How to Identify If I Have Moles or Groundhogs in My Yard

It is not difficult to determine if moles or groundhogs are on your property.

Moles and groundhogs are pests that burrow holes on your property, loosening the soil and making it difficult to walk through the yard without tripping or sinking. These pests also create unsightly messes in the lawn. Determining whether the cause of the burrows and holes is a groundhog or mole involves notating the location and the size of the hole.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

Signs of Moles

1. Look for mole hills near the entry sight of the hole. Often, these hills are raised 2 or more inches at the entry, reports the Alabama Cooperative Extension.

2. Check the depth of burrows in the lawn. Moles generally focus on the turf of your lawn, not the flower beds or shrub areas. The runs are often just under the surface of the soil or even 5 or 6 inches below it.

3. Measure the diameter of the hole. Entry holes for moles and voles are usually 1 to 2 inches in diameter, while chipmunks hole are typically 2 inches or more in size. Rat holes are 3 inches or larger. If the entry holes are cone-shaped and 3 or 4 inches in diameter, the problem may be skunks or raccoons.

4. Identify the mole by its tiny eyes and dark brown body that grows to lengths of 2 to 9 inches. Its tail can be 1 to 9 inches long. Moles' shovel-shaped claws are strong, so they spend most of their time underground eating earthworms and insects. You can dig up one of the burrows to see if any moles are hibernating.

Signs of Groundhogs

1. Look for large mounds in the ground--evidence of groundhogs. Typically, they make these mounds in out-of-the way locations, not lawn areas.

2. Measure the size of the mound. Groundhogs often create mounds that are up to 1 foot across, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension.

3. Identify the groundhog. Groundhogs are active during the day, when you may discover one nibbling on your garden produce. It has a bulky body that grows up to 17 inches in height and has short legs. Groundhogs are brownish-gray in color with black eyes. They feed on grass, leaves, seeds, flowers, eggs, fruit and some insects, reports the website Enchanted Learning.

Tips & Warnings

• Rid your property of groundhogs by installing 2-inch mesh wire fencing. Angle the bottom edge outward and bury it 10 inches deep. Make the fence 3 or 4 feet high.

• You can get rid of moles with commercial applications available at garden nurseries or home supply stores.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Underground and Burrowing Animal Printouts
• Mother Earth News: Who's Raiding Your Garden?
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System: Be a Lawn Detective to Determine the Cause of Holes