Quick Answer
The most common animals digging holes in Vermont yards are woodchucks (groundhogs), hairy-tailed and star-nosed moles, meadow voles, striped skunks, and raccoons, with eastern chipmunks close behind. Vermont has no pocket gophers or armadillos — unlike southern states, nearly every "mound" problem in a Vermont yard is a mole, and every grid of flattened runways after snowmelt is meadow voles. After the snow goes in late winter, the full winter vole damage suddenly appears overnight, which is the single most common Vermont lawn complaint of early spring.
Identifying Yard-Digging Wildlife in Vermont
Vermont's digging problems are shaped by its long winters, deep snow, and hilly terrain. Much of the damage you notice in spring actually happened months earlier, hidden under the snow. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VTFWD) and the University of Vermont (UVM) 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 fan-shaped or volcano-shaped mound with no visible opening = mole. 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 near a 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. This one split eliminates half the possibilities.
Vermont Yard-Digging Animal Identification Table
| Animal | Hole Size & Shape | Depth | Damage Pattern | Vermont 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, and settled valleys |
| 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 |
| 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 and stream edges statewide |
| 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, farms, and suburbs |
| 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, and in towns |
| 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 Vermont — about two feet long, with dark gray-brown fur, a stout body, short legs, and a short tail. VTFWD describes them as the largest member of the squirrel family in the state. They are true hibernators: in winter their body temperature drops from roughly 97 to 40 degrees for up to six months, and they spend half the year underground in the Champlain Valley and the state's farm valleys.
Woodchucks dig burrows on slight slopes, often in open grassy areas, fields, small woodlots, and along brushy fence lines. A single burrow can run up to five feet deep and 30 feet long, and it usually has two or more entrances with large piles of pushed-out soil. They eat grasses, dandelions, clover, and garden crops, and they are most active in the mornings and evenings of warmer months.
Abandoned woodchuck burrows become denning sites for opossums, raccoons, foxes, and skunks, so a hole you think is "just a woodchuck hole" can quickly turn into a raccoon or skunk den. Because woodchucks are unprotected in Vermont, landowners may trap them without a permit on their own property, but the most durable solution is exclusion fencing buried at least 2 feet with an outward flange, plus removing brush and rock piles that offer cover. See VTFWD's living-with-wildlife guidance on woodchucks before setting traps.
Hairy-Tailed Mole & Star-Nosed Mole
Two mole species dig in Vermont: the hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri) and the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata). Moles live almost entirely underground, hunting earthworms, grubs, and insects. They do not eat plant roots, but their tunneling heaves up turf and can dry out the root zone of young lawns.
Hairy-tailed moles favor drier, well-drained upland soils and build firm mounds with less surface ridging. Star-nosed moles prefer moist, low-lying ground — wetlands, stream edges, and poorly drained lawns — and they build volcano-shaped mounds plus raised, spongy surface ridges that appear most often after rain, when worms move up near the surface.
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 Vermont and may be trapped on your own property, but because they are insectivores the real fix for a grub-rich lawn is often the same grub and drainage management that discourages skunks and raccoons.
Meadow Vole
Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) cause some of the most underrated lawn damage in Vermont. They dig small 1-2 inch holes flush with the soil surface, connected by shallow runways through the grass, and they eat roots, bulbs, stems, and bark — girdling young trees and shrubs so plants die back in spring.
Vermont's snow cover makes voles worse than in most states. Voles tunnel under the snow all winter, feeding on grass and bark, and when the snow melts you see a telltale grid of flattened, brown runways crisscrossing the lawn. Vole populations also cycle, and in boom years the damage appears suddenly and statewide.
Voles are often confused with moles, but they leave 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 Vermont, but trapping a population boom is rarely practical — habitat change is the effective lever.
Striped Skunk
Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are common across Vermont 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 are a strong sign of overnight skunk activity.
Skunks also dig under porches, decks, and sheds 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. Vermont classifies skunks as a furbearer with an open season, and live relocation of a captured skunk is limited by 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 Vermont, especially along the Champlain Valley, the Connecticut River, and in towns like Burlington, South Burlington, and Rutland. In yards they roll back and lift patches of sod while 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 Vermont, and VTFWD restricts the transport and relocation of live raccoons. In practice, this means if you live-trap a raccoon, you usually cannot legally relocate it far away, which is one reason professional removal is the practical route for a persistent problem.
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 an attic, 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, 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 a common reason soil appears in neat piles beside a small clean hole. They are diurnal, so you will often see the chipmunk itself during the day — unlike most other diggers on this list. Chipmunks are not protected in Vermont and can be live-trapped and excluded, but they are rarely worth much effort beyond removing birdseed and sealing foundation gaps.
Seasonal Digging Patterns in Vermont
| Season | Most Active Diggers | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Voles (under snow), moles | Voles tunnel under snow and mulch; moles stay active in insulated burrows; woodchucks hibernate |
| Early Spring | Voles, moles, woodchucks | Snowmelt reveals the full grid of vole runways; woodchucks emerge from hibernation and start new burrows |
| Summer | Skunks, raccoons, moles, chipmunks | Warm nights bring grub-hunting skunks and raccoons; moles stay busy in moist lawns |
| Fall | Woodchucks, raccoons, voles, chipmunks | Animals build fat stores and food caches before winter; woodchucks dig deeper before hibernation |
How to Get Rid of Animals Digging in Your Vermont Yard
1. Identify Before You Treat
Vermont'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 UVM Extension office to confirm the species before you invest in traps.
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 for how to tell which one you have before you choose a method.
3. Woodchucks: Exclusion & Trapping
Because woodchucks are unprotected in Vermont, 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. Woodchuck burrows that are abandoned will often be 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 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 things 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 Vermont's rabies-vector relocation rules and the state's trapping license requirements. Search for Vermont wildlife removal to find qualified operators. Professional wildlife removal in Vermont typically ranges from $250 to $1,000, depending on species, severity, and site access.
Vermont-Specific Regulations
- Woodchuck (groundhog): Unprotected in Vermont. Landowners may trap them without a permit on their own property using legal methods.
- Moles & voles: Unprotected. May be trapped, excluded, or managed on your own property.
- Eastern chipmunk, eastern gray squirrel, red squirrel: Unprotected. May be live-trapped and excluded.
- Striped skunk: Classified as a furbearer with an open season; trapping rules and license requirements apply. As a rabies-vector species, live relocation is restricted.
- Raccoon: A game animal and furbearer in Vermont. VTFWD restricts transporting and relocating live raccoons; nuisance raccoons are typically handled by licensed wildlife control operators.
- Trapping license: Vermont requires a trapping license to set most traps, and first-time applicants must complete a trapper education course. Within built-up areas, only cage-type live traps may be used unless you are trapping on property you own.
- Protected species: Black bears, moose, white-tailed deer, bobcats, Canada lynx, bald eagles, all migratory birds, and most bat species cannot be removed without authorization — do not attempt to handle these yourself.
FAQ: Vermont Yard Digging
What is making small holes in my lawn at night in Vermont?
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 snow cover, feeding on grass and bark, and the full damage only becomes visible at snowmelt — a very common Vermont pattern.
How do I tell a mole from a vole in Vermont?
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 Vermont?
No. Woodchucks (groundhogs) are unprotected in Vermont, and landowners may trap them without a permit on their own property. 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 Vermont?
Usually not far. Vermont treats raccoons as a rabies-vector species and restricts the transport and relocation of live raccoons. In practice, this means professional removal is the practical route for a persistent raccoon problem.
Why do I keep getting holes every spring in my Vermont 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 Vermont
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 New Hampshire Yard Digging Guide and our New York Yard Digging Guide.
Sources: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VTFWD), University of Vermont (UVM) Extension, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional wildlife management advice.