Squirrels like to use the area under lawns as their personal cupboards. They collect acorns and other food in the fall and dig up lawns to bury their stash. Come winter, they dig again to feast at the buffet.
If squirrels are digging up your lawn, you probably have an abundant food source nearby, like oak trees or open bird feeders. Repellents such as Get Away Squirrel and Raccoon Repellent, which contains capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot peppers, have been shown to keep squirrels from digging in landscaped areas.
To repair the damage, fill each hole with sterile topsoil and tamp down with your foot to level the area with the rest of the lawn. Water the area lightly and sprinkle with grass seed. Then scrape the area gently with a fork. Water each spot daily, taking care to avoid washing away the seed. And don't mow until the new grass is 3 inches high.
