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This is our 2nd fall here in Southern IL. We back up to woods and for the past week-must be at night -some animal is tearing up our back yard grass.
It is not holes-but a small patch of the grass-top layer turned over. It's almost looks like a herd of cattle came galloping through !
Can it be raccoons looking for grubs?? I have no grubs.
I have never experienced this before -last night we kept all our flood lights on-don't know if it helped as we got home late.
Could be skunks, plus lately around here I've seen squirrels doing the same thing. Don't have a good solution, they're in my backyard, which isn't as nice as the front so I just let them be, especially the skunk!
I've seen birds do it too, when the ground is wet and worms are close to the surface. They leave a pock-marked lawn behind with bits of sod turned up everywhere.
Thank you all for your replies- I know it's not birds-we have been very dry.
I don't think squirrels as we have soo many acorns as we sit on the edge of woods.
We do probably have grubs-no rain-very dry grass. It's probably raccoons.-From research I think I have to wait till the spring for grub control.
I have the same problem...its Raccoons. What helped was leaving a light on all night long in my backyard for several weeks. I think they finally moved on to darker pastures. You could also "rent a dog" for a few nights. I would think they would move on after seeing or smelling the dog.
I have the same problem...its Raccoons. What helped was leaving a light on all night long in my backyard for several weeks. I think they finally moved on to darker pastures. You could also "rent a dog" for a few nights. I would think they would move on after seeing or smelling the dog.
You are so right. A few days ago, before 5am saw him/her. Had 1 light on-put the rest of the flood lights on-didn't disrupt him at all-just went about his business scurrying across our lawn!
We are now getting some pretty heavy frost,so I guess I will have to wait to next year to see if he has moved on.
The Acorn word got my attention.
Squirrels bury them for a winter food supply.
I very much doubt if it is grubs. They are usualy active in early spring.
I have 5 big Oak trees in the yard. Every fall I see holes in the yard where squirrels have buried Acorns.
And in the winter when the snow is on the ground I see holes in the snow where the squirrels have dug down to find them.
Skunks might do the same but I hardly ever see a skunk. I see many squirrels.
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