How to Fill Ground Squirrel Holes: Explore 3 Effective Methods

If ground squirrels have taken over your yard with their burrowing, continue reading for three ways you can fill ground squirrel holes — from the perfect machine to make the process easier to materials you can use that you might already have.

Ground squirrels are rodents in the Sciuridae family that are expert diggers. These animals tend to burrow into grassy lands where they seek shelter and storage for food, thus creating deep holes that could damage your yard.

Ground squirrel holes are usually hideouts about 15 to 20 feet long, with more than one entrance. You can easily determine whether or not the tunnel in your yard is a ground squirrel hole, as it will be clean and have little to no loose soil around the hole.

A Columbian ground squirrel | Source: Getty Images

Filling ground squirrel holes is very important, as these massive hideouts could ruin your garden and cause damage. Ground squirrel holes could uproot plants and compromise the integrity of the ground as these rodents dig near the foundation.

How to Fill Ground Squirrel Holes

If you've noticed a few ground squirrel holes in your backyard, you'll be pleased to know that there are multiple ways to get rid of the potentially damaging burrows. Find out more about each method below:

1. Using a Burrow Blocker Machine

A burrow blocker machine is one of the most effective and quickest ways to fill ground squirrel holes, as the machine is designed to make the process easier by pumping a mixture of sand and water into the hole.

The water is absorbed by the soil, leaving the sand behind to fill the hole completely. The burrow blocker machine is also a great option for filling ground squirrel holes as it prevents ground squirrels from further burrowing.

2. Using Kitchen Items Like Dishwashing Soap and Castor Oil

If you need a more convenient way to fill ground squirrel holes than getting your hands on a burrow blocker machine, some items from your kitchen such as castor oil, pepper, and ground coffee can do the trick.

To use castor oil to fill ground squirrel holes, mix 1/4 cup of castor oil with two tablespoons of dishwashing soap and add this concoction to a gallon of water. This will create a slimy and oily repellant.

Spray this mixture anywhere in your yard where you've noticed ground squirrel holes. You can also sprinkle pepper and ground coffee in your yard to keep ground squirrels from burrowing away.

3. Using Soil and a Shovel

Whether you acquire machinery or search through your kitchen pantry, there is more than one way to deal with the pestering problem of ground squirrel holes. These methods are not only easy but also cost-effective and will leave you sleeping like a baby, knowing your garden is safe from damage.

Having animals at home can pose problems, much like when cat litter lands on your carpet. Here is a guide on how to get cat litter out of your carpet if you find yourself in that situation.