A well-maintained lawn is a beautiful addition to your property. However, it is constantly under threat from raccoons, skunks, and moles. So, you need to figure out how to stop raccoons from digging up your lawn grass because they do the most damage.
Raccoons are a menace once they start camping on your lawn. They will destroy your lawn’s aesthetics, leave behind a host of parasites, and even spread diseases. So, these buggers are a big no-no in your backyard.
Why Are Raccoons Digging Up My Lawn?
Raccoons don’t just set up camp on your property and begin excavating. Digging is tiring work, and these petite home invaders will need an excellent return on their energy investment before venturing into your lawn – like grubs.
Raccoons, like most omnivores, eat a wide variety of insects. However, grubs are their favorite delicacy and will lead them to mine your property, searching for their favorite meal.
Grubs are the larval forms of beetles. They are larger, juicier, and lack the tough exterior of adult beetles. For a raccoon or skunk, digging for grubs is a worthwhile venture.
Grubs live underground. Beetles lay their eggs in the soil, and once the larvae emerge, they tend to burrow deeper into the ground under your lawn. This behavior could be a means of escaping predators. But as temperatures drop in winter, grubs will lie deeper than they had emerged as juveniles.
How To Stop Raccoons From Digging Up Your Lawn
Now that you know what brings raccoons over, it’s a lot easier to control these invaders. The best way to stop the digging is to eliminate the grubs. Once raccoons do not see any benefit to turning your lawn, they’ll quickly leave. You can also try to scare them away as you would do with birds and other invaders. Here’s how to stop raccoons from digging up your lawn grass.
1. Regular Seeding
Diverse vermin destroy your lawn in unique ways. For example, moles tunnel through the soil as skunks create precise holes through which they pull out tasty grubs.
However, raccoons create a mess on your lawn by turning the grass over. They can do this because the soil underneath is loosely held by the lawn grass. To counter this digging, invest in deep-rooted grass varieties.
Fall Fescue, for instance, goes deep into the soil. The roots spread underneath the surface and hold the ground in place. Roots hugging deep into the soil are harder to dig through, and raccoons will have a hard time flipping the soil over. Even moles will struggle to tunnel through your backyard.
Nevertheless, once you find your turf grass flipped by moles, quickly set the patch back in place. Then, you can add a bit of water to prevent the soil from dehydrating.
2. Beneficial Nematodes
If you’re thinking about how to stop raccoons from digging up your lawn turf, consider nematodes. These are microscopic organisms used to control grub populations.
Nematodes kill most pests that raccoons target while rummaging through your lawn. Grubs are the most preferred and will steadily decline once you apply store-bought nematodes to your property. As always, if you have more nematodes, the number of grubs underground sharply reduces.
It’s important to note that using nematodes is not a quick fix to your raccoon problem. Most animals have a decent memory. And when searching for food and water, they tend to revisit previous spots where they had their last lunch.
So it’s going to take some time before the raccoons realize there aren’t any grubs left on your lawn after applying nematodes. Also, nematodes are effective against juvenile grubs. Once these larvae mature, they become harder to eliminate.
3. Motion Activated Lawn Sprinkler
Like most lawn invaders, raccoons are readily frightened by sudden movements. It is an inbuilt trait that allows them to remain alert to potential predators. You can also use their flighty nature when figuring out how to stop raccoons from digging up lawns.
An automated sprinkler is ideal for your lawn care. It also works wonders, scaring raccoons every time they venture too close.
This device has a motion sensor fitted inside to detect the movement of birds and other vermin. Once a raccoon moves close by, the sprinkler is activated and shoots a jet of water. The sprinkler valves also produce a distinct sound that will startle any raccoons venturing onto your lawn.
4. Destroy Grubs On Your Lawn
Any raccoon digging in your lawn is probably after grubs. Grubs are fatty beetle larvae that raccoons eat voraciously before winter. Such feeding allows them to fatten and build up food reserves before the cold arrives.
Are you still wondering how to stop raccoons from digging up your lawn? Target what they are after, and you’ll no longer worry about raccoons, skunks, and other home intruders.
The food bits are poisonous and kill grubs that consume them. However, there are plenty of products, organic and non-organic, which you can use to get rid of larvae, and consequently, raccoons.
Chemicals act fast, but if you are looking for a friendlier option, try Earth Easy granules. It doesn’t leave a residue on the soil and is perfectly safe for use at home.
5. Ultrasonic Raccoon Repellers
Another excellent way to deter raccoons from visiting your property is by using ultrasonic animal repellers. Unlike sprinklers, this gadget emits a high-pitched noise that we cannot hear. But to the raccoons, it is a terrible sound that’ll give them a good scare.
Most animals have acute senses, which enable them to survive in the harsh outdoors. However, their sensitive ears will get irritated by high-pitched sounds. Because they don’t understand the source or aim of your repelling device, the raccoons will run.
An ultrasonic device is a humane method if you’re thinking about how to stop raccoons from digging up your lawn grass. You don’t need to catch them or poison them. Instead, the disturbance caused is enough to scare these pesky intruders away.
6. Raccoon Traps
If you have a severe raccoon problem, then you should consider relocating the animals. It is a surefire method of how to stop raccoons from digging up lawn grass. First, you’ll need to catch the animals using traps before moving them away from your home.
Raccoons will quickly come for delicious treats. It’s pretty easy to catch a raccoon. The problem is where to take them after trapping them.
In many states, trapping raccoons is legal. However, you’ll have to engage a wildlife expert before you relocate your nosey neighbors. You’re not allowed to release them in the nearest trailer park. That will just shift the problem elsewhere. These animals are pretty intelligent, and they’ll eventually find their way back to your lawn for more grubs.
7. Use A Physical Barrier
Most physical barriers work as well as you’ve installed them. Once raccoons encounter a fence, they’ll work out ways to get by. They’ll climb if your wall isn’t tall enough. If it is, then digging through the barrier is within their ability.
Once raccoons have a taste of the grubs living on your lawn, you’ll have a hard time deterring them from coming back. So you must install a taller fence. Additionally, make sure this barrier goes deeper into the ground to prevent raccoons from digging through the soil.
Chicken wire is a cheap barrier. You can quickly fix it around your lawn while digging it deep into the ground.
How To Know That Your Lawn Has A Grub Problem
Raccoons will only excavate your backyard if they’re sure they will get something for the effort. That’s why, if you’re thinking of how to stop raccoons from digging up lawn grass, target their food. In this case, find out how to eliminate grubs living in your lawn soil. But before that, you have to make sure there are grubs on your lawn.
Beetles lay their eggs in the soil, which hatch into larvae. These grubs will then feed through the colder seasons and emerge as adults. What do they eat during this time? Your lawn grass is a perfect source of food and shelter for grubs.
As the larvae eat the grass under the soil, the evidence is clear on top. The grass will dry up, and if you have an extensive grub problem, there will be significant brown spots like burnt grass. Also, it’s going to be easier for raccoons and other diggers to flip your turf while looking for grubs.
Grubs are significantly large and can exceed the size of adults. As a result, they are an excellent protein source for not only raccoons but also skunks. The moment you notice these animals visiting your lawn, then you have a grub problem.
How Many Grubs Are A Problem For Your Lawn?
Grubs aren’t necessarily wrong. Aside from eating grassroots, the larvae also feed on organic matter in the soil. Thus, they are important decomposers and are critical if you are looking to attain fertile soil rich in organic matter.
Therefore, any healthy lawn has some grubs living in the soil. You should find out how many larvae are living in a square foot patch of your property.
Ideally, you should find up to 5 larvae. But, if there are more, know that your lawn is teeming with beetle larvae. You should then find out how to stop raccoons from digging up lawns looking for bugs.
Are Raccoons The Only Animals Digging Up Your Lawn?
Several creatures will dig out grubs from your lawn. Raccoons are notorious for turning the soil while looking for delicious larvae. Skunks have a more low-profile approach and do not cause a big mess on your lawn.
Moles also dig tunnels underneath your law. You will mostly notice heaps of soil piled at different points across your lawn.
Some animals dig the soil but not in search of food. Squirrels will be looking to hoard their winter food in your backyard. Voles are also vegetarians, and you shouldn’t mistake their tracks for a case of too many grubs on your lawn.
Why Do You Have to Get Rid Of Raccoons In Your Backyard?
The primary reason to stop raccoons from digging up lawn grass is that they cause a big mess. Raccoons will not just dig for grubs. Instead, they will turn entire grass patches over, looking for their next meal.
Raccoons are spirited animals. If you’ve got plenty of beetle larva living in your soil, these invaders will excavate every inch of your lawn.
Moreover, raccoons live in the wild. They carry different pests like fleas, ticks, and mites. These bugs will find their way into your home via your pets.
They are also notorious for spreading diseases like rabies, and you must find out how to stop raccoons from digging up lawns.
The Final Verdict
Raccoons are a menace anywhere they visit. While they tear up trash cans and excavate lawns looking for food, they can cause significant damage to your home and neighborhood.
Raccoons transmit rabies, and you should be wary of confronting one. In addition, these animals have thick fur, which is a perfect place for various parasites to thrive. Ultimately, the fleas they’re carrying will latch onto your pets, and you’ll soon host a bunch inside your home.
Raccoons, however, are determined animals. Find out how to stop raccoons from digging up your lawn if you want to keep your home pest-free. You should combine several methods in this guide for an effective extermination effort. Additionally, find out what attracts raccoons to your lawn grass. If you’ve got many grubs living underneath, you should first take care of that problem. Then you can worry about raccoons because the larvae will attract other predators who will compound your problems
