This year has been a constant attempt to cover up holes dug in my yard by squirrels. They prefer bare soil, and areas covered by mulch. I just laid down mulch this fall, and they have put dozens of holes in it and the soil below. They will also dig in my vegetable garden and anywhere their fancy strikes. I have lived here for over 20 years and never has it been so bad. I have a bird feeder out back so they hang around the ground under the feeder picking up spills. I have noticed them carrying an unending supply of black walnuts to bury. Sometimes they seem to dig without any walnut in sight. I also have a mature oak tree on my property. Has this been an unusual year for black walnuts, squirrel populations, squirrel behavior or what? Anything I can do other than get rid of my bird feeders?

The squirrels have been especially vigorous in their digging at my house too, and I don't even have bird feeders. There's nothing really different about this year than another. I just use a rake to smooth the mulch back into place.