Lawn being dug up - Ask Extension
Our lawn is being dug up in patches. The holes aren't large, maybe an inch or two in diameter. Wondering if skunks or raccoons are after grubs?
Knowledgebase
Lawn being dug up #870669
Asked May 29, 2024, 9:25 PM EDT
Our lawn is being dug up in patches. The holes aren't large, maybe an inch or two in diameter. Wondering if skunks or raccoons are after grubs?
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Janet - thanks for contacting us.
A few questions for you:
Jeffco Diagnostician Annette
A few questions for you:
- Are they only shallow holes, or is there a tunnel associated with them? Using your hand, press around the circumference of some of the holes to see if there is variation.
- Do all of the holes have soil/sod deposited outside the hole as in your closeup photo?
- Is this the only area, or are there others? If so, please send additional pictures of other areas.
- Do you ever notice Flickers (woodpeckers) in your yard, around their trees, or ever hear hammering on your home?
- Where in Jeffco do you live? Do you live in a standard residential neighborhood, or do you back up to open space? Are raccoons and skunks known to travel through your yard?
Jeffco Diagnostician Annette
Hi Annette.
So I have included more photos of our yard to show how widespread the problem is. This seemingly happened over just a few nights. You will see some bare patches on the lower right side of the yard. These were always there but smaller. I say "always", we have owned this house for four years but they have grown. I always believed that there could be an insect problem in this area but in my observances I have never seen birds or animals dwelling in this area over another. Until now, we have never had a proper sprinkler system so watering wasn't consistent. Now it is!
I would say at this point about a third of the yard has been picked at. Below I will answer your questions in order.
I would say at this point about a third of the yard has been picked at. Below I will answer your questions in order.
- Are they only shallow holes, or is there a tunnel associated with them? Using your hand, press around the circumference of some of the holes to see if there is variation.
- The holes are shallow. I did feel around in many places and I can't detect any tunneling.
- Do all of the holes have soil/sod deposited outside the hole as in your closeup photo?
- Yes, any holes that exist, the soil/sod is deposited outside of the hole.
- Is this the only area, or are there others? If so, please send additional pictures of other areas.
- Photos have been included. It is about a third of the yard at this time and happened rapidly.
- Do you ever notice Flickers (woodpeckers) in your yard, around their trees, or ever hear hammering on your home?
- We have a lot of Flickers around here. They never hammer on our house. We hear them often on other people's trees. They do come into our yard somewhat often but never always in the yard. We observe them but they don't hang out very long but that would be only during the day that we observe them.
- Where in Jeffco do you live? Do you live in a standard residential neighborhood, or do you back up to open space? Are raccoons and skunks known to travel through your yard?
- We live in the very corner of Northwest Lakewood bordering Golden, Wheat Ridge, and unincorporated Jeffco. It is the Applewood area if you are familiar with that. We don't have open space behind us but an agricultural ditch runs across the back of our property so it is a wildlife highway. Definitely have Raccoons and Skunks around. One night we hosted a wrestling match between the two on our front lawn! It was really funny to watch the video!
I have added a second camera to the front yard that is closer but have yet to pick up any action taking place. I suppose one question for you is would it be a good idea to treat for Grubs giving the potential?
Thank you for the review!
Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
-------- Original message --------
From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Date: 6/1/24 11:20 AM (GMT-07:00)
To: Janet <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Lawn being dug up (#0140589)
Janet -
Thanks for the info - it certainly seems like it must be some sort of critter doing this to happen so rapidly. If your irrigation system is recently operational, this might be bringing grubs closer to the surface, and easier for skunks or raccoons to smell. In the area where the damage is occurring, are you able to gently pull up a spot to see if you're seeing grubs?
Although it seems likely that grub-hungry night visitors are causing the damage, there are some things to consider when using chemicals: what product to use, which product does not have ecological side-effects (such as harming beneficial insects), and the timing of application of products during the most effective life stage of the grubs. There is at least one bio-insecticide that is not a chemical (Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae) on the market that is safer, but it is most effective when applied in the spring.
Attached are three excellent resources - one from CSU and two from Iowa State Univ. The ISU fact sheet has a great explanation of Integrated Pest Management, a holistic approach minimizing the effect of pests by using good cultural practices in our yards and gardens. There are suggestions about ways to exclude critters from the area which may or may not be feasibly such as laying something on the ground (hardware cloth?) that grass could grow through but hand-like raccoon feet would not be able to pry up.
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05516.pdf
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-skunk-and-raccoon-damage-lawns#:~:text=Raccoons%20and%20skunks%20can%20cause,large%20disturbed%20patch%20of%20grass
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/white-grub-control-turfgrass
I would really have liked to see the skunk/raccoon wrestling match - that's crazy! Our home backs up to an irrigation ditch as well. We generally live and let live, but sometimes they just go too far. :o)
Good luck, and let us know if you have further questions or concerns.
Jeffco Volunteer Diagnostician Annette
Thanks for the info - it certainly seems like it must be some sort of critter doing this to happen so rapidly. If your irrigation system is recently operational, this might be bringing grubs closer to the surface, and easier for skunks or raccoons to smell. In the area where the damage is occurring, are you able to gently pull up a spot to see if you're seeing grubs?
Although it seems likely that grub-hungry night visitors are causing the damage, there are some things to consider when using chemicals: what product to use, which product does not have ecological side-effects (such as harming beneficial insects), and the timing of application of products during the most effective life stage of the grubs. There is at least one bio-insecticide that is not a chemical (Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae) on the market that is safer, but it is most effective when applied in the spring.
Attached are three excellent resources - one from CSU and two from Iowa State Univ. The ISU fact sheet has a great explanation of Integrated Pest Management, a holistic approach minimizing the effect of pests by using good cultural practices in our yards and gardens. There are suggestions about ways to exclude critters from the area which may or may not be feasibly such as laying something on the ground (hardware cloth?) that grass could grow through but hand-like raccoon feet would not be able to pry up.
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05516.pdf
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-skunk-and-raccoon-damage-lawns#:~:text=Raccoons%20and%20skunks%20can%20cause,large%20disturbed%20patch%20of%20grass
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/white-grub-control-turfgrass
I would really have liked to see the skunk/raccoon wrestling match - that's crazy! Our home backs up to an irrigation ditch as well. We generally live and let live, but sometimes they just go too far. :o)
Good luck, and let us know if you have further questions or concerns.
Jeffco Volunteer Diagnostician Annette
