Lawn Damage

16 years ago

I have a patch of lawn, about 10' by 30' that has suddenly been torn up on the surface. It looks like a duffer created divots all over the area.

I assumed moles, based on quarter-size holes that appear to go nowhere, but there are no typical molehills--just ripped up and turned over turf, almost random rather than following a visible tunnel--I think.

Tried the castor oil spray route and it seems to get worse even after I stamp everything down. Definitely nocturnal activity.

My "experts" - one says moles, the other says raccoons/skunk/grub problem. I can't attack the problem until I know what it is.

Anyone experience similar damage, identify the cause, and fix the problem.

Thanks - Mike

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Comments (5)

m1shmosh
16 years ago
Moles usually do not create divots but rather a small pile of earth with tunneling underneath. I think what you are describing is similar to what skunks do, looking for food.
mgeca
Original Author
16 years ago
m1shmosh - thanks, after looking a few things up I believe skunk or raccoon rolling up turf. I was too focused on the problem from the bottom up, not the surface down.

Why do these animals seem to confine themselves to one stretch of lawn, disturbing it time and again? I did see a couple of exploratory holes elsewhere this morning, and I fear they will expand.

We do have a pond but it is netted and not running this week.

I guess easier to trap a surface animal than a mole--maybe some blessing in this.

Mike
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rutgers1
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I imagine it is a skunk looking for grubs. I had a HUGE problem with this over the past year. I put down some Grubx and saw "some" slowing down. Then I put out traps to try and track the bugger, but I managed to catch everything BUT the skunk. Finally, my neighbor found a dead skunk in his yard. I have no idea if that was my guy, but the digging seemed to slow down a LOT right around then.

There was a time when I would wake up to find 20 - 40 new holes every morning!
mgeca
Original Author
16 years ago
wow rutgers1--that's a siege. We have both raccoons and skunks in the vicinity--in reading there isn't anything to distinguish the damage of one from the other--at least as far as I can see. No distinctive skunk odor.

We're having first frosts overnight--should I just let nature take its course or is it better to get aggressive with traps, electric fence etc, re-do the lawn in the spring?

Thanks for the insight - Mike
mgeca
Original Author
16 years ago
Reporting back on developments. As suddenly as the problem started, it ended. For a couple of days the whole stip was torn up almost as though it had been plowed. Then a couple of exploratory-looking scratches and now nothing--knocking on wood.

I had applied mole deterrent three times over a very wide area prior to your helpful insights, and just left it alone, churned up. I am guessing that the effect of the mole deterrent resulted in lousy tasting grubs and worms for the skunk/raccoon.

Does that sound reasonable? The weather is good butlight frost at night and that shouldn't affect the animals yet?

I am cautiously pleased with some lawn to restore.

Mike

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Lawn Damage

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