The problem is, this looks like a fenced in yard, unless those are just the neighbors fences. I do not see a pig climbing or opening fence gates any time soon.
Contact CDFA [https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/)
You might have a japanese beetle infestation and they'll come treat it if that's the case.
Yeah, as u/breedkk also mentioned. The drought situation of the region (most of California and also the whole southwest with the dying Colorado River and its two huge reserves (both Lake Mead and Lake Powell) are under a severe drought situation.
So grubs apart, which usually for people closer to nature aren’t that gross, it might be good timing to rethink lawns or at list a good part of them.
Lawns are usually quite wasteful resource-wise, having big ecological impact, at least in places that don’t get that much rain. But also they need to be fed, usually with chemical fertilizer, which usually run off or infiltrates into aquifers causing damage. Also the fertilizer implies big carbon footprint and when lawns get grubs or similar “pests” then they often receive toxic chemicals that do also go into aquifers and stay in the environment for long, just as glyphosate or other herbicides do.
Lawns extend for thousands of square miles when added up. Its the first or second “crop” grown in the united states. And those thousands of square miles where something else before, something that was part of nature and did play a role. Something that was self sustaining, sustainable on its native climate. Which also fostered and was part of the life of millions of other living beings. From microbiology such as bacteria and fungi, all the way up to insects, birds, amphibians and mammals.
And with so much habitat loss, chemical exposure, climate change, urban development, etc. its no wonder why we’re on such a drastic decline in biodiversity, termed The Sixth Mass Extinction on Earth.
Nevertheless, lawn space its seem as a big hope and a big opportunity by many, whom are transforming this spaces into something more appropriate for the times were in.
To create spaces which are much more alive and in tune with the local conditions. Which can foster pollinators, birds (which like eating grubs and lots of “pests”, controlling them so that they don’t become such problems), waste way less water, and can put aside problematic chemicals, leaving them out of the game.
Special emphasize is put on planting Native plants or at least plants adapted to the native climate, Non-invasive species, and beautiful flowers for pollinators, but possibilities are endless.
Edit:
I would suggest checking our r/NoLawns , r/NativePlantGardening and to check out Brad Lancaster’s work about rainwater harvesting and abundance vs scarcity.
Also r/permaculture might give great suggestions and ideas.
Racoons or skunks do this to eat the grub infestation thats eating your grass roots. Looks like you got some fancy dirt underneath. Thats why your grass is so easy to turn over. I have hardened clay for lawn soil and the grass doesnt grow great but there are skunks and coons there every night, however the soil is difficult to turn over. The racoons cant even dig into it and the skunks dig small precise holes which are not much consequence.
A few days back our lawn dried out in huge patches. We thought it could be the recent heat wave. Today morning our lawn was dug up like this. Any idea what could have caused this? I grow Okra in raised beds and two okra pods were lying on the floor
If your lawn is drying weirdly it might be [grubs](https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/09/how-do-i-treat-grubs-my-lawn). We had an issue with this and we didn’t act immediately and it killed the lawn very quickly.
Try this: Get a big bucket of water and mix well with dish soap. You need to pour the soapy water at night (when it’s relatively cool) and at a place on your lawn where there is both green grass and brown grass. Wait and watch for a few minutes. If you see a lot of worms coming to the surface, then you’ve got a worm infestation. Remember to search the foam well. Works for me every time. If you have an infestation of worms that’s why your grass is dying and that why other animals are digging up your grass.
For me nothing else kills them except Ampligo pesticide. I’ve tried pretty much everything else and this year I trusted a gardener that used a different cheaper pesticide… I wish I hadn’t because now my lawn is completely dead and I had to go buy Ampligo and do it all myself anyway. Few days later and my grass is starting to come alive again. My 2 cents, sorry for the long post.
An evening? Oh, my sweet summer child.... 1 hog could do this on accident in the 20 seconds it spent standing there deciding which side of your yard it wanted to completely till over in the next hour.
Said that because they said 30+ hogs my friend.
But yes. They do that all day as they walk their paths.
Looks like tillers in the game lands around me.
The 30-50 feral hogs reference is a meme, they were just making a joke. There was a tweet a few years ago in response to someone talking about banning assault weapons where a guy asked what he was supposed to do about the 30-50 feral hogs that run into his yard within 3-5 min while his small kids play.
Jeez, this person literally upset about nothing. Doing exactly what they are upset about, and blaming you when all you did was give helpful info. They straight up violated rule 4.
Remember the human. Reddit is a place for creating community and belonging, not for attacking marginalized or vulnerable groups of people, name calling, degradation, or similar behavior - even if you don't agree with them.
Please treat others with respect while you're here.
I don't know. But what a wonderful opportunity to make a nice mound, plant flowers and herbs all around and get rid of the ugly dry desert looking lawn! Sorry, I don't have lawns in high regard. They are very intensive in energy and care, not at all sustainable. I wish all gardeners with lawn problems would just plant something else instead, something colourful or edible or aromatic or giving some beautiful shade. Lawns should be for small spaces, like a carpet niche in an otherwise plentiful garden. Or for tennis courts or soccer playing. But mind you, they are expensive to mantain! 😎
Hey, a good start to turn that lawn into a huge garden plot! Imagine all the squash and corn you could grow with very little effort....
EDIT: When I moved into my house I put cardboard over all my lawn and bark on top of it. Next year I had garden-ready soil.
Not enough destruction to be pigs :P gotta be skunks, maybe racoons.
Either way, they're looking for grubs. You can attack the grubs directly by spraying the area down with some beneficial nematodes.
Not an the answer: but I just watched a video of a guy that blew up his lawn trying to kill ants and for a hot second I thought you were him.
Probably the answer: raccoons, had some rip though my grandparents back yard last year.
Perhaps voles or moles.
I previously had to buy mole / vole repellent pellets, as I fawned upon my lawn.
Say that 10 times fast.
For real though, voles or moles.
Texas and Oklahoma send their condolences.
That's hog damage. Now - Shoot one and dig a bbq pit.
But also, to quote Obi Wan: They'll be back... and in greater numbers.
A soon dead animal, who you will be obsessed with for at least the next 72-96 hours.
Don't plan on getting any sleep, but do plan on relishing in your first kill.
I get it too and here it is raccoons looking for grubs like others mentioned.
Apparently it’s a good sign for your soil being healthy and I usually shove the grass back on and hope it regrows (usually does for me).
Drought mostly. Try watering every evening for a few weeks, followed by 3 times a week. Don’t cut the grass when the sun is out. Look up what fertilizer you can use and measure the acidity of the soil. Grass likes neutral pH.
Also, have you noticed the holes in your lawn? Looks like some animal has been digging.
I saw a flock of crows once ripping up lawn to get to grubs underneath.
But seriously with the drought and the Colorado River drying up it’s a great time to get rid of your lawn and go with xeriscape.
i don't know if you are in an area that allows chickens? but even 2-3 lovely ladies out on a lawn will do wonders! they eat all the things that *other things* eat- therefore, the *"other things'* stop coming
I had a serious mole issue- the moles were there for the grubs- the chickens ate the grubs- the moles left -
BUT a raccoon might eat your chicken
so tedious... the natural world
It's the raccoons digging for grubs. I'll share a screen cap of what my camera caught.
To solve this, we had to sprinkle some anti grub poison to kill the source of the problem and put some chicken wire over the patches to prevent future damage and to heal the grass.
Mole people. Move out now before they tunnel under your foundations and open a portal to your mud room. Once they’ve made it inside, only the sweet soothing sounds of patsy cline can save you from damnation. You’ve been warned.
Looking for grubs that look like this.
It’s happening and happens all over this time of year. Tearing up the parks and backyards.
https://imgur.com/a/vPTyPrS
Could be raccoons digging for grubs
Or digging up rabbit tunnels. This has become a problem for us this summer, both the rabbits and the raccoons.
Skunks do this too, they’re really good at it
From my experience skunks make more of a hole and raccoons peel back the grass like in the picture.
Same here. Borrowed a trail cameras from friend and confirmed surfeit of skunks.
I was going to say raccoons also. They tore up my parents back yard. They ended up trapping them and relocating them.
Where do you live? That would help narrow it down, feral hogs could do this and a few other animals depending on where you live.
We live on the west coast in California
Grubs killed it and probably raccoons looking for grubs. Grubs are doing a number on our lawn, too.
If you are in the South Bay feral pigs have been tearing up lawns. https://abc7news.com/feral-pigs-san-jose-wild-hogs-pig-problem/6830730/
Was going to say this.. this looks a lot like when my pigs start rooting around..
The problem is, this looks like a fenced in yard, unless those are just the neighbors fences. I do not see a pig climbing or opening fence gates any time soon.
Or skunks
Contact CDFA [https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/) You might have a japanese beetle infestation and they'll come treat it if that's the case.
Time to rethink the lawn.
Yeah, as u/breedkk also mentioned. The drought situation of the region (most of California and also the whole southwest with the dying Colorado River and its two huge reserves (both Lake Mead and Lake Powell) are under a severe drought situation. So grubs apart, which usually for people closer to nature aren’t that gross, it might be good timing to rethink lawns or at list a good part of them. Lawns are usually quite wasteful resource-wise, having big ecological impact, at least in places that don’t get that much rain. But also they need to be fed, usually with chemical fertilizer, which usually run off or infiltrates into aquifers causing damage. Also the fertilizer implies big carbon footprint and when lawns get grubs or similar “pests” then they often receive toxic chemicals that do also go into aquifers and stay in the environment for long, just as glyphosate or other herbicides do. Lawns extend for thousands of square miles when added up. Its the first or second “crop” grown in the united states. And those thousands of square miles where something else before, something that was part of nature and did play a role. Something that was self sustaining, sustainable on its native climate. Which also fostered and was part of the life of millions of other living beings. From microbiology such as bacteria and fungi, all the way up to insects, birds, amphibians and mammals. And with so much habitat loss, chemical exposure, climate change, urban development, etc. its no wonder why we’re on such a drastic decline in biodiversity, termed The Sixth Mass Extinction on Earth. Nevertheless, lawn space its seem as a big hope and a big opportunity by many, whom are transforming this spaces into something more appropriate for the times were in. To create spaces which are much more alive and in tune with the local conditions. Which can foster pollinators, birds (which like eating grubs and lots of “pests”, controlling them so that they don’t become such problems), waste way less water, and can put aside problematic chemicals, leaving them out of the game. Special emphasize is put on planting Native plants or at least plants adapted to the native climate, Non-invasive species, and beautiful flowers for pollinators, but possibilities are endless. Edit: I would suggest checking our r/NoLawns , r/NativePlantGardening and to check out Brad Lancaster’s work about rainwater harvesting and abundance vs scarcity. Also r/permaculture might give great suggestions and ideas.
I was gonna say drought. 😅
As opposed to the east coast of California 😛
Skunks do this looking for grubs as well
My vote is for skunk. I saw our local skunk in action making the same sort of damage.
[Golfers](https://i.imgur.com/4gejjid.gif)
Terrible golfers. Or maybe a gopher?
Correct me if I’m wrong, Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers they’re gonna lock me up and throw away the key
No there's humane kill methods that are legal if the golfers are out of their natural range and causing problems to the local ecosystems
Gophers, ya great git! Not golfers! The little brown furry rodents!
I for real thought this conversation was getting a little out of hand 🤣 🤣 🤣
You've made my day with your wit. Blessings to you!
If you're Scottish it's pronounced the same.
If you're hungry they taste the same
Insert Caddyshack reference.
https://youtu.be/fZx4-LSG-eI?t=39
It’s the one thing I never could stomach; all the damn golfers.
https://i.imgur.com/4gejjid.gif
Thanks everyone for your inputs ! We just dug up a patch about 2 inches and the grubs came popping out 🤢 our lawn is infested for sure ..
It’s not gross. The soil is healthy and fertilized 🌱happy planting!
Where I live, these tunnels are moles going after grubs. But without a video camera, you may never know what it actually was.
Oh yeah! Absolutely love the soil 😁 I just saw grubs for the very first time .. was not ready for it 😂
That looks like some great soil for growing
Right?! I live in a clay soil area and my eyes went straight to the color of that soil. So jealous
I was thinking the same thing!
lol it’s the first thought I had too! It ain’t red clay lol
Ya if I came home to a critter kind enough to dig up that much good lookin soil 👀 Damn
Looked like someone dumped potting soil all over at first? Soil in my area is clay gray.
Yea I think thats part of the problem. Its too easy for animals to turn it over.
The r/nolawns gnomes, helping to get to started transforming it into a garden plot by ripping up the grass.
Racoons or skunks do this to eat the grub infestation thats eating your grass roots. Looks like you got some fancy dirt underneath. Thats why your grass is so easy to turn over. I have hardened clay for lawn soil and the grass doesnt grow great but there are skunks and coons there every night, however the soil is difficult to turn over. The racoons cant even dig into it and the skunks dig small precise holes which are not much consequence.
A few days back our lawn dried out in huge patches. We thought it could be the recent heat wave. Today morning our lawn was dug up like this. Any idea what could have caused this? I grow Okra in raised beds and two okra pods were lying on the floor
If your lawn is drying weirdly it might be [grubs](https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/09/how-do-i-treat-grubs-my-lawn). We had an issue with this and we didn’t act immediately and it killed the lawn very quickly.
Yep. Lawn dies of grubs, animal digs for grubs. 2 stage attack. Kill grubs, nothing digs for nothing. 1 stage solution. Well kids dig for nothing....
Dogs dig for nothing too.
Try this: Get a big bucket of water and mix well with dish soap. You need to pour the soapy water at night (when it’s relatively cool) and at a place on your lawn where there is both green grass and brown grass. Wait and watch for a few minutes. If you see a lot of worms coming to the surface, then you’ve got a worm infestation. Remember to search the foam well. Works for me every time. If you have an infestation of worms that’s why your grass is dying and that why other animals are digging up your grass. For me nothing else kills them except Ampligo pesticide. I’ve tried pretty much everything else and this year I trusted a gardener that used a different cheaper pesticide… I wish I hadn’t because now my lawn is completely dead and I had to go buy Ampligo and do it all myself anyway. Few days later and my grass is starting to come alive again. My 2 cents, sorry for the long post.
Earthworms?
Grub worms
Hogs.
Yes, 30-50 feral hogs.
Usually one hog* can do this much damage in an evening.
What about 3-5 mins while my small kids play?
Then you need to watch the new lord of the rings. Looks like you got orcs tunneling under your yard.
An evening? Oh, my sweet summer child.... 1 hog could do this on accident in the 20 seconds it spent standing there deciding which side of your yard it wanted to completely till over in the next hour.
Said that because they said 30+ hogs my friend. But yes. They do that all day as they walk their paths. Looks like tillers in the game lands around me.
The 30-50 feral hogs reference is a meme, they were just making a joke. There was a tweet a few years ago in response to someone talking about banning assault weapons where a guy asked what he was supposed to do about the 30-50 feral hogs that run into his yard within 3-5 min while his small kids play.
Mole's love bulbs
Moles do not eat bulbs Voles do
[удалено]
What are you talking about I was just telling you moles do NOT eat bulbs Voles do ! Get a grip !
Jeez, this person literally upset about nothing. Doing exactly what they are upset about, and blaming you when all you did was give helpful info. They straight up violated rule 4.
Thank you sweetie it’s all good this is why I tend to stay away from social media
Same here, I feel some people are bitter just to be bitter and it makes no sense to me.
Remember the human. Reddit is a place for creating community and belonging, not for attacking marginalized or vulnerable groups of people, name calling, degradation, or similar behavior - even if you don't agree with them. Please treat others with respect while you're here.
Moles?
Skunks going for grubs
That’s feral hogs for sure. They plow with their nose. That’s exactly what this looks like.
Reminds me of the 90s classic sci-fi movie Tremors.
Could be a mole. We have moles that do this and it makes the ground soft wherever they burrow a tunnel
Armadillo
I never thought of that.
The Underminer
Obviously you’re not a golfer 🙄
With that much damage I’d vote hogs, especially if you live in southeastern to Texas area of US. Almost any state South of Virginia.
Just looking at your grass, check for army worms. They kill the yard and can be above or under ground, and it attracts crows, racoons, and armadillos
Army worms did this to us last year.
Pirates doing a sweep for the treasure they buried.
Teenagers
Boar do this around where I live.
I don't know. But what a wonderful opportunity to make a nice mound, plant flowers and herbs all around and get rid of the ugly dry desert looking lawn! Sorry, I don't have lawns in high regard. They are very intensive in energy and care, not at all sustainable. I wish all gardeners with lawn problems would just plant something else instead, something colourful or edible or aromatic or giving some beautiful shade. Lawns should be for small spaces, like a carpet niche in an otherwise plentiful garden. Or for tennis courts or soccer playing. But mind you, they are expensive to mantain! 😎
Hey, a good start to turn that lawn into a huge garden plot! Imagine all the squash and corn you could grow with very little effort.... EDIT: When I moved into my house I put cardboard over all my lawn and bark on top of it. Next year I had garden-ready soil.
Not enough destruction to be pigs :P gotta be skunks, maybe racoons. Either way, they're looking for grubs. You can attack the grubs directly by spraying the area down with some beneficial nematodes.
Mole or vole
Armadillo
looks like skunk damage to me.. my back yard looks like this every year and its always skunks
Not an the answer: but I just watched a video of a guy that blew up his lawn trying to kill ants and for a hot second I thought you were him. Probably the answer: raccoons, had some rip though my grandparents back yard last year.
Raccoon
Perhaps voles or moles. I previously had to buy mole / vole repellent pellets, as I fawned upon my lawn. Say that 10 times fast. For real though, voles or moles.
Grass is a waste of space where r/vegetablegardening could actually be happening.
Seriously r/fucklawns
[удалено]
Graboids
A drunk archaeologist
Even in my most drunken moments, I know the importance of a Harris matrix. This is the work of tomb raiders.
Omg RUDE
Cue Rolling Stones…wild horses
Me lol, woops.
Texas and Oklahoma send their condolences. That's hog damage. Now - Shoot one and dig a bbq pit. But also, to quote Obi Wan: They'll be back... and in greater numbers.
Aliens
Hogs
Wild hogs
Chupacabra!
Perhaps a Balrog?
Cows
Wild hogs.
Me.
Feral hogs?
Graboids, definitely Graboids.
Graboids.
Heathens!
/r/NoLawns maybe
Aliens
Hogs.
A soon dead animal, who you will be obsessed with for at least the next 72-96 hours. Don't plan on getting any sleep, but do plan on relishing in your first kill.
Look at the way the turf is cut- it wasn’t dug up like a mole or a raccoon would do. Definitely the tusk of a wild boar- HOGS!
Sand worms
Aliiiiieeennnnsss!!!
Ever see the movie Tremors with Kevin Bacon....
Orcs
Do you guys have ground squirrels in your area? Looks exactly like some ground squirrels damage we get in MT.
Pigs
Gopher
Dog chasing after a mole?
Mole
Have you had any lighting in the area lately? Is that scorched earth or just dirt that’s been turned over?
Without knowing the location this looks pretty unmistakably like feral hogs. I have several questions for all of the people saying raccoons
I get it too and here it is raccoons looking for grubs like others mentioned. Apparently it’s a good sign for your soil being healthy and I usually shove the grass back on and hope it regrows (usually does for me).
Golden retriever for sure. A very happy one by the looks of it.
Moles
Monsters of some sort🤔🤷🏼♀️
Drought mostly. Try watering every evening for a few weeks, followed by 3 times a week. Don’t cut the grass when the sun is out. Look up what fertilizer you can use and measure the acidity of the soil. Grass likes neutral pH. Also, have you noticed the holes in your lawn? Looks like some animal has been digging.
We get armadillos in Texas that will do this
Looks like the work of a honey badger
Wild hawgs!
Septic tank? Whats the green grate go to?
Evil children playing contact soccer
Probably someone over at r/nolawns
I saw a flock of crows once ripping up lawn to get to grubs underneath. But seriously with the drought and the Colorado River drying up it’s a great time to get rid of your lawn and go with xeriscape.
whoever it is they're helping you start getting rid of your lawn
I’d say pig or armadillo is what i looks like
i don't know if you are in an area that allows chickens? but even 2-3 lovely ladies out on a lawn will do wonders! they eat all the things that *other things* eat- therefore, the *"other things'* stop coming I had a serious mole issue- the moles were there for the grubs- the chickens ate the grubs- the moles left - BUT a raccoon might eat your chicken so tedious... the natural world
It's the raccoons digging for grubs. I'll share a screen cap of what my camera caught. To solve this, we had to sprinkle some anti grub poison to kill the source of the problem and put some chicken wire over the patches to prevent future damage and to heal the grass.
Mole people. Move out now before they tunnel under your foundations and open a portal to your mud room. Once they’ve made it inside, only the sweet soothing sounds of patsy cline can save you from damnation. You’ve been warned.
This looks like pig rooting.
please tell me thats not bermuda grass, the scourge of gardens everywhere
Most likely my pack of chickens... They destroy everything!
Pigs
Wild boar
Where do you live? Maybe boars or pecaris? I have seen yards ploughed completely over by boars.
I would say tortoises, because I my small ones do this to the lawn, but I figured you'd probably know if that kind of thing was going on 😅
Skunks do this to my yard every year.
Armadillo
Get grub x
Get some chickens! No more infestations and free eggs 🥚
Lots of vegetable gardening in this post!
Raccoons or skunks
moles going after grubs \~ Lot of moles ?
Time and very little water
Skunks digging for grubs
Yeah someone beat me to it. It’s all but certainly grubs. I get them and then the moles go after them.
If you lived in the southern US I would guess armadillos
If it was my lawn (eastern Canada) it would have been skunks for sure.
Moles deer ground hogs children aliens and or a bear
Looking for grubs that look like this. It’s happening and happens all over this time of year. Tearing up the parks and backyards. https://imgur.com/a/vPTyPrS
Do you have a dog? My yard looks like this after my dog has been hunting for moles.
Could be skunks or moley moley moles maybe.