Unknown holes

Question: I have 1-1 1/2 inch holes all over my yard,( hundreds) a few have raised lined leading to it , but not all. Several plants have been eaten from the roots. Please help I’m at wits end, can’t even really walk safely for fear of injury. I am a senior citizen. Thank you

responder: Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 05, 2023, 11:37 AM EDT
response: We're sorry. That sounds frustrating.  We can't see the holes you mention, though we can see what looks like either acorn caps or maybe hard mushrooms growing. We aren't sure as there is just not enough detail. What plants are disappearing?  While there are other culprits (particularly deer) that eat plants, "eaten from the roots" can suggest voles, which are like small meadow mice. They can make small holes too, and uneven runways across the soil. Here is our page on them:  https://extension.umd.edu/resource/voles  The repeated use of snap traps baited with peanut butter or apples can put a good dent in their numbers. You could hire someone (pest control) to do this, but don't let them use poisons, which can end up killing other wildlife up the food chain.  You can also get someone to even out your lawn some with a topsoil/compost mix, or even do a lawn renovation to thicken up your turf, making it easier to walk on. Here is our info on lawn overseeding and renovation:  https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-renovation-and-overseeding   Christine

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 05, 2023, 2:08 PM EDT
response: Thank you for the information. The plants that are being eaten are bearded Iris also black eyed Susan’s. There have been no issues with trees or boxwoods. Whatever this is is active at night. This is the second year of this problem and if they were to spend time above ground  and with the number of holes ( they are everywhere) I believe I would have seen at least one by now. My ring camera alerted and after seeing no motion looked closer to see a Susan moving quite a bit. In the morning just the top stem was left, no visible animal sighted. The holes looks very similar to the website but not the tunnels.  I will try the traps but worry ab catching squirrels. Thank you  Doris

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 06, 2023, 12:24 PM EDT
response: Hello Doris,  A squirrel won't likely fit in or go into a smaller-sized trap used for moles/voles (since they're more the size of mice) so this probably isn't something to worry about. Without camera footage of the critter caught in the act, unfortunately it's hard to tell what created holes in a yard since most animals doing so would be active mostly after dark. Although deer, rabbits, groundhogs, and other animals might consume foliage and stems, if the roots were gone or mostly eaten for the plants affected, then that strongly suggests voles. Many animals prey on voles, so it's possible some of the camera detection was a predator like a fox or owl attempting to catch a vole. It's entirely possible more than one culprit is responsible. For example, several kinds of beetle grubs that can feed in lawn will be very close to the soil surface this time of year since they're about to emerge as adult beetles for the summer, and wild animals like skunks and raccoons might be digging depressions into turf to reach them and eat them. This might explain why some holes don't have a tunnel or soft pathway connecting them while others do. Since we don't recommend using any type of poison bait for voles or similar animals, trapping is the only recourse to help manage them until the population crashes on its own.  Miri