, controlling lawn grubs removes the food source. For animals denning under a porch or deck, seal openings with hardware cloth only after confirming no young are inside — evicting kits separates them from their mother and usually makes the problem worse.
5. Professional Wildlife Removal
If DIY methods fail, or if you have a raccoon or skunk denning under your home, contact a licensed wildlife removal service. Licensed operators know New Hampshire's rabies-vector relocation rules and the state's trapping license requirements. Search for New Hampshire wildlife removal to find qualified operators. Professional wildlife removal in New Hampshire typically ranges from $250 to $1,000, depending on species, severity, and site access.
New Hampshire-Specific Regulations
- Woodchuck (groundhog): Unprotected in New Hampshire. Property owners may trap or take them on land they own.
- Moles & voles: Unprotected. May be trapped, excluded, or managed on your own property.
- Eastern chipmunk: Unprotected. May be live-trapped and excluded.
- Striped skunk: Classified as a furbearer with a defined trapping season; a New Hampshire trapping license applies. As a rabies-vector species, live relocation is restricted.
- Raccoon: Classified as a furbearer. NHFG restricts how captured raccoons may be handled; nuisance raccoons are typically handled by licensed wildlife control operators.
- Trapping license: New Hampshire requires a trapping license to set traps for furbearers, consistent with many other states. Check local town ordinances before setting traps in built-up areas.
- Protected species: Black bears, white-tailed deer, moose, bobcats, all migratory birds, and most nongame species such as bats, snakes, hawks, and owls cannot be taken without authorization — do not attempt to handle these yourself.
FAQ: New Hampshire Yard Digging
What is making small holes in my lawn at night in New Hampshire?
Small cone-shaped holes that appear overnight, often in clusters, are usually striped skunks probing for grubs. Raccoons leave larger lifted patches of sod. Both are nocturnal, so fresh damp soil in the morning points to overnight activity.
Why does my lawn have a grid of runways after the snow melts?
Those flattened, crisscrossing runways are meadow vole tunnels that formed under the snow during winter. Voles stay active all winter beneath New Hampshire's deep snow cover, feeding on grass and bark, and the full damage only becomes visible at snowmelt — a very common Granite State pattern.
How do I tell a mole from a vole in New Hampshire?
Moles make raised, spongy ridges and volcano-shaped mounds of loose soil and eat insects. Voles make surface runways through the grass and small 1-2 inch holes, and they chew plant stems and bark. If you see a mound with no open hole and soft turf, it is a mole; if you see a runway through the grass with gnawed plants, it is a vole.
Are groundhogs protected in New Hampshire?
No. Woodchucks (groundhogs) are unprotected in New Hampshire, and property owners may trap or take them on land they own. Because abandoned woodchuck burrows are often reused by skunks and raccoons, fill and monitor any burrow you close off.
Can I relocate a raccoon I trap in New Hampshire?
Usually not far. New Hampshire classifies raccoons as a rabies-vector species and restricts how handled animals may be relocated. In practice, professional removal is the practical route for a persistent raccoon problem.
Why do I keep getting holes every spring in my New Hampshire lawn?
Spring is when the full winter vole damage appears and when woodchucks emerge to dig new burrows. If the pattern repeats every year, the likely fix is habitat change — drainage and thatch control for moles and voles, and exclusion fencing for woodchucks — rather than re-treating the same animals.
Professional Wildlife Removal in New Hampshire
If you need professional help, see our Wildlife Removal Cost: $200-$1,500 (2026 Complete Price Guide) for pricing, and our Rodent Exclusion Cost Guide for sealing rodents out of your home. For neighbors with similar digging issues in New England, see our Maine Yard Digging Guide and Massachusetts Yard Digging Guide.
Sources: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG), University of New Hampshire (UNH) Cooperative Extension, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional wildlife management advice.