How do I get rid of the animals digging these holes?

4554290
by 4554290
Help, please! I'm not sure if these holes are due to rabbits or to moles. They have destroyed many of my shrubs and perennials. Any Eco-friendly suggestions of what is causing this damage and how do I evict these pesky critters? I planted 2 barberry trees - they were supposed to dissuade unwanted guests but they ate their roots and killed my trees. :(. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.
Thsee are large holes under my veranda beside the flower bed.
A smaller hole beside the pathway.
More holes. Sadly, they killed 2 Sedum plants.
They dug a trough around the perimeter of the bed.
These are smaller holes. What animal makes these?

Thanks in advance.
  8 answers
  • Vicky Vicky on May 07, 2017

    I don't have a real answer, but can assure you, these are not moles. You may need a professional exterminator, if you can't figure out what you've got & why they are there. (Moles make mounds & go where they can get the worms, grubs & bugs they live on.)

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 07, 2017

    they appear to be chipmunk holes.You can try to put castor oil inside and then fill them back up.

    • D fuhrman D fuhrman on May 09, 2017

      i'm with you...i think chipmunk. while they are really cute little critters they are soooo destructive. you need a nice black rat snake or hawk to keep them at bay.


  • Pam Lindau Pam Lindau on May 08, 2017

    Those are definitely chipmunk holes. You can try chocolate exlax down their holes. It gives them very upset tummies. I use process gravel to line my holes for bulbs and shrubs. It makes it very difficult for critters to get to the bulb/roots. Unfortunately they multiply very rapidly and it is very difgucult to eradicate them from your yard permanently. Especially if neighbors don't do anything about them either.

  • HPI22683320 HPI22683320 on May 08, 2017

    Had no idea they were chipmunks. I thought they were rabbit holes. I filled them back up and put rock on top of the filled hole. I have not seen a new hole yet.

    They ate all my lilly bulbs!

  • Way17155951 Way17155951 on May 08, 2017

    I do not know if I have problems with voles or chipmunk holes digging holes next to the foundation of my house. I know also they will mess up my flower garden what can I do that really works?

  • Wanda Wanda on May 08, 2017

    Sprinkle Cayenne Pepper or any other hot spice around the area. When it rains you will have to do it again.

  • Idl22105354 Idl22105354 on May 08, 2017

    May be they are muskrats ... if you live near water and smell something funky, that's them. They will eat all your bushes & shrubs. They build 2 underground systems ending in one cubby for the family and one cubby for food storage, both above the water table. Impossible to get rid of, and in some states against the law to kill.

  • Dun18018921 Dun18018921 on May 10, 2017

    Suddenly gopher holes appeared in the lawn of my parents house. Fortunately, a wandering tom cat adopted us and soon the rodents were gone. We kept the cat after neutering him and still no gophers returned to destroy the lawn. Ask your neighbors if you could borrow their cat. The cat should have mousing skills or go after things like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. Not all cats know how to do the killing, so make certain the cat knows how to kill. Otherwise, you are wasting your time. My second choice would be a terrier of some kind. Some dog breeds were developed just to go after certain kinds of rodents. Or poison would be a cheap third choice.