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

Identifying Yard-Digging Wildlife in West Virginia

West Virginia's mix of Appalachian ridges, hollers, river valleys, and forest edges supports a high density of burrowing wildlife. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) and West Virginia University (WVU) Extension field steady yard-digging questions, with woodchucks, moles, voles, raccoons, skunks, and opossums at the top of the list. On hillside properties the woodchuck is often the first suspect, while valley-floor lawns are more likely to be torn up by moles and grub-hunting skunks or raccoons.

Before you identify the specific species, split your holes by whether they have a mound and where they sit on your land. A large 6-8 inch burrow with pushed-out soil on a hillside, fencerow, or forest edge is almost always a woodchuck. A volcano-shaped mound with no visible opening plus raised ridges through a valley-floor lawn is an eastern mole. Clusters of small cone-shaped pits are striped skunks. Rolled, lifted patches of sod and overturned garbage point to raccoons or opossums. This single mound/no-mound and location check eliminates most possibilities immediately.

West Virginia Yard-Digging Animal Identification Table

Animal	Hole Size & Shape	Depth	Damage Pattern	West Virginia Range
Woodchuck (Groundhog)	Large 6-8 inch burrow openings with pushed-out soil	Burrows 3-5 feet deep, up to 30 feet long	Dirt piles at entrances; undermined foundations, sheds, and patios; eaten garden crops; collapsed holes on slopes	Statewide, especially Appalachian hillsides, fencerows, and forest edges
Eastern Mole	Volcano-shaped mounds, 6-10 inches wide; raised surface ridges	Surface tunnels 2-4 inches; deeper runs 6-18 inches	Spongy raised ridge tunnels and round mounds of loose soil in moist lawns; dying grass strips over tunnels	River valleys and other wet, loamy valley-floor soils across the state
Meadow Vole	1-2 inch clean holes, flush with soil	Shallow, 1-3 inches	Surface runways through grass; girdled trees and shrubs; chewed roots, bulbs, and bark	Statewide in grass, meadows, orchards, and fields
Raccoon	Peeled-back sod and 3-5 inch shallow depressions	Top few inches of soil	Rolled, lifted turf; overturned garbage and planters; dug-up bulbs; damage under porches, decks, and sheds	The most widespread yard digger statewide, heaviest in towns, suburbs, and river valleys
Striped Skunk	3-4 inch conical holes, scattered in clusters	Shallow, 1-2 inches	Clusters of small pits probing for grubs; holes under porches, decks, and sheds	Statewide, common at lawns, farms, and rural forest edges
Virginia Opossum	Wide 4-6 inch shallow scrapes and diggings	Shallow, only a few inches	Scattered shallow scrapes in mulch and lawns; overturned garbage and wood piles; digging under porches and sheds	Appalachian hills statewide; very common across the Mountaineer State
Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel	Small 2-3 inch neat holes, often near cover	Burrows 1-2 feet deep, near lawns and roadsides	Neat dirt rings; grazed seedlings and raided birdseed; burrows under walkways	Limited and patchy; open grassland areas, uncommon statewide where steeper woods dominate
Coyote	Broad 5-8 inch cratered digs; sometimes opened burrows	Several inches to a foot where digging out prey	Scattered cratered digs in fields and lawns hunting rodents and grubs; excavated burrows under sheds; rarely tunnels	Statewide and expanding, most common in rural areas and some suburban edges

Woodchuck (Groundhog)

Woodchucks (Marmota monax) are the signature hillside digger of West Virginia, common across the ridges, hollers, fencerows, and forest edges of the state. They dig burrows up to five feet deep and 30 feet long, with entrances six to eight inches wide and prominent piles of pushed-out soil. On steep Appalachian slopes these are often the first thing a property owner notices, since the burrows open right into the face of the hill near gardens, sheds, and outbuildings.

Woodchucks eat grasses, clover, and garden crops and are active in the morning and late afternoon of warm months, so they are usually visible near the burrow. Their excavated soil undermines foundations, patios, and the corners of sheds. As elsewhere, abandoned woodchuck burrows are frequently reused by raccoons, skunks, foxes, and opossums, so a "groundhog hole" can become a raccoon or skunk den.

Woodchucks are not protected in West Virginia and are classified as nongame, so landowners may take them on their own property using legal methods. Durable control is exclusion with fencing buried at least two feet and flanged outward, plus removing brush and rock piles along hillsides.

Eastern Mole

The eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is West Virginia's valley-floor digger, hunting earthworms and grubs in the moist, loamy soils of the river valleys. It leaves volcano-shaped mounds and raised, spongy surface ridges through lawns — with no visible opening, which is the simplest way to tell a mole from everything else on this list. Moles do not eat plant roots; the tunneling simply heaves turf and dries the root zone.

To confirm an active mole run, flatten a section of ridge and check the next day: if it is rebuilt, tunneling is active. Eastern moles are not protected in West Virginia and may be trapped on a landowner's own property, but traps must be set in fresh, active runs. Because the same moist soils that hold grubs also support moles, drainage and grub control are part of the solution.

Meadow Vole

Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) dig small 1-2 inch holes flush with the soil, connected by shallow runways through grass, and they eat roots, bulbs, and bark — often girdling young trees and shrubs so they die back in spring. Vole damage in West Virginia peaks in winter, when the animals tunnel and feed beneath snow cover, and populations rise and fall on a multi-year cycle.

Voles are frequently confused with moles. Moles leave raised ridges and eat insects; voles leave surface runways and chew plants at ground level. The effective lever is habitat change rather than trapping a boom population: keep grass mowed, pull mulch away from plant bases, and wrap young trees in hardware cloth cylinders. Voles are not protected in West Virginia.

Raccoon

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are the most widespread yard digger in West Virginia, common in towns like Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, and all along the river valleys. In yards they roll back and lift patches of sod while hunting grubs, overturn garbage cans, raid bird feeders, and dig up bulbs. Raccoons are nocturnal, so damage that appears overnight is a strong sign of their activity, especially combined with tipped trash.

Raccoons are a rabies-vector species in West Virginia, and WVDNR regulates how captured raccoons may be handled — in practice this usually means professional removal rather than hauling a live raccoon to a new location. Reduce attractants with locking garbage lids, bring pet food and birdseed in at night, and seal den sites under porches and outbuildings only after confirming no young are inside.

Striped Skunk

Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are the classic source of clusters of small, cone-shaped 3-4 inch holes scattered through the lawn — each pit where the skunk probed for grubs at night. Fresh holes with damp, loose soil in the morning point to overnight skunk activity on an Appalachian lawn. Skunks also dig under porches, decks, and sheds to den.

The main risk is their spray, which is extremely hard to remove, and rabies — skunks are a rabies-vector species in West Virginia, so a skunk active in daylight should never be approached. Removing food and shelter is the best prevention: secure garbage, bring pet food indoors, and seal under-deck openings with hardware cloth. Controlling lawn grubs removes the food that drives most skunk digging.

Virginia Opossum

Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are extremely common across the Appalachian hills of West Virginia and are frequent visitors to garbage cans and wood piles. They are not the strongest diggers on this list, but they leave wide, shallow scrapes in mulch and lawns and will dig under porches, decks, and sheds seeking shelter. Turning over trash is their most obvious yard sign.

Opossums are nocturnal and rarely aggressive, but like skunks and raccoons they are a rabies-vector species, so direct contact should be avoided. Because they scavenge, the same food-securing steps that discourage raccoons — locked trash lids, no pet food or fallen fruit left out, and sealed crawl spaces — are the effective controls for opossums as well.

Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) are not as widespread in the Mountain State as on the Great Plains, but they appear in limited West Virginia grassland areas where open habitat supports them. Their small 2-3 inch holes show up as neat dirt rings, and because the animals are active in daylight you will usually see the squirrel near the hole, which most other diggers on this list are not. They graze seedlings and raid birdseed.

In West Virginia these are classified as nongame and may be taken without a permit on a landowner's own property. Because they are diurnal and surface-active, exclusion and removing birdseed work best; trapping individuals against a developing population is usually a losing battle.

Coyote

Coyotes (Canis latrans) have expanded across West Virginia and now turn up in many rural yards. Their digging is usually broad, cratered spots a few inches deep where the animal hunts for voles, mice, and grubs, and in some rural cases they will reopen or enlarge a vole or woodchuck burrow. Coyote digging is far less common and more scattered than that of the rodent or grub-eaters on this list, but it can be mistaken for a large dog digging.

Coyotes are rarely a health threat to people, though domestic pets are at risk, so keep cats indoors and small dogs supervised. Securing garbage, removing fallen fruit, and clearing the brush and tall grass that harbors their prey reduces coyote presence near a home.

Seasonal Digging Patterns in West Virginia

Season	Most Active Diggers	Why
Winter	Meadow voles (under snow), coyotes	Voles tunnel under snow and girdle trees; woodchucks hibernate in their hillside dens; coyotes scavenge harder in the cold months
Early Spring	Woodchucks, moles, voles, ground squirrels	Snowmelt reveals the vole runway grid; woodchucks emerge from hillside burrows and dig; moles stay active in moist spring soil
Summer	Skunks, raccoons, opossums, moles	Warm nights bring nocturnal grub-hunting skunks and raccoons; opossums raid trash; moles and their grub supply stay active
Fall	Woodchucks, raccoons, opossums, moles	Animals build fat stores before hibernation and winter; woodchucks dig fresh hibernation burrows; raccoons and opossums forage heavily on mast and grubs

How to Get Rid of Animals Digging in Your West Virginia Yard

1. Identify Before You Treat

West Virginia's diggers range from unprotected species a landowner can manage directly (moles, voles, woodchucks, ground squirrels) to rabies-vector furbearers with real handling restrictions (raccoons, skunks, opossums). Use the identification table above, or contact your county WVU Extension office to confirm the species before you invest in traps — especially on a hillside property where a large burrow is more likely a woodchuck than a mole.

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 work only in fresh, active runs. See our Mole vs Vole vs Shrew Damage Guide.

3. Woodchucks: Exclusion on the Hillside

Fence gardens at least two feet deep with an outward flange, add a top to the fence where woodchucks climb, and remove brush and rock piles along hillsides. Because abandoned woodchuck burrows become raccoon, skunk, and opossum dens, fill and monitor any burrow you close.

4. Ground Squirrels: Remove the Draw

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels are best handled by removing birdseed and excluding them from gardens; leaving short, clean grass removes cover. Individual trapping rarely outpaces reproduction where they are established.

5. Skunks, Raccoons & Opossums: Remove Food, Seal Shelter

Secure garbage with locking lids, bring pet food and birdseed indoors at night, pick up fallen fruit, and control grubs. Seal den sites under porches and decks with hardware cloth only after confirming no young are inside. Never approach a daylight-active skunk; evacuate the area instead.

6. Coyotes: Remove the Reasons

Clear brush and tall grass that hides coyote prey, secure garbage, and supervise pets. Coyote digging outbreaks usually stop once the vole and grub population and food attractants are reduced.

7. Professional Wildlife Removal

If DIY fails, or if you have a raccoon, skunk, or opossum denning under your home, contact a licensed wildlife removal service. Licensed operators know West Virginia's rabies-vector relocation rules. Search for West Virginia wildlife removal. Professional removal in West Virginia typically ranges from $250 to $1,000.

West Virginia-Specific Regulations

• Woodchuck (groundhog): Not protected / classified as nongame in West Virginia. Landowners may take them year-round on their own property using legal methods.
• Eastern mole: Not protected. May be trapped or otherwise controlled on a landowner's own property.
• Meadow vole: Not protected. Landowners may trap, exclude, or otherwise control them.
• Thirteen-lined ground squirrel: Classified as nongame; may be taken on your own property without a permit. Check current WVDNR rules.
• Striped skunk: Classified as a furbearer and a rabies-vector species. Trapping is regulated and live relocation is restricted; nuisance skunks are typically handled by a licensed wildlife control operator.
• Raccoon: Classified as a furbearer with rabies-vector status. WVDNR restricts how captured raccoons may be handled and relocation of live raccoons is generally not permitted; nuisance raccoons are typically handled by licensed wildlife operators.
• Virginia opossum: May be taken as a nongame species; keep in mind it is a rabies-vector species when handling. Check current WVDNR classification and rules before taking.
• Protected species: White-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, all migratory birds, and most nongame species such as snakes, hawks, and owls cannot be taken without authorization.

FAQ: West Virginia Yard Digging

What is making volcano-shaped mounds in my West Virginia lawn with no visible hole?

Volcano-shaped mounds with raised surface ridges and no visible opening are almost always an eastern mole. This is most common in the wet, loamy soils of West Virginia's river valleys. If there are no ridges and no open holes, it is a mole; almost every other digger on this list leaves an open entrance.

How do I tell a woodchuck burrow from a mole mound in West Virginia?

A woodchuck burrow has a large 6-8 inch entrance with a big pile of pushed-out soil and is usually on a hillside, fencerow, or forest edge. Mole mounds are volcano-shaped, 6-10 inches wide, with no visible opening, and moles also leave raised ridges across the lawn. If the hole is big enough to reach into and sits on a slope, it is a woodchuck.

Why does my hillside West Virginia yard have large holes?

Large holes on a slope are most often woodchuck burrows. West Virginia's steep Appalachian terrain is prime woodchuck habitat, and these animals dig deep burrows into hillsides near gardens and outbuildings. Keep in mind that abandoned woodchuck burrows are often taken over by raccoons, skunks, and opossums.

Are woodchucks protected in West Virginia?

No. Woodchucks are classified as nongame in West Virginia and are not protected, so landowners may take them on their own property using legal methods. Because abandoned burrows are reused by raccoons and skunks, fill and monitor any burrow you close.

What animal is raiding my garbage cans and digging in West Virginia yards at night?

Nocturnal garbage and yard diggers in West Virginia are most commonly raccoons, followed by Virginia opossums. Raccoons roll back sod hunting grubs and overturn trash, while opossums leave wide shallow scrapes and turn over garbage and wood piles. Skunks digging for grubs at night leave the small cone-shaped pits. All three are active after dark, so fresh morning damage points to one of them.

Can I relocate a raccoon I trap in West Virginia?

Usually not far. West Virginia classifies raccoons as a rabies-vector furbearer and restricts how captured animals may be handled, so relocating a live raccoon is generally not permitted. In practice this means professional removal is the practical route for a persistent raccoon problem.

Professional Wildlife Removal in West Virginia

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 in the Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic region, see our Maryland Yard Digging Guide, Ohio Yard Digging Guide, and Pennsylvania Yard Digging Guide.

Researched and written by Marcus Webb.

Sources: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), West Virginia University (WVU) Extension, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional wildlife management advice.