Any idea what's digging up in my back yard? (Photos included...)?

Question

I woke up this morning to a backyard that was all dug up. Just the turf was pulled back; no real holes were found.

I suspect a rodet was searching for grubs, so I laid down a bag of Grub-X, but am fearful the yard will still be subject to future nocturnal attacks.

Here's what my yard looks like: http://www.orlowski.com/yard/

I've seen ground hogs roaming around in the past, as well as stray cats. Some people suggest this is the work of skunks or deer, but I've never seen either ever.

Thanks.

Location: Western Pennsylvania.

Answer 1

same problem here, check out my question on the same subject;
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlpvtbxrzcAFr7bR8XzE3Gfsy6IX?qid=20060801225251AA8fioV
and though not as bad as yours, my close up pic:
http://static.flickr.com/64/204604494_54feaf0329_o.jpg

Definitely not groundhogs or cats. I don't see the holes going down or tunnels or tracks so that rules out moles and voles. http://snrs.unl.edu/vantassel/gardengrass.htm

I 99% believe that it is a group of skunks looking for grubs. The other option is squirrels burying nuts... examine the holes carefully, if there are nuts in there or not. It's horrible I know but not much you can do. Just fill in the holes with starter soil and put some new grass seed in & stomp it down & water. Depends on where you live but there may just be time left in the season if you live in the south.

check out these skunk damage pics, very similar to yours:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Resources/cropdamage/skunk_p35.htm
http://www.umass.edu/umext/ipm/pr/clips_archive/pests_conspire_to_ruin_your_yard.htm
http://snrs.unl.edu/vantassel/gardengrass.htm

you were right to put the grub killer out though it's unclear what effect it would have this late in the year.
here is a website for skunk repellent you can also find it in your local gardening/home &garden store
http://www.critter-repellent.com/skunk/skunk-repellant.php

P.S. I guess it could be a raccoon too, they can do a lot of damage. I only said skunk because I caught him in the act one night!

Answer 2

Mine looks the same again , it is an armadillo, we have had one problem after another with theses. The only thing we found is to shoot them. They come out about 9:00 to 10:00 P.M. and they are covered with armour on there backs, I tried hitting them with bats, poison, cages, caught a racoon but no armadillo. So my husband started just shooting them, does alright for a short time and then the yard starts like that again and you will see one out,so we try to shoot him. They are after worms and according to the co-op there is nothing they make that will kill them so don't waste your money. I tried cayenne pepper but didn't dig in that place just moved on over. Hope you have better luck.

Answer 3

Possum Holes In Yard

Answer 4

Holy cow they got the whole yard. Other than that it looks like you had a very pretty yard with that cute fence and barn. Cats wouldnt do that nor would a dog to that extent unless he had a lot of time and it wouldnt look like that.

I would go to your local home store and see if they have anything that you can spread around that will work for keeping away a variety of pests. I really hope you get this figured out.

Answer 5

doubt it's cats
your location would indicate that you could have deer around though - don't know if they eat grubs, but they might like the roots of your grass
I think it's a larger animal though - because mice or moles don't do that kind of thing. I don't think groundhogs do either.
I think racoons and skunks eat grubs and stuff.

sit out tonight and keep watch - without a light - and you'll probably find the culprit.

Answer 6

Not cats and not ground hogs. Cats have no reason and ground hogs would be out in the day time and eat the top green part of grass. I have the same but not as bad and see skunks often around the house and they would be looking for grubs etc. Look at it this way, soon they will be tucked away for winter and you save money trying to control grubs next year.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I had some skunks do the same thing to my yard. You can just flip the sod back over and give it a good step to mash it back down. When you get the grubs, you'll be rid of the rodent.

Answer 9

Y'all have an opossum! Probably diging for grubs. Shoot it or catch it in a live trap if you don't shoot critters and check out it's digging claws! We just call 'em "possum" in Texas!

"Opossum" is derived from the Algonquin Indian word apasum, meaning "white animal." A creature without specialized body structure or food preference, the opossum thrives in many settings. It is found throughout Pennsylvania, where it is classified as a furbearer.

Opossum will dig up sod, turf mulch piles, pine straw, wood chips and just about any ground cover you have in the yard seeking food. Remember, food to them includes insects. One of their favorite foods are grubs. If you don't treat your yard for grubs annually you are sure to get insects reproducing and nesting in plants and soil.

Opossum have great noses and will smell any population of insects which is living and breeding in or around your yard. Once they smell insect activity, they will begin to dig up turf, pull back sod and overturn mulch. They are seeking grubs, crickets, ants, millipedes, grass hoppers, slugs, termites, boxelder bugs, bees, yellowjackets, earwigs, roaches, pillbugs and just about anything which may be living in or around your yard.

Answer 10

Same exact thing happend to my dad. Gophers. They just wouldn't stop they tore up the whole yard as they've done to you're yard. The only way to get rid of them for good..is a 22.