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

Identifying Yard-Digging Wildlife in Virginia

Virginia's diverse geography — from the Atlantic coastal plain and Chesapeake Bay region in the east, through the Piedmont in central Virginia, to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Plateau in the west — supports a wide range of wildlife that dig in residential yards. Whether you live in Virginia Beach, Richmond, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Arlington, Alexandria, Roanoke, or Charlottesville, chances are you have encountered holes in your lawn, raised tunnels in your grass, or burrow entrances near your home's foundation.

Correctly identifying the animal responsible is critical because each species requires a different management approach. Some, like the eastern mole, are merely nuisances. Others, like the groundhog, can undermine foundations and outbuildings. And the nine-banded armadillo — a recent arrival in Virginia — can cause significant damage to lawns and gardens overnight.

This guide synthesizes data from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services program.

Key Identification Tip: The most important clue when identifying the animal digging holes in your Virginia yard is whether the hole has a mound of dirt around it. Groundhogs, chipmunks, and gray foxes create burrow entrances with a noticeable mound. Armadillos, skunks, and raccoons leave shallow foraging holes with no mound. Moles create raised surface tunnels — not individual holes. Voles leave small entry holes without mounds.

Virginia Yard-Digging Animal Identification Table

Armadillos in Virginia: A New and Expanding Problem

The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is a relatively new arrival in Virginia. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, armadillos were first documented in Virginia in the early 2010s, having expanded northward from North Carolina. As of 2026, armadillos are established in the Southside region of Virginia (counties along the North Carolina border), with confirmed sightings in areas such as Danville, Martinsville, South Boston, and as far north as the Richmond metro area.

Armadillos dig for grubs, earthworms, and other soil invertebrates, creating dozens of shallow conical holes in a single night of foraging. They prefer moist, shaded areas with loose soil and are most active from dusk to dawn. In Virginia, armadillo damage peaks from May through September, and VDWR is actively tracking their range expansion. Homeowners who observe armadillos in counties outside their known range are encouraged to report sightings to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Virginia Cooperative Extension notes that armadillo expansion into Virginia is likely facilitated by warming winters, as armadillos cannot tolerate prolonged freezing temperatures. During colder months, armadillo activity in Virginia decreases significantly, and individuals may die during particularly harsh winters.

Identifying Armadillo Damage vs Other Diggers

Groundhogs: Virginia's Most Destructive Burrowers

The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as the woodchuck, is one of Virginia's most destructive yard-digging animals, particularly in the Piedmont and mountain regions. Groundhogs dig large burrow systems with entrances 6-8 inches in diameter, often accompanied by a large mound of excavated dirt at the main entrance. A single groundhog burrow can extend 8-50 feet in length and have multiple entrances.

Groundhog burrows are typically found near structures — under sheds, decks, foundations, or along fence lines — where the surrounding vegetation provides cover. The danger of groundhog burrows is structural: burrows under foundations, driveways, or outbuildings can cause settling and collapse. Groundhogs also damage gardens by eating vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants. In Virginia, groundhogs are most active from March through October, hibernating during the winter months.

According to VDWR, groundhog populations are highest in the Shenandoah Valley and western Piedmont regions, where agricultural fields and pastureland provide ideal habitat. In suburban areas, groundhogs thrive along wooded edges, highway embankments, and parks.

Groundhog vs Armadillo Damage Comparison

Skunks and Raccoons: Virginia's Nighttime Foragers

Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) are common throughout Virginia and are frequent causes of lawn damage in both suburban and rural areas. Both species dig for grubs, insects, and earthworms, but their damage patterns differ.

Skunks dig small conical holes, typically 3-4 inches wide and 2-4 inches deep. Their holes are usually scattered and concentrated near structures — under decks, near foundations, or along fence lines. A telltale sign of skunks is the presence of small, 1-inch diameter divots in the lawn where they have probed for insects with their noses. These "skunk divots" are often found in rows.

Raccoons, by contrast, tear up sod in irregular patches, peeling back sections of grass like a rolled carpet. Raccoons are stronger and more dexterous than skunks, and their damage is often more extensive in a single night. Raccoon damage is particularly common in Virginia neighborhoods near water sources such as the Potomac River, James River, and Chesapeake Bay tributaries.

Virginia Cooperative Extension reports that skunk and raccoon damage in Virginia typically peaks in spring (March-May) when grubs are near the surface following winter dormancy, and again in fall (September-October) when animals are building fat reserves for winter.

Moles and Voles: Subsurface Damage in Virginia Lawns

Eastern Moles

Eastern moles (Scalopus aquaticus) create raised surface tunnels that look like ridges running through Virginia lawns. They do not create visible holes or mounds (that is the pocket gopher, which is NOT found in Virginia). Moles eat earthworms and soil insects, not plant roots. Their tunnels can kill grass by separating roots from soil, creating brown streaks in the lawn. Mole activity in Virginia is most pronounced in the Piedmont region, where clay-loam soils are easy to excavate, and can be particularly problematic in well-watered suburban lawns in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg.

Pine Voles

Pine voles (Microtus pinetorum) create surface runways under mulch or leaf litter and 1-1.5 inch holes with no surrounding mound. Unlike moles, voles DO eat plant roots and can girdle the base of shrubs and small trees, killing them. If your plants are dying for no apparent reason and you see small holes nearby, suspect voles. Pine vole damage is particularly common in Virginia's mountain counties, where thick leaf litter provides ideal runway habitat, but they are present statewide.

Mole vs Vole Comparison

Eastern Chipmunks and Virginia Opossums

Eastern Chipmunks

Eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) are common throughout Virginia and create small, clean 2-3 inch diameter holes near stones, walls, foundations, and under decks. Chipmunk burrows can extend several feet deep and may have multiple entrances. While chipmunks are not as destructive as groundhogs, their burrows can undermine retaining walls, walkways, and foundation edges. Chipmunk activity is most visible in spring and fall, and they are diurnal (active during the day), so you may see them carrying food to their burrows.

Virginia Opossums

Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are opportunistic foragers that may dig in mulched flower beds and compost piles in search of insects, fallen fruit, and food scraps. Opossum damage is typically less structured than other diggers — they create irregular, shallow scrapes and scattered debris rather than distinct holes. Opossums are nocturnal and are more likely to be seen as nuisances around garbage cans and pet food bowls than as dedicated lawn diggers in Virginia.

Seasonal Digging Patterns in Virginia

How to Get Rid of Animals Digging in Your Virginia Yard

1. Reduce Grub Populations

Most digging animals (armadillos, skunks, raccoons, moles) are attracted to white grub populations in lawns. Apply beneficial nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) or milky spore (Paenibacillus popilliae) in late spring or early summer when soil temperatures are above 60°F. According to Virginia Cooperative Extension, beneficial nematodes can reduce grub populations by 50-80% within 2-4 weeks, making lawns significantly less attractive to diggers. For best results in Virginia, apply nematodes in late May or early June when soil moisture is adequate.

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2. Exclusion Fencing

• Armadillos: 24-inch fence buried 12-18 inches with L-shaped footer extending outward
• Skunks: 3-foot fence buried 6 inches; also seal openings under decks and sheds
• Groundhogs: 3-foot fence buried 12 inches with a top rail; they can climb
• Chipmunks: 1/4-inch hardware cloth buried 6 inches around foundations
• Voles: Install 1/4-inch hardware cloth cylinders around vulnerable tree and shrub roots, buried 3-4 inches deep

3. Live Trapping

In Virginia, groundhogs, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, and opossums can be live-trapped on private property. However, VDWR regulations prohibit relocating trapped wildlife off your property without a permit — most nuisance wildlife must be euthanized on-site or released on the same property. Always check current VDWR regulations before trapping, and contact a licensed Wildlife Damage Control Agent if you are uncertain about legal requirements.

4. Habitat Modification

• Remove brush piles, fallen logs, and debris that provide cover for diggers
• Keep grass mowed short to reduce insect habitat
• Reduce irrigation to lower grub and earthworm populations
• Use hardware cloth (1/4 inch mesh) to protect bulb plantings from voles
• Fence gardens with 3-foot chicken wire with a 12-inch buried footer to exclude groundhogs

5. Professional Wildlife Removal

If you have a persistent digging problem or suspect a burrow under a structure, it is time to call a professional Virginia wildlife removal service. Licensed Wildlife Damage Control Agents (WDCAs) in Virginia are certified by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and have the training, equipment, and permits to handle nuisance wildlife safely and legally. Professional services typically include inspection, trapping, exclusion, and damage repair. The average cost for professional wildlife removal in Virginia ranges from $175 to $650, depending on the species, severity of the infestation, and structural repairs needed. For complex burrow removals (such as groundhogs under foundations), costs may exceed $800.

Virginia-Specific Regulations

• Armadillos: Classified as non-native, non-game wildlife in Virginia. Can be trapped and removed on private property without a permit. VDWR requests sightings be reported to track range expansion.
• Groundhogs: Classified as non-game wildlife. Can be trapped and removed on private property without a permit. May be hunted during established seasons with appropriate licenses.
• Skunks/Raccoons/Opossums: Can be trapped on private property. Rabies-vector species restrictions apply — relocation is prohibited in Virginia. Must be handled by a licensed Wildlife Damage Control Agent for off-property issues.
• Moles/Voles: No protection. Can be trapped, gassed, or controlled on private property using approved methods.
• Gray Foxes: Classified as furbearers in Virginia. Trapping requires a valid Virginia trapping license and adherence to established seasons. Nuisance individuals may be removed under specific conditions with VDWR guidance.

FAQ: Virginia Yard Digging

Are armadillos in Virginia yet?

Yes. As of 2026, nine-banded armadillos are established in the Southside region of Virginia (counties along the North Carolina border), with confirmed sightings in the Danville, Martinsville, and South Boston areas. Armadillos have been reported as far north as the Richmond metro area. According to VDWR, armadillos continue to expand their range northward at approximately 4-6 miles per year. They have not yet become established in northern Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, or the mountain counties, but sightings should be reported to VDWR for tracking.

What is digging small conical holes in my Virginia lawn?

In Virginia, small conical holes (3-4 inches wide, 2-4 inches deep) are most likely from striped skunks, particularly if they are scattered and concentrated near structures. Larger conical holes (3-5 inches, 1-3 inches deep) in a wandering line are from armadillos (southern Virginia only). Very small holes (under 1 inch) could be from voles, shrews, or solitary bees. If the holes have no mound and appear overnight, suspect skunks or armadillos.

How do I know if I have groundhogs or chipmunks?

Groundhog burrows are 6-8 inches in diameter with a large mound of excavated dirt at the entrance. Chipmunk holes are much smaller (2-3 inches) and are typically found next to stones, walls, or foundation edges. Groundhogs are larger (5-10 pounds) and diurnal; chipmunks are small (2-5 ounces) and also diurnal. Groundhogs cause significant structural damage; chipmunks cause minor cosmetic damage.

How do I know if I have moles or voles?

If you see raised ridges/tunnels in your grass with no visible holes, you have moles. If you see small holes (1-1.5 inches) with surface runways under mulch, and your shrubs are dying with girdled roots, you have voles. Moles eat insects; voles eat plants. Note: pocket gophers (which make volcano-shaped mounds) are NOT found in Virginia — if you see mounds, suspect moles pushing up soil in clumps, not true gopher mounds.

Do Virginia skunks carry rabies?

Yes. Skunks are one of the primary rabies reservoir species in Virginia, along with raccoons, bats, and foxes. According to the Virginia Department of Health, the raccoon rabies variant is endemic statewide. Skunks frequently contract rabies and can transmit the virus to pets and humans. Never approach a skunk, especially one active during daylight hours, and ensure your pets are current on rabies vaccinations.

What is digging holes in my yard at night in Virginia?

Nocturnal diggers in Virginia include armadillos (southern VA), skunks, raccoons, and Virginia opossums. These animals are active from dusk to dawn and are responsible for most overnight digging damage. Armadillos and skunks create conical foraging holes, raccoons peel back sod in patches, and opossums make shallow scrapes in mulch and compost. If the damage appears overnight, it is almost certainly from one of these nocturnal species. Diurnal diggers in Virginia — groundhogs, chipmunks, and gray foxes — dig during daylight hours and are rarely responsible for overnight damage.

Sources: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), Virginia Cooperative Extension, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, Virginia Department of Health. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional wildlife management advice.