What is making these holes in my lawn? (houses, neighborhood)

[JoeCartpath]

All of a sudden I'm getting these little holes all over one section of my lawn. They don't appear to be moles, since there aren't any tunnels..just holes that appear to be sort of punched into the turf - maybe a couple of inches in diameter and a couple of inches deep (although there is some variation in size).

What's doing it - and how do I stop it....other than coping Bill Murray in Caddyshack (which I'm pretty sure the neighbors wouldn't appreciate).

[Pearlbob]

I had some of these and never figured it out. Usually with moles the ground is soft around the holes, like you are falling into the ground. Maybe snakes? that was someone's suggestion to me. I threw some pesticides down there, filled them in with dirt, and haven't seen any again.

[JoeCartpath]

I had a few of them last year about this time - then no more until just a week or so ago - then no more until today...and there must be 30 or so of them, only in one side of my small front lawn.

I don't think they're snake holes. They don't lead to tunnels or anything....just holes about the size of a golf ball....

[ShelbyCop]

Armadillos and skunks dig holes in yards looking for insects sometimes. That's all I can think of?

Have you noticed more holes popping up at night?

[JoeCartpath]

Yep. They usually appear overnight...

[Ginsaw]

Sciurus carolinensis

They're looking for stuff to eat or get moisture from during the dry weather. They do this more when we water the yard.

[(901)]

There Voles. My cat kills them all the time

www.encyclopedia.com/topic/vole.aspx

[JoeCartpath]

So it's either squirrels or voles...

I did water my yard yesterday morning, and found the holes yesterday afternoon...but I haven't seen any squirrels around. It's a fairly new subdivision with no large trees - with the houses across the street from me backing up to an undeveloped forested area.

I suppose voles (aka field mice) could be the culprit, but I can't see any evidence of underground burrowing. It's as if the holes are just punched in the ground -I assumed by some creature looking for worms...

[(901)]

Originally Posted by JoeCartpath

So it's either squirrels or voles...

I did water my yard yesterday morning, and found the holes yesterday afternoon...but I haven't seen any squirrels around. It's a fairly new subdivision with no large trees - with the houses across the street from me backing up to an undeveloped forested area.

I suppose voles (aka field mice) could be the culprit, but I can't see any evidence of underground burrowing. It's as if the holes are just punched in the ground -I assumed by some creature looking for worms...

If its any help, I notice my cat tends to drag them in just before Sunrise. Maye stick a firecracker down in there one morning around 4:00am. That or getta cat

[JoeCartpath]

Well, there is a neighborhood cat that been wandering around here for years....often napping on my front porch when it's in the shade in the afternoon. Maybe I'll just leave some milk and cat food out on the lawn so he can stand guard!