Small Holes in Lawn Overnight – Identification and What to Do

You wake up one morning, step outside to enjoy your lawn, and find small holes scattered all over the grass. They appeared overnight, like some mystery visitor came while you slept. The grass looks bumpy in places, maybe a bit loose, and you wonder what happened. 

This is a common problem for many people with yards. It can make the lawn look messy and even unsafe to walk on if there are many. Most times, these small holes in the lawn overnight come from normal things in nature. 

Sometimes insects or animals dig to look for food under the grass at night. They includeskunks, raccoons, voles, moles, birds and squirrels, Japanese beetles, wasps, and crayfish. Other times, it’s just helpful creatures like earthworms doing their job. 

In this article, we look at the main reasons for small holes in your lawn overnight. We explain how to spot the cause and what steps you can take to fix it.

What’s Causing Holes in My Lawn Overnight?

Night is a busy time for many small creatures. During the day, they hide from heat, people, and birds. When the sun goes down and things get quiet, they come out to eat or move around. That’s why you see nothing one evening and many holes the next morning.

Most of the time, the holes are small—about the size of a finger, a coin, or a little bigger. They might have no dirt pile around them, or just a bit of loose soil. Sometimes the grass near the hole lifts up like someone pulled it. This happens because the creature digs to find food below the surface.

Here are the most common reasons you see small holes appear in your lawn overnight.

Japanese Beetles

Japanese beetles are the worst nightmare for every gardener. The insects lay and bury eggs in the soil, which hatch into larvae well known as grubs. During winter and early fall, the grubs hide under the soil as they mature into the next stage.

During spring and early summer, grubs have matured into beetles, and they start to emerge from the ground. This is the time you will notice small holes in the lawn overnight. Grub damage in the lawn can also be seen during the larva stage when they are actively feeding on grass roots. 

Grubs usually double the problems in your yard. Most birds, moles, raccoons, skunks, wasps, and armadillos will come around to dig up your lawn in an attempt to extract the larvae. Grubs should therefore be controlled especially when in large numbers, if you want to continue enjoying your green, lush grass.

Earthworms

Earthworms form narrow tunnels into the soil, especially when the ground is damp. They are regarded as important microorganisms in the soil as they help in mixing up soil with available nutrients, water, and air. While earthworms may be present in the soil throughout the year, their activities increase during spring.

The holes themselves are very small (1-2 mm). After rain or at night when it’s wet, worms come to the surface more. This is normal and helpful—no need to worry unless there are too many castings making the lawn bumpy.

Wasps

Scoliid wasps and cicada-killer wasps are other culprits for holes in your yard. Scoliid wasps actively dig holes into the soil, hunting for grubs to kill. They then lay eggs on the killed grubs and wait for them to hatch into a new generation. Wasps are known to be a natural controller of grubs in the soil.

Cicada-Killer Wasps, on the other hand, hunt and kill cicadas for food. They dug holes before they drag in their paralyzed hunt. Wasps create small holes of up to 1 inch in diameter, and it’s common to find them in areas where the vegetation is sparse or the grass is short.

Birds

Birds like starlings, crows, or flickers poke the ground with their beaks to find insects. They leave small, neat holes, often in lines or groups. These holes are very small—no more than 1-2 cm—and have no dirt mound. You might not see the birds at night, but they come early morning or late in the evening. After rain, when the soil is soft, birds do this more.

Moles

Moles reside in large, deep holes that they usually dig on their own. Moles may also create a hole while hunting for soil-dwelling insects, worms, and grubs. Holes created by moles are about 10 inches in diameter with conical mounds.

Moles can cause serious destruction to a lawn. While it’s tough to get rid of moles, some methods, including the use of traps, may work. Moles can also be repelled using some ointments such as castor oil.

Mice and voles

These mouse-like animals make shallow tunnels and small holes. Holes are about 3-5 cm wide, often in lines. Grass near them may die in patches because voles eat roots. Besides making snake-like holes, these rodents will feed on and urinate on your grass, resulting in more problems. 

Squirrels and chipmunks

Like squirrels, chipmunks dig holes to hide in their food, nest, and relax. Squirrels create a slightly bigger hole that can potentially affect your lawn. Catching a squirrel or chipmunk is not easy, as they are capable of running so fast. It is thus a good idea to consult wildlife and pest experts for the task.

Crayfish

If your yard is located near water areas, you may discover some constructed tower-like holes. The crayfish uses balls of mud to create holes about 2 inches in diameter and 3 inches high.

Dogs

Dogs are notorious for digging holes in yards. They do it for fun, to hide their food or discover something in the soil. A canine can make a really large hole with soil all over the area. Filling up the hole may take an effort, and new grass should be planted.

Skunks

These black-and-white animals work at night. They push their nose into the ground to find grubs, worms, and bugs. Their holes are small, round, and about the size of their nose (about 3-5 cm wide). You often see many holes close together in one area. The soil looks loose but not piled high. If you smell a bad odor near the lawn sometimes, it might be a skunk.

Raccoons

These clever animals also hunt at night. They use their front paws like hands to flip pieces of grass or dig shallow spots. Holes from raccoons can look a bit messy, with some sod turned over. They search for the same grubs and insects.

How to Find Out the Real Cause

To fix the problem, first know who or what makes the holes. Try these easy checks:

• Look at the hole size and shape — Tiny poked holes? Likely birds. Small round with loose soil? Maybe skunks. Messy with flipped grass? Raccoons.
• Check for other signs — Loose sod pieces? Grubs underneath? Dig a small area near a hole. If you find white C-shaped grubs, that’s the food source.
• Smell or tracks — Bad smell at night? Skunk. Paw prints like small hands? Raccoon.
• Time of year — Spring or summer emergence holes from insects. Fall digging is often from animals after grubs.
• Watch at night — Use a light or camera if safe. Motion lights can help see visitors.

How to Fix Small Holes in Your Lawn

Once you know the cause, take action. Most fixes are simple and use things you may have at home.

Fill the Holes

For small holes:

• Clean out loose dirt or debris.
• Fill with a mix of topsoil and sand or compost. Make it level or a bit higher.
• Press down gently.
• Sprinkle grass seed if the spot is bare.
• Water lightly every day until new grass grows (about 2-3 weeks).

For many holes, do one section at a time. Use a lawn repair mix from a shop if you want faster results.

Stop the Diggers

• If grubs cause animal visits, treat grubs first. Use natural methods, such as beneficial nematodes (tiny worms that eat grubs). Water them in the evening. Or try milky spore powder for long-term control. A healthy lawn with good roots fights grubs better.
• For skunks and raccoons, remove food sources by treating grubs. Make the yard less inviting: introduce bright night lights, motion-activated sprinklers, or smells they dislike (like citrus peels or pepper). Secure trash bins and fence low areas if needed.
• For birds, usually, there is no need to stop them. They help eat pests. Holes will fill naturally.
• For ground bees, leave them if possible—they pollinate. If many, water the area a lot; they like dry soil.
• Keep the lawn healthy, water deeply but not too often. Mow at the right height. Aerate the soil once a year to help drainage. Strong grass recovers fast from holes.

Small holes overnight feel surprising, but they often mean your yard has life in it. With a little check and simple work, your lawn can look good again soon. Most times, it’s not serious damage—just nature doing its thing. Be patient, act early, and enjoy your green space.

For further reading: Michigan State University Extension: Who’s that digging in my yard: Skunks, raccoons or moles?