Deep Holes in Yard - Ask Extension
There are three holes (really two holes and a depression right now) in a line in our back yard as shown in the "holes_overview" picture. Th...
Knowledgebase
Deep Holes in Yard #876243
Asked July 07, 2024, 8:51 PM EDT
There are three holes (really two holes and a depression right now) in a line in our back yard as shown in the "holes_overview" picture. The largest hole, "Deep_hole" is over two feet deep and over a foot wide. The smaller hole, "hole_with_hole" has an unknown depth since I didn't want to open it up as I'm well outside my expertise.
We have had a history of holes through that area and had a french drain put in approximately 18 months ago and the company installed it and tamped down the soil.
What type of person would I have come out to inspect this to see what is needed to remediate this (animals burrowing, underground water flows, etc)?
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Identifying the culprit behind holes in the yard can be difficult. To narrow-down the candidate list, a process of elimination may help, taking into consideration the size of the holes, whether they continue into tunnels or dead-end, and if mounds of soil are present. Iowa State University’s resource Diagnosing Holes in the Yard may be helpful, even though it’s not a complete overlap with Maryland’s hole-digging fauna, nor is it an exhaustive list. NC State Extension’s “What’s Making This Hole in My Yard?” article is a similar resource that isn't all-encompassing either, but which might provide clues to the culprit.
If you observe a burrow(s) for a few days, see if there are more clues that appear, such as footprints or scat nearby. Does it seem to be a one-time disturbance, or does it look like something is consistently at work in that area? (If you fill the hole in, does it reappear within a few days?) Some gardeners set up a motion-activated trail cam to see if they can catch what animals are visiting, especially overnight. Our best guess, based on the photos and the size you describe, is that the culprit is/was a groundhog.
Since the details of animal behavior and the specifics of burrow construction are outside of the realm of our expertise, you can inquire with wildlife biologists at the MD Department of Natural Resources. An email can be sent to <personal data hidden> (especially if you want to share photos) or, if you would like to speak to someone, they have a Wildlife and Heritage Service phone number at<personal data hidden>. The phone line is staffed during regular business hours, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, except state holidays and weekends.
A pest control professional who has experience with nuisance animals may be able to perform a site visit to assess whether the burrow(s) is still actively being used, and may be able to verify which animal created it. If trapping is warranted to remove or discourage a groundhog, a permit from the DNR may be required. Regarding its impacts on subterranean water flow, it's probably not that significant with regards to nearby landscaping (other than any shallow-rooted species like certain groundcovers or most annuals), though you'd need the expertise of someone with training in soil regrading and drainage (like a landscape architect) to provide their assessment of the situation if a burrow complex were extensive.
Miri
If you observe a burrow(s) for a few days, see if there are more clues that appear, such as footprints or scat nearby. Does it seem to be a one-time disturbance, or does it look like something is consistently at work in that area? (If you fill the hole in, does it reappear within a few days?) Some gardeners set up a motion-activated trail cam to see if they can catch what animals are visiting, especially overnight. Our best guess, based on the photos and the size you describe, is that the culprit is/was a groundhog.
Since the details of animal behavior and the specifics of burrow construction are outside of the realm of our expertise, you can inquire with wildlife biologists at the MD Department of Natural Resources. An email can be sent to <personal data hidden> (especially if you want to share photos) or, if you would like to speak to someone, they have a Wildlife and Heritage Service phone number at<personal data hidden>. The phone line is staffed during regular business hours, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, except state holidays and weekends.
A pest control professional who has experience with nuisance animals may be able to perform a site visit to assess whether the burrow(s) is still actively being used, and may be able to verify which animal created it. If trapping is warranted to remove or discourage a groundhog, a permit from the DNR may be required. Regarding its impacts on subterranean water flow, it's probably not that significant with regards to nearby landscaping (other than any shallow-rooted species like certain groundcovers or most annuals), though you'd need the expertise of someone with training in soil regrading and drainage (like a landscape architect) to provide their assessment of the situation if a burrow complex were extensive.
Miri
