Old stumps and the root holes under them give cover to the animals people least want underfoot: chipmunks and mice burrow beside them, snakes follow the rodents, and yellowjackets nest in old rodent holes in the ground. Taking the stump down below grade and filling the holes removes most of that cover, and a little care on the day keeps anyone from being bitten or stung.
Why an old stump turns into shelter
A rotting stump is full of spaces. Bark lifts away from the wood, the heart goes soft and hollow, and as the big roots decay they leave tunnels running out under the lawn. Add the tall grass that grows where the mower cannot reach, and you have dry cover with ready-made burrows. Penn State Extension says chipmunks hide their burrow entrances near objects such as stumps, brush piles and buildings. The opening is about two inches across with no pile of dirt beside it, because they carry the soil away in their cheeks, and the main tunnel can run twenty to thirty feet. Mice and voles use the same kind of space.
Snakes follow the food
Where rodents live, snakes hunt. Clemson Extension puts it plainly: brush piles and stacked firewood are magnets for snakes because they are also magnets for rodents and insects, and removing habitat is the way to avoid snake encounters. An old stump with burrows round it works the same way. Most snakes you meet are harmless. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences says the state has 37 species, six of them venomous, and that the copperhead is the only venomous snake you are likely to meet in many areas. It also says copperheads cause the vast majority of venomous bites, and that deaths from them are extremely rare.
Leave the snake alone
If you find a snake by a stump, back away and let it go. Clemson Extension advises not trying to pick one up, especially one you cannot identify, and notes that harmless snakes such as corn snakes and young rat snakes are often mistaken for copperheads. South Carolina has about 38 species, six venomous. Some snakes are protected: the Museum of Natural Sciences says eight North Carolina species have protection under the state's endangered wildlife law. If you want to know what you saw, Clemson's Home and Garden Information Center will help identify a snake from clear photos. For a bite, the museum's advice is to stay calm and call 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Yellowjackets in the ground
The animal most likely to hurt someone near an old stump is a yellowjacket. Clemson Extension says a queen often starts a nest in a soil cavity such as an abandoned mouse nest, which is exactly what old root holes provide. Colonies can reach several hundred workers by August and peak in late summer and early fall, and unlike honey bees a yellowjacket can sting again and again. Clemson notes that logging equipment operators often disturb nests in the forest. A stump grinder or a mower does the same in a yard. Watch for a steady stream of wasps flying in and out of one spot in the ground before anyone starts work.
Before anyone works near the stump
A few minutes of looking saves a bad afternoon. Walk round the stump in boots and long trousers. Clemson suggests tapping brush or wood piles with a stick or shovel before moving them, so anything hiding can leave. Do not reach into holes or under loose bark with bare hands. In late summer, stand back and watch the ground for yellowjacket traffic. If wasps rise, Clemson's advice is to move away slowly, covering your face, and get into a building or vehicle. Point out any nest, burrow or snake you know of to whoever is doing the work, the same way you would point out an irrigation line.
What grinding changes
Grinding the stump four to eight inches below grade takes away the hollow wood and loose bark, and the machine's noise and vibration sends most small animals out of the way before it gets close. The open root holes and burrows round it are next. Fill them with soil and firm it, and top the ground-out hollow so the lawn can be mowed right over the spot. Once the grass is short and even, there is nowhere left to hide. Penn State notes chipmunk burrows can do real damage under patios, steps, retaining walls and foundations, so a burrow system by the house is worth dealing with on its own as well.
Keep the cover from coming back
Snakes and rodents go where there is shelter and food, so take both away near the house. Penn State suggests not planting continuous cover that links wooded areas to the foundation, keeping grass short along building edges, and keeping bird feeders fifteen to thirty feet from buildings so spilled seed does not draw rodents in. Move firewood and brush piles away from the house and off the ground. Deal with the other old stumps on the lot at the same time, especially near paths and play areas. Our guide on why old stumps are a hazard covers the rest of the risks they bring.
Common Questions
Do copperheads live in old tree stumps?
They use whatever cover is handy, and a hollow stump with rodent burrows round it qualifies. Clemson Extension says brush and wood piles draw snakes because they draw rodents and insects, and the same applies to rotting stumps. Removing the stump and filling the holes takes away both the shelter and the food.
What should I do about a yellowjacket nest under an old stump?
Keep people, pets and mowers away from it. Clemson Extension advises treating a nest with a product labeled for yellowjackets in late evening or at night, when the foragers are home, and without a flashlight. If you are allergic or the nest is large, have a pest management professional deal with it before any stump work starts.
Will grinding a stump get rid of chipmunks?
It removes one of their favorite hiding places, but chipmunks dig their own burrows, so the tunnels round the stump need filling too. Penn State Extension says trapping is the most practical way to remove chipmunks in many home situations, and that keeping cover away from foundations helps stop them returning.
What to Do Next
If an old stump is giving cover to things you would rather not meet, it can be ground below grade and the holes filled in one go. Call (828) 574-4474 or send a photo with your town. Let us know about any nests or burrows you have spotted. Stump grinding explains the visit.