What Animal is Burrowing On My Property?
A common problem you might be dealing with on your property are animal burrows, but which animal is digging the burrow you see? The most common types of animals that will burrow on your property are groundhogs, rats, moles, and voles. Many of these burrows are similar, but this blog can help you differentiate between the types of burrows and determine which animal is digging burrows on your property.
Groundhog Burrows
Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are large, furry, brown rodents that are closely related to squirrels. Groundhogs are the most infamous burrowers that you might find on your property, and they are probably the first culprit that springs to mind when you discover a burrow. Groundhogs are skilled diggers, and their burrows are complicated, consisting of long underground tunnels that can go 6 feet below the ground and stretch for over 50 feet in length. Groundhogs prefer to create their main entrance in an area covered by vegetation, and you can also spot the entrance by finding a large pile of excavated dirt nearby.
These burrows serve as multi-purpose dwellings for groundhogs, providing them with protection from predators and the elements. Groundhogs are known for their hibernation habits, and these burrows play a crucial role in their winter survival. During the cold months, groundhogs enter a state of hibernation, a deep, prolonged sleep, and their burrows offer them a cozy haven to pass the time until spring arrives. Not only do these burrows provide shelter, but they also house separate chambers for sleeping, defecating, and raising their young.
Rat Burrows
Norway rats are a large species of rat that is also known to create burrows underground. Rat burrows will have different sections or “rooms” for storing food and sleeping. Rat burrows also have more than a few “emergency exits”, or holes to escape through in case they are caught by a predator. Alongside the emergency exits, rat burrows will have a main entrance, typically called rat holes. Rat holes are smooth, with a diameter of only about 2-4 inches. Rat holes have smooth walls of hard packed dirt, and they are usually no further than 18 inches below ground. Rat burrows can be up to 3 feet in length. A good indicator of a rat burrow is the dirt kicked up in a fan shape outside the entrance.
When choosing places to dig their burrows, rats will look for soft or sandy soil, and avoid wet or saturated soil. Rats will build their burrows near a source of food and water, as well as somewhere secluded, like underneath a porch, a woodpile, a deck, underneath bushes and especially alongside foundations. Rat burrows alongside and underneath foundations can cause structural damage to your home and should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Moles and Voles Burrows
Moles and voles are two smaller species of rodent that will also dig burrows on your property. While their names are similar and both are smaller, digging rodents, they have some vital differences. Voles look similar to mice, but more compact. Voles will feed on plants and plant matter, and they love eating roots of plants and even tree bark. Moles on the other hand are bigger, with a distinctive snout and two large paws with massive claws for digging. Moles almost live entirely underground, and eat insects and earthworms instead of plants.
Voles are known for digging small holes with entranceways about an inch in diameter. They may have multiple holes in a yard, with small surface tunnels connecting them. Moles have a much more disruptive tunneling process. The various entrances to mole tunnels will have volcano-shaped piles of dirt above it, also called molehills. These molehills seal off the entrances, unlike vole and rat burrows that will have a clear entry. Mole tunnels are deep and extensive, and if you are walking above one, the ground will often feel fragile and not secure, and you might even start sinking into the ground. Moles will also leave large ridges in your yard as they make their tunnels. Both species can cause unsightly damage to your yard and any vegetation you might have.
How To Prevent Burrowing Animals in Virginia Beach
The best way to deal with a burrowing animal problem in your yard is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Unfortunately, prevention for groundhogs, rats, moles and voles can be a bit tricky, so it is almost always your best bet to contact a licensed wildlife removal company like Summit Environmental Solutions for preventative treatments and deterrents. One of the most effective groundhog deterrents is to install a wildlife fence that goes a full foot into the ground, which will prevent them from burrowing into your yard. To prevent rats from burrowing in your yard, remove any potential food sources on the property by not leaving pet food out for stray cats or birdseed in a birdfeeder.
The common denominator that all of these wildlife are attracted to is clutter and debris in your yard. Overgrown vegetation, thick layers of mulch, woodpiles, piles of leaves, brush piles, overgrown grass, will all give these animals more security and places to hide, as well as food sources in some cases.
Burrowing Animal Trapping and Removal
Once you have identified a burrow on your property, your next move is trapping and removing the animal. First, you must determine if the burrow is still in use. The best way to accomplish this is to plug up the entry hole with newspaper or another similar substance. If you return the next day and the newspaper has been moved or disturbed, then you can reasonably assume that the burrow is in use.
After you determine the burrows are in use, the best bet is to contact a licensed wildlife removal company for trapping, removal and control. Summit Environmental Solutions offers rat control to keep rat populations off your property in Virginia Beach. Groundhog trapping can be extremely difficult as groundhogs are very clever, so it is always best to leave groundhog trapping to professionals. Professional wildlife experts are able to offer more effective solutions to mole and vole problems than what is possible with store bought materials. Contact Summit Environmental Solutions for any wildlife trapping and removal or pest control services you may need.