Possums do dig holes, but this behavior is almost exclusively driven by foraging for food rather than constructing a permanent home. When they disturb a lawn, the excavation is typically shallow and intended to locate a meal, not to create a deep burrow for shelter. Understanding the specific nature of this digging helps identify the culprit and apply effective solutions.
Why Possums Dig (And What the Holes Look Like)
The primary motivation for a possum to dig is accessing subsurface food sources, as they are opportunistic omnivores. These nocturnal marsupials use their sensitive noses to locate prey like earthworms, beetle larvae, and white grubs just beneath the soil’s surface. They use their forepaws to root around in the dirt, creating evidence of their nightly activity.
The resulting holes are characteristically shallow scrapes or divots, not true burrows. These indentations are usually conical or irregular in shape and rarely extend more than a few inches deep. The opening is generally small, sometimes only about three inches in diameter, reflecting the limited reach of their forepaws. Numerous small, superficial disturbances scattered across a grassy area strongly indicate a possum was foraging for invertebrates.
Possum Denning Habits
The shallow digs created during foraging should not be confused with burrows, as possums do not typically excavate deep holes for housing. Possums are nomadic creatures, constantly moving within a home range and seldom remaining in the same den for more than a few nights. This behavior minimizes predator exposure and reduces the need to dig a shelter.
Instead of constructing their own homes, possums are opportunistic users of existing shelter. They readily commandeer abandoned burrows dug by other animals, such as skunks or woodchucks. They also seek refuge in natural cavities like hollow logs, rock crevices, or tree hollows. In suburban environments, they frequently den under decks, porches, sheds, or brush piles, utilizing these pre-existing structures for temporary protection.
Distinguishing Possum Digging From Other Yard Pests
When identifying the animal responsible for yard damage, the physical characteristics of the disturbance offer the most telling clues. Possum foraging results in small, shallow scrapes that appear as if the lawn has been lightly poked or scraped. This is distinct from the damage caused by other common nocturnal diggers, such as skunks and raccoons.
Skunks create small, conical holes, roughly the size of their nose, often leaving loosened soil around the perimeter as they use their long front claws to access grubs. Raccoons possess more dexterous front paws and cause more extensive damage by pulling up and rolling back sections of sod, especially when targeting dense patches of insects.
Another identifier is the animal’s track, which is often visible in soft soil near the damage. A possum track is unique, displaying five splayed toes on the front foot. The distinctive hind foot features a large, opposable, thumb-like toe.
Effective Methods for Deterrence
The most effective way to deter possums is to eliminate the primary attractants: readily available food and accessible shelter. Since foraging for grubs is the main reason for digging, treating the lawn to manage the grub population significantly reduces their interest in the area. Reducing the population of these subsurface insects removes the incentive for the possum to excavate the turf.
Removing external food sources is also necessary. This includes securing all garbage cans with locking lids and ensuring pet food is never left outside overnight. Fallen fruit from trees should be promptly collected, as this provides an easy meal. Finally, securing potential den sites, such as sealing gaps under porches, sheds, and decks, removes the convenient shelter that attracts them to stay nearby.