Wildlife such as raccoons and crows will investigate food resources for sustenance during the warmer months when energy outlay raising young and fattening up ahead of winter are priorities. 

So what are they looking for by ripping up my lawn?

Grubs. 

These are the larvae of Japanese and Chafer beetles which hatch and grow just below the soil surface making them easy to find and eat. As a rich food source they are a favourite for raccoons and crows.

Using their dextrous and agile hands to lift and flip pieces of lawn or roll back newly laid sod, raccoons will return to the same site night after night as long as a food source remains. 

Crows can be just as destructive by using their beaks and claws to scratch up lawn and access grubs. 

How do I stop this activity?

Treating the source of the problem is the best approach. Grub control through the use of nematode (worm) applications in the late Summer/early Fall will help prevent beetle larvae activity the following year. 

Maintaining a healthy lawn with a good root system will also make it more difficult for wildlife to flip over lawn while foraging. 

Physically preventing digging activities with barriers such as laying chicken wire or bird netting over affected areas is an effective alternative as raccoons don't like having their hands entangled, and deterrence options such as motion-sensor sprinklers have varying degrees of success scaring raccoons away with blasts of water. 

Contact a wildlife professional

Our wildlife division is ready to discuss your concern and provide options to best solve your problem. Give us a call today.