How to differentiate between a snake hole and a rodent hole in your garden

When a hole randomly appears in a backyard garden, the very first thought that comes to mind is: a snake made it. However, as wildlife experts point out repeatedly, this reaction is often incorrect. Snakes, in fact, are not very diligent hole diggers in backyards. Most of the time, they tend to take advantage of existing burrows and crevices left by other species of animals such as rodents. This implies that what one may interpret as the work of a snake is most likely a rodent hole visited by a snake.

Iowa State University Extension reports that unlike rodents, snakes usually do not make their own underground nests but tend to depend entirely on pre-existing openings for shelter, temperature control, and hunting cover. This is important to mention because, when identifying animals, humans usually identify an opening first and then identify the animal. It should be done precisely the other way around. While the structure of the hole, type of soil, and its habitat will say much about its original maker, the existence of a snake does not prove anything.

Fresh soil and mound patterns usually point toward rodents

However, one of the most reliable signs is not the hole but the state of the soil next to it. As explained by the University of Maryland Extension, newly disturbed earth, piles of loose earth, or mounds indicate excavation behavior by a burrowing animal rather than an animal simply occupying the hole. In other words, the soil shows evidence that a rodent, such as a pocket gopher, vole, rat, or even a chipmunk, dug it out to expand its tunnels.


According to the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program, burrowing animals tend to leave side-plugged tunnel entrances, mounds, or excavation holes that become increasingly obvious over time. Such excavation clearly distinguishes them from snakes, which do nothing more than sneak into an existing hole. Thus, snakes use existing setups, and they do not significantly alter the soil, as they are not excavators. Therefore, fresh dirt is one of the surest signs that an animal is digging it up.

Snakes choose sheltered places because other animals already built them

The locations where people tend to be afraid of snake holes are the very same areas that rats and burrowing animals like to construct their systems of hiding places. As mentioned in the article from Cornell Integrated Pest Management, snakes have a very strong preference for cool and dark places such as woodpiles, retaining walls, rock barriers, mulch beds, and garden vegetation. This is why confusion often arises: a rat can establish its hiding place first, after which the snake uses it for its various advantages.

This trend has been further supported by other ecological findings. According to information on PubMed Central, many reptiles tend to use pre-existing structures for shelter, which are linked to hunting areas and protection. Yet another hint might be shed skin. As per the Nebraska Extension advice, a snake's presence near a hole indicated by its shed skin does not automatically imply that the reptile built it in the first place.

This fact needs to be emphasized throughout the process of determining the hole's nature. It is crucial not to confuse presence and construction in such an investigation. It would be wise, therefore, to adopt an approach that takes into account several factors when interpreting garden holes instead of relying solely on the emotions provoked by seeing an opening in the yard. These factors include fresh soil, mound form, habitat, cover object, and physical evidence.