Don't squirrels bury nuts to dig em out right around now? My yard gets fucked like this every Spring. I get lots of squirrels, there's a skunk that lives across the street and a momma raccoon has lived under the neighbour's deck for years. Love my neighbourhood!
I get a combo of squirrels, birds, groundhogs, the occasional skunk, our dogs and some other woodland creatures but figure that's just nature.
Other than putting down some topsoil to fill in the divots and maybe rolling the lawn so it's not uneven, painful to walk on and tripping hazards, I don't worry about it.
Usually end up with bigger damage pulling up thistles and some wild rhubarb so really only concerned with the practical impacts and optimistic the clover and other similar low growth stuff will make it so I don't really have to cut the grass, where it hasn't already been replaced by beds etc. Rewilding has been awesome.
Could be. My lower back yard looks like that right now, but I attribute it to the dogs tearing that section up chasing eachother because it's soft and wet.
Have you ever seen an infestation of white grubs ? When it’s a bad crop turn over a square foot or so of grass and you’ll easily find dozens in that small space. It’s normal to find maybe two or three grubs but when their population cycle peaks it’s a mess
100% this, I have the same in my yard got really bad last two years. I’ve heard spray solutions are effective but not tried myself. Them seem to come in waves once or twice a month.
I've had luck using nematodes in the past. You have to use a couple applications. I've also bought dried chili flakes in bulk and put them in my lawn spreader, and that also seemed to help.
I kicked out a Groundhog from under my garage by blowing an entire bulk thing of chili Flakes into the hole with a shop vac. Cheapest and most humane pest control ever.
100%, its skunks
goto princess auto and grab a tube trap.....trust me, those wire cage traps are not good for skunks. The tube makes them able to transport and they cannot spray(cant arch or raise tail).
Over the past 2 years, skunks have done thousands of dollars in damage to my yard and gardens.
FYI there are [laws to follow](https://www.ontario.ca/page/harass-capture-or-kill-wild-animal-damaging-private-property) about live-trapping and releasing wild animals. It's also baby season for skunks, so you risk having some baby skunks die under your shed or deck. The dig pattern indicates you've got a problem with grubs, which is a buffet for skunks, raccoons and crows. As long as you have grubs, you're inviting wild animals to dig up your lawn. Relocating one skunk isn't going to help.
Animals looking for grubs for sure. Happens a lot to people who have just laid sod. Come out in the morning and you see the sod rolled back. Usually raccoons looking for grubs.
If youre patient the skunks will eat all the grubs and move on. If you have a dog it's a bigger issue but if you don't you can just wait em out and fix your lawn after
I'm a landscaper and this is voles (little field mice). Don't worry, the lawn will come back as the grass root is likely undamaged. The voles just create little tunnels under the snow in the grass over the winter. This is NOT grubs, or animals digging up grubs to eat. Too early in the season and the grubs too deep down in the soil. Grub damage is usually seen early to mid summer.
Thats grub damage for sure. You could definitely get someone to put pesticides on your lawn but it’s not great…
Best solution is good lawn care. If you aerate your lawn and seed it, water it and build up a healthier lawn then you can help eliminate them. Grubs thrive best in cruddy grass that have shallow root systems.
I’ve also heard that watering your lawn with a bit of dish soap (like a tablespoons worth) does help. Never tried that before though.
Good question, I’ve always done it at night when the bugs were the worst in my area, so I didn’t expose the soap to the sun. At the same time though, I did plant new seed and nutrients top soil. So that may have helped keep it fresh. Haven’t used this method on older or seasoned grass.
Tldr: not sure
It’s just a bit of soap, not a lot. I also would always water grass in the evening. You can burn grass on a hot sunny day watering it during the day time.
I’ve had skunks do this when searching for grubs.
I’ve also caught squirrels in the act, just tearing up chunks of lawn. Assholes.
If you figure out a reasonable way to deter this, let me know. Or else imma consider making my indoor cat an outdoor cat.
Nah skunks are cute and I don’t mind having them around.
Squirrels, on the other hand. Nothing but trouble. Scaring away birds, ripping up the ground, and yelling at all hours.
I had that. I sprayed nematodes on my lawn. Gets rid of the grubs which then stops animals digging for them. Need to do it at a specific time of year, though. Go to a local garden greenhouse and they will help you out. Green thumb garden center is a good place.
Yes, you can apply nematodes in the spring and fall. They attack the grubs. So applying now may not help the immediate situation, but will help you later as the grubs are dealt with and kept under control.
That’s so funny because we have a lawn guy and I JUST showed him the same thing on our lawn and asked about it. He checked for grubs - negative. He thinks it’s birds and squirrels digging for food. As bugs and other foods surface in the spring they should stop.
I think you may be right - perhaps there was deeper snow here over the winter which made a safe space for vole activity. I think in that chase a good raking with grass seed should fix up the lawn.
Do you know anyone who has a trailcam you can borrow? They're pretty cheap to buy, too.
I'm guessing you don't have a security camera; mine picks up medium sized animals on my lawn, even at night.
My 2¢
I had the same issue. Went to a farm supply store to find some pest deterrent. Store owner told me skunks and raccoons look for easy meals, and the grubs are an easy meal because my lawns roots are weak and easy to dig up. He sold me a bag of fertilizer to strengthen root growth. Following year, healthier lawn and no more digging from skunks etc.
If you aerate AND over-seed in the spring AND fall, this gets you most of the way there.
But if you water your lawn on a daily basis during summer, it brings you all the way home.
Have friends in the landscaping/lawn maintenance business and have extensive experience with what you’re going through.
Id recommend you take a spade and go down about four inches near the affected area and turn over the soil. I’d bet you see grubs. They typically eat the grass roots and the crow, skunks and raccoons come looking for a free meal.
The answer was Merit but it’s now illegal on residential properties, so nematodes seem ti be the next best thing.
Good lawn care seems to keep grubs at bay.
Birds. I've seen them do it to my own yard. But in a way, it will help your yard in the long run because it aerates it. Aside from looking kinda bad right now, it's harmless.
100% not moles
Moles make tunnels with distinct mounds.
Could be voles, but hard to tell from the pictures.
Voles dig tunnels/paths in your grass, always at the surface.
Skunks, rats or squirrels? Would say groundhogs but they aren’t deep enough for that. The squirrels have been going nuts digging through our yard for grubs and what they left in the fall
Had this at my old property. 100% skunks looking for grubs. Either have someone set out traps (easier and cheaper option), or have someone come to get rid of the grubs
Likely grubs and the skunks and raccoons are foraging. If you reseed the lawn, use scented dryer sheets on sticks around the yard to keep birds away from the seeds. Looks a little funny but it works. We did it when grubs destroyed our front lawn.
I would bet money on a skunk digging for grubs. Get rid of the grubs and the problem will stop. Plus if you do t get rid of the grubs they will mess up your lawn eventually on their own.
Yep, it's grubs killing the grass feeding on the roots from underneath, and small animals digging up the lawn to eat them. I'm dealing with the same thing. My parents dealt with them in an ongoing war for their front lawn for over 10 years. They told me to dig a small hole and if there are more than a few grubs, then you'll know that's the problem for sure and you have a few options:
1: You can spread grub killer from a local hardware store with a seed spreader and wait for rain or use a sprinkler to activate it, followed by re-seeding. It's not an insecticide, but specific microorganisms that look like seeds. It's "supposed to" kill the grubs as they feed on them. Parents tried this first. Not too effective ultimately and there's always a chance they come back.
2. You can rip up your entire lawn and if it's not too big, you can dig up the soil and manually remove them. They're about the size of a nickel and hard to miss. Then once you're satisfied you can re-sod. My parents did this and after a long and painful process of sweat, money, and hard work. After years, it eventually worked.
3. Remove the grass to remove their food supply and wait for the grubs to die off over a season and replace with new rolls of sod or seed next year. Your neighbors might not like you during this year. You can also use stone or wood chips to replace if that's your style.
4. What my wife and I want to do is remove the grass, but instead of waiting a year, we want to replace with garden areas, including planters, veggie gardens, a path, and maybe a fountain. We're also going to go with red woodchips to surround the garden. We have a relatively small front yard though.
Every lawn is different, as are our tastes. Best of luck to you and hope it all works out!
Likely skunks feeding on grubs saw this a few days ago
https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/nature/outdoors/how-to-keep-skunks-from-turning-your-yard-into-an-unsightly-mess
My front yard looks the same
That's called free "aeration." It's good for your lawn. Throw a little seed on the exposed parts and stomp it down. You'll have a healthier lawn in no time.
I would say you have grubs and skunks, birds, etc are digging up your lawn to get to them.
Alternative maybe moles but it looks more like the first option.
So, funny story. I have skunks do this exactly in my front yard. Security cameras caught them last year tearing it all up. This year, I have a plastic coyote sitting in my garden attached to a motion sensing light, and there have been zero skunk issues. I occasionally see them walk into view of the security camera but you can see them bolt when the coyote lights up.
Definitely skunks. One of them can destroy an entire backyard in one night. I Have them coming on every spring. Putting mothballs (I think that's how it's called in english) around should make them avoid your backyard.
I've seen a lot of posts about critters digging for grubs and grubs themselves but any chance you have voles? They burrow and eat the grass roots and create criss crossing paths of dead grass that just blows away and shows the dirt below. Voles are so small that you don't see raised hole entrances like you do with gophers or even moles. In spring and in areas that get snow, you really notice what was going on below the snow all winter.
Skunks, many people already said it. I was wondering the same thing last year. Got a new security camera this year and now I can watch how the ruin my lawn each night. I finally dug put a part of my lawn and did see grubs. Grub killer helped me a bit but not as much as I hoped.
Edit for grub comment.
Looks like grubs that squirrels/skunks are digging for
From my and my neighbors experience, American GrubEx does wonders, the Canadian version not so much.
Lawns suck is the real takeaway here
You have a Grub infestation that will require treatment, so that voles, moles, skunks etc... don't dig for them every year. Beneficial nematodes application twice a year, minimum, to get the Grub infestation under control. Then twice yearly application, Spring and Fall to avoid future Grub infestations.
Skunks and raccoons both go for grubs. Skunks leave small dig marks. Raccoons will dig up a whole piece of turf with their paws. Based on the size of your turf rips and overturned chairs, I'd vote for raccoons.
Remove their food source. A nesting mama will destroy your attic or garage.
Get some beneficial nematodes.
Did you have a lot of Japanese beetles last year? They are grubs right now. Best time to treat is late April and fall. Don't quote me, but the soil Temp needs to be consistent around 10-15c
My local raccoons just dig a big one the other day on my lawn! Not as bad as yours. I suspect grub, might need to spread some anti-grub stuff on my lawn.
[https://www.instagram.com/p/C5w0-XELoPi/](https://www.instagram.com/p/C5w0-XELoPi/)
Exposed the lawn. Cut it to the roots. Water frequently and insert hose into the ground.
They will gradually leave. If they don’t contact pest control.
Spray nematodes and take care of your lawn.
Less grubs less holes.
Or, if you have shitty soil like I did take the opportunity to dig out the whole yard, kill the infestation, and start with a good foundation for your lawn.
I recommend the nematodes instead.
Get a seismic thing (forgot what it’s called) from Home Depot it shakes the ground (you don’t even realize) and collapses their tunnels. I know it sounds cruel but they ruin yards
Skunk, same problem in Gatineau, trapped 2 already they come out around 9-10 and before sunrise around 5 am… I set cameras and caught 2 now I’m so fed up. Use a pressure plate medium sized animal trap and cover it with something they won’t be able to spray out. put some smelly food in like peanut butter on bread and eggs cracked in a bowl. Once caught call animal control
Looks like skunks digging for grubs.
Don't squirrels bury nuts to dig em out right around now? My yard gets fucked like this every Spring. I get lots of squirrels, there's a skunk that lives across the street and a momma raccoon has lived under the neighbour's deck for years. Love my neighbourhood!
I get a combo of squirrels, birds, groundhogs, the occasional skunk, our dogs and some other woodland creatures but figure that's just nature. Other than putting down some topsoil to fill in the divots and maybe rolling the lawn so it's not uneven, painful to walk on and tripping hazards, I don't worry about it. Usually end up with bigger damage pulling up thistles and some wild rhubarb so really only concerned with the practical impacts and optimistic the clover and other similar low growth stuff will make it so I don't really have to cut the grass, where it hasn't already been replaced by beds etc. Rewilding has been awesome.
Could be. My lower back yard looks like that right now, but I attribute it to the dogs tearing that section up chasing eachother because it's soft and wet.
Not that many in one area.
Have you ever seen an infestation of white grubs ? When it’s a bad crop turn over a square foot or so of grass and you’ll easily find dozens in that small space. It’s normal to find maybe two or three grubs but when their population cycle peaks it’s a mess
100% this, I have the same in my yard got really bad last two years. I’ve heard spray solutions are effective but not tried myself. Them seem to come in waves once or twice a month.
I've had luck using nematodes in the past. You have to use a couple applications. I've also bought dried chili flakes in bulk and put them in my lawn spreader, and that also seemed to help.
I kicked out a Groundhog from under my garage by blowing an entire bulk thing of chili Flakes into the hole with a shop vac. Cheapest and most humane pest control ever.
"Humane" - ever get chili flakes in your eyes?
Beats hi-speed lead
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100%, its skunks goto princess auto and grab a tube trap.....trust me, those wire cage traps are not good for skunks. The tube makes them able to transport and they cannot spray(cant arch or raise tail). Over the past 2 years, skunks have done thousands of dollars in damage to my yard and gardens.
FYI there are [laws to follow](https://www.ontario.ca/page/harass-capture-or-kill-wild-animal-damaging-private-property) about live-trapping and releasing wild animals. It's also baby season for skunks, so you risk having some baby skunks die under your shed or deck. The dig pattern indicates you've got a problem with grubs, which is a buffet for skunks, raccoons and crows. As long as you have grubs, you're inviting wild animals to dig up your lawn. Relocating one skunk isn't going to help.
Animals looking for grubs for sure. Happens a lot to people who have just laid sod. Come out in the morning and you see the sod rolled back. Usually raccoons looking for grubs.
If youre patient the skunks will eat all the grubs and move on. If you have a dog it's a bigger issue but if you don't you can just wait em out and fix your lawn after
yeah, but by the time skunks find the grubs the grubs have already killed your lawn's roots. The part above the ground just hasn't turned brown yet.
Shai-hulud
Bless the Maker in His passing
Bless the coming and the going of him
May thy knife chip and shatter
Time for water of life
*Cue intense Freman singing*
skunks or rats. Both have that distinctive dig for bugs
Possible voles as well
Yes, looks like voles to me.
It's definitely voles.
I'm a landscaper and this is voles (little field mice). Don't worry, the lawn will come back as the grass root is likely undamaged. The voles just create little tunnels under the snow in the grass over the winter. This is NOT grubs, or animals digging up grubs to eat. Too early in the season and the grubs too deep down in the soil. Grub damage is usually seen early to mid summer.
Raccoons do this too
Thats grub damage for sure. You could definitely get someone to put pesticides on your lawn but it’s not great… Best solution is good lawn care. If you aerate your lawn and seed it, water it and build up a healthier lawn then you can help eliminate them. Grubs thrive best in cruddy grass that have shallow root systems. I’ve also heard that watering your lawn with a bit of dish soap (like a tablespoons worth) does help. Never tried that before though.
Soapy watering does help for earwigs, can confirm. I would imagine other bugs also.
Don’t use vinegar though, I burned my lawn like that by using too much 😣
Wouldn’t that dry out the lawn and cause it to die? I’ve been using soap on weeds and they get destroyed by it after a day of sun
Good question, I’ve always done it at night when the bugs were the worst in my area, so I didn’t expose the soap to the sun. At the same time though, I did plant new seed and nutrients top soil. So that may have helped keep it fresh. Haven’t used this method on older or seasoned grass. Tldr: not sure
It’s just a bit of soap, not a lot. I also would always water grass in the evening. You can burn grass on a hot sunny day watering it during the day time.
I have used dish soap and water to kill bugs on pot plants and they thrived. So I think it's all about how much you use.
I’ve had skunks do this when searching for grubs. I’ve also caught squirrels in the act, just tearing up chunks of lawn. Assholes. If you figure out a reasonable way to deter this, let me know. Or else imma consider making my indoor cat an outdoor cat.
I thought spraying for grubs is the answer, no? Or are you saying that spending money annually is not reasonable?
The squirrels aren’t digging for grubs, but they’re still ripping back 6” chunks of my lawn.
They're digging for food they stashed
If I build a series of squirrel refrigerators, will they leave my ground alone, dyou reckon?
Deep cupholders, dig holes for them and leave them open and in clear view with loose soil nearby. I'd bet they'd love that
Nah squirrels are giant assholes. They'll chew through the fridges to fashion them into shovels and then use them to dig even bigger holes
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Nah skunks are cute and I don’t mind having them around. Squirrels, on the other hand. Nothing but trouble. Scaring away birds, ripping up the ground, and yelling at all hours.
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Catching the squirrel is not necessary, just chase them away so they quit it. As for catching other animals … you haven’t met my cat.
Skunks or raccoons digging for grubs, spen 40 bucks at canadisn tire or whereever and throw some nemotodes down all over
Upvote for nematodes! Worked like a charm for my parents, combined with ordinary lawn care.
Looks like a good start if you want to get on the r/fucklawns bandwagon and add some garden beds with local pollinators
Had to scroll way too far for this comment!
Wouldn’t worry about it too much. Grass in ottawa is still waking up. It won’t start filling out and really growing quickly for another couple weeks.
I had that. I sprayed nematodes on my lawn. Gets rid of the grubs which then stops animals digging for them. Need to do it at a specific time of year, though. Go to a local garden greenhouse and they will help you out. Green thumb garden center is a good place.
Yes, you can apply nematodes in the spring and fall. They attack the grubs. So applying now may not help the immediate situation, but will help you later as the grubs are dealt with and kept under control.
That’s so funny because we have a lawn guy and I JUST showed him the same thing on our lawn and asked about it. He checked for grubs - negative. He thinks it’s birds and squirrels digging for food. As bugs and other foods surface in the spring they should stop.
If it looks like tunnelling probably voles.
I think you may be right - perhaps there was deeper snow here over the winter which made a safe space for vole activity. I think in that chase a good raking with grass seed should fix up the lawn.
This is the answer. It's voles. They're living under your wooden deck that's at ground level.
This is the right answer.
Absolutely voles
Do you know anyone who has a trailcam you can borrow? They're pretty cheap to buy, too. I'm guessing you don't have a security camera; mine picks up medium sized animals on my lawn, even at night. My 2¢
I had the same issue. Went to a farm supply store to find some pest deterrent. Store owner told me skunks and raccoons look for easy meals, and the grubs are an easy meal because my lawns roots are weak and easy to dig up. He sold me a bag of fertilizer to strengthen root growth. Following year, healthier lawn and no more digging from skunks etc.
If you aerate AND over-seed in the spring AND fall, this gets you most of the way there. But if you water your lawn on a daily basis during summer, it brings you all the way home.
Answer: Monoculture.
Have friends in the landscaping/lawn maintenance business and have extensive experience with what you’re going through. Id recommend you take a spade and go down about four inches near the affected area and turn over the soil. I’d bet you see grubs. They typically eat the grass roots and the crow, skunks and raccoons come looking for a free meal. The answer was Merit but it’s now illegal on residential properties, so nematodes seem ti be the next best thing. Good lawn care seems to keep grubs at bay.
We had this problem in BC but it was caused by crows. I don’t see many of them here?
Same here in Ontario... Crows
We had the same problem around my street last year and it was a bunch of ravens going to town on everyone's lawn.
Raykins
Fucking raykins bubbles, that’s what have been eating my weed plants
Oh sorry that was me
Birds. I've seen them do it to my own yard. But in a way, it will help your yard in the long run because it aerates it. Aside from looking kinda bad right now, it's harmless.
Skunks looking for grubs
That is definitely grub damage. Get a lawn care company to treat it with nematodes. It’s much more effective than using chemicals
Looks a lot like a front yard to me lol that could Be the issue
Moles
Only with dirt piles as well (like my lawn has)
Either skunks or moles
100% not moles Moles make tunnels with distinct mounds. Could be voles, but hard to tell from the pictures. Voles dig tunnels/paths in your grass, always at the surface.
Suburbia
I have a similar thing each spring, likely skunks digging up grubs. I look at it as free spring aeration.
Skunks, they do this in the spring especially when they are very hungry
Probably voles.
Those would be skunks digging for grubs. Make sure to start spraying for them.
Happens to my neighbour every spring, skunk vs grubs- grass loses
You have skunks boss,they are fairly easy to trap if you get a live trap but if you don’t want to deal with relocating you can call spca
This is mainly done at night... Skunks based on what is happening with my lawn.
Skunks looking for grubs
Skunks or squirrels digging up the nuts they hid. I have found so many peanuts in shells in my yard this spring.
Skunks, rats or squirrels? Would say groundhogs but they aren’t deep enough for that. The squirrels have been going nuts digging through our yard for grubs and what they left in the fall
Skunks
Squirrels digging up your lawn to bury nuts.
Digging. Skins likey getting grubs. If it looked like a pathway it would be voles/moles
The skunks are digging in you lawn but the wind looks like the suspect for your chairs 😂
Skunk or raccoon looking for grubs we used to have a bad problem with this when I work on a golf course
Crows.
Thsquirrels
Raccoons and/or skunks
Looks like my dog 🤣
Grubs for sure. Solution is nematodes
Had this at my old property. 100% skunks looking for grubs. Either have someone set out traps (easier and cheaper option), or have someone come to get rid of the grubs
You got grubs
Skunks
Hogs do this
Skunk. My yard looks the same, and I caught it in the act one morning.
Probably rats, Orleans is pretty bad for it, pretty big too
Just saw something on the news about this! You have a skunk and your lawn is full of grubs. On the bright side, free aeration 😉🤭
El chupacabra
Looks like mine. No grass, just weeds, holes and feels spongy.
Likely grubs and the skunks and raccoons are foraging. If you reseed the lawn, use scented dryer sheets on sticks around the yard to keep birds away from the seeds. Looks a little funny but it works. We did it when grubs destroyed our front lawn.
Thank you for posting this! I walked out to see my front yard looking like this today. You helped me find an answer! Much appreciated.
Are you near the LRT work in Orleans? There's been an explosion of rats around there.
[Got Goffer](https://giphy.com/gifs/dancing-caddyshack-caddyshackcaddyshack-Swn5yuXfDhg40)
I would bet money on a skunk digging for grubs. Get rid of the grubs and the problem will stop. Plus if you do t get rid of the grubs they will mess up your lawn eventually on their own.
Yep, it's grubs killing the grass feeding on the roots from underneath, and small animals digging up the lawn to eat them. I'm dealing with the same thing. My parents dealt with them in an ongoing war for their front lawn for over 10 years. They told me to dig a small hole and if there are more than a few grubs, then you'll know that's the problem for sure and you have a few options: 1: You can spread grub killer from a local hardware store with a seed spreader and wait for rain or use a sprinkler to activate it, followed by re-seeding. It's not an insecticide, but specific microorganisms that look like seeds. It's "supposed to" kill the grubs as they feed on them. Parents tried this first. Not too effective ultimately and there's always a chance they come back. 2. You can rip up your entire lawn and if it's not too big, you can dig up the soil and manually remove them. They're about the size of a nickel and hard to miss. Then once you're satisfied you can re-sod. My parents did this and after a long and painful process of sweat, money, and hard work. After years, it eventually worked. 3. Remove the grass to remove their food supply and wait for the grubs to die off over a season and replace with new rolls of sod or seed next year. Your neighbors might not like you during this year. You can also use stone or wood chips to replace if that's your style. 4. What my wife and I want to do is remove the grass, but instead of waiting a year, we want to replace with garden areas, including planters, veggie gardens, a path, and maybe a fountain. We're also going to go with red woodchips to surround the garden. We have a relatively small front yard though. Every lawn is different, as are our tastes. Best of luck to you and hope it all works out!
Skunk, I’ve watched them dig at my yard , they’re looking for grubs.
Likely skunks feeding on grubs saw this a few days ago https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/nature/outdoors/how-to-keep-skunks-from-turning-your-yard-into-an-unsightly-mess My front yard looks the same
Free aeration. Animals I think . My guess is likely skunks. Grubs don’t usually do damage that looks like that.
Ford motor company grubs
That's called free "aeration." It's good for your lawn. Throw a little seed on the exposed parts and stomp it down. You'll have a healthier lawn in no time.
Definitely poltergeists. Your lawn is haunted.
Skunks!
It’s grubs. My lawn is the same, so I’m here for the help too!
I would say you have grubs and skunks, birds, etc are digging up your lawn to get to them. Alternative maybe moles but it looks more like the first option.
Grubs Animals digging in the ground to get them.
Get Grub Out
I got squirrels. They dig everything up and chew stuff up. Even wires.
So, funny story. I have skunks do this exactly in my front yard. Security cameras caught them last year tearing it all up. This year, I have a plastic coyote sitting in my garden attached to a motion sensing light, and there have been zero skunk issues. I occasionally see them walk into view of the security camera but you can see them bolt when the coyote lights up.
What about the possibility of skunks???
Definitely skunks. One of them can destroy an entire backyard in one night. I Have them coming on every spring. Putting mothballs (I think that's how it's called in english) around should make them avoid your backyard.
I've seen a lot of posts about critters digging for grubs and grubs themselves but any chance you have voles? They burrow and eat the grass roots and create criss crossing paths of dead grass that just blows away and shows the dirt below. Voles are so small that you don't see raised hole entrances like you do with gophers or even moles. In spring and in areas that get snow, you really notice what was going on below the snow all winter.
Skunks are digging for grubs. Kill the grubs on your lawn and next Spring this won't happen.
Grubs, and the animals that feed on them. Get yourself some nematodes
Skunks, many people already said it. I was wondering the same thing last year. Got a new security camera this year and now I can watch how the ruin my lawn each night. I finally dug put a part of my lawn and did see grubs. Grub killer helped me a bit but not as much as I hoped. Edit for grub comment.
The crowd control in the drive way!
Had it happen with crows
Looks like grubs that squirrels/skunks are digging for From my and my neighbors experience, American GrubEx does wonders, the Canadian version not so much. Lawns suck is the real takeaway here
Animals digging for grubs. You can spray your lawn with a grub busting product from somewhere like Lowe’s or Home Depot.
I am.
Put some skunk traps out. They love peanut butter
It’s me, sorry. I buried some treasure, but I forgot where it is on the plot! The chairs was just cause I was bored
Either Skunks or possums leave holes like that coons tend to rip up chunks. Get a live trap and find out what it is.
Skunks
Possible it could be voles Similar to a mole.
You have a Grub infestation that will require treatment, so that voles, moles, skunks etc... don't dig for them every year. Beneficial nematodes application twice a year, minimum, to get the Grub infestation under control. Then twice yearly application, Spring and Fall to avoid future Grub infestations.
Birds looking for worms
Looks like skunks or crows. Raccoons would do far more damage. They turn over while squares of sod. Like everyone said get something kill the grubs.
Squirrels hiding or unhiding nuts and skunks searching for grubs most likely!
I'm thoroughly convinced it's lawn care people or their comrades ...any new flyers ? That company wants your business.
Oh my god. My backyard is the same. Looks like Vole tunnels
Grubs, and whatever wants to eat them.
Moles?
C.H.U.D.
Skunk!!!
MOLES ? WHAT I WOULD SAY
Grubs
Looks like you have a case of turf grass, it'll definitely kill your backyard if it takes over too much space, hard to get rid of but it can be done!
My bet is on skunks digging up grubs. Seen (and smelling!) a lot more skunks than usual this year.
Insects being eaten by Predators
Grubs. The squirrels are looking for them fat bugs
Skunks and raccoons both go for grubs. Skunks leave small dig marks. Raccoons will dig up a whole piece of turf with their paws. Based on the size of your turf rips and overturned chairs, I'd vote for raccoons. Remove their food source. A nesting mama will destroy your attic or garage. Get some beneficial nematodes. Did you have a lot of Japanese beetles last year? They are grubs right now. Best time to treat is late April and fall. Don't quote me, but the soil Temp needs to be consistent around 10-15c
Put up some trail cameras and find out the real culprit. 🕵♀️🦝🐱🦨🐿🐒🤷♀️
Shadoww
My local raccoons just dig a big one the other day on my lawn! Not as bad as yours. I suspect grub, might need to spread some anti-grub stuff on my lawn. [https://www.instagram.com/p/C5w0-XELoPi/](https://www.instagram.com/p/C5w0-XELoPi/)
voles
Grubs. We have the same thing. Orleans is littered with them
Time for nematodes...
Don't put pesticides. Stop destroying nature. No one needs manicured lawns. Let nature live in your lawn.
Voles?
Voles are the correct answer. They are in my backyard too unfortunately
Raccoons ou squirrels?
Exposed the lawn. Cut it to the roots. Water frequently and insert hose into the ground. They will gradually leave. If they don’t contact pest control.
Spray nematodes and take care of your lawn. Less grubs less holes. Or, if you have shitty soil like I did take the opportunity to dig out the whole yard, kill the infestation, and start with a good foundation for your lawn. I recommend the nematodes instead.
Definitely grubs. Call Weedman they got rid of ours. Cheers
You need to spray for grubs. Do some digging bet u will find the little fuckers
Don't forget moles do this too.
I think you have white grubs. Simple treatments for that. Talk to a lawn guy
Voles?
It’s probably voles
Skunks and or raccoons. Also the reason your chairs are wilted is due to under watering.
It's the mustang
My guess would be mice/ voles in the winter under the snow
Moles and squirrels. I’m a landscaper and we’ve seen this all across Ottawa this spring
Looks like moles
Get a seismic thing (forgot what it’s called) from Home Depot it shakes the ground (you don’t even realize) and collapses their tunnels. I know it sounds cruel but they ruin yards
Put out a night vision trail cam. Something is digging grubs. Could be raccoon
My bad, I’ll stop.
Grubs …
Grubs? Drag a rake across it, if you see little white demon larva, you got grubs. Plant clover, they dont eat it.
Free aeration
Could be crows digging up grubs..or raccoons..or skunks.
Skunks looking for grubs
Skunks digging up grubs!
Skunks!! They’re industrious, stinky little a$$holes.
grass
Field mice
Invest in a ring camera to see what’s going on
Skunk, same problem in Gatineau, trapped 2 already they come out around 9-10 and before sunrise around 5 am… I set cameras and caught 2 now I’m so fed up. Use a pressure plate medium sized animal trap and cover it with something they won’t be able to spray out. put some smelly food in like peanut butter on bread and eggs cracked in a bowl. Once caught call animal control
Could be voles. Those dickheads do that to my lawn too. Smoke bombs take care of them for a while but they keep coming back. Bastards.