Can raccoons dig up your lawn? Yes, raccoons can and often do dig up lawns. They are looking for grubs, earthworms, and other tasty snacks buried just beneath the surface. This digging can be incredibly frustrating for homeowners who work hard to maintain a beautiful lawn. But don’t worry, there are many effective ways to stop raccoons from digging up your lawn fast, and this guide will help you implement them.
Image Source: lawnsavers.com
Why Raccoons Dig Up Lawns
Grasping why raccoons dig is the first step to preventing it. These intelligent, adaptable creatures are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their diet includes a wide variety of foods, but when it comes to your lawn, their primary targets are the hidden treasures beneath the turf:
- Grubs: These are the C-shaped larvae of beetles, such as the Japanese beetle and the June bug. They feed on plant roots, which can weaken your lawn, but they are a high-protein food source for raccoons.
- Earthworms: Raccoons are attracted to the moisture and nutrients in the soil, which earthworms thrive in.
- Insects and Other Invertebrates: Beetles, ants, and other small creatures are also on the menu.
Raccoons have powerful claws and strong paws, perfect for tearing up sod to get to these underground meals. Their keen sense of smell also helps them locate grub-infested areas.
Raccoon Diet Essentials
- Protein Source: Grubs and earthworms are rich in protein.
- Moisture: Damp soil often indicates the presence of these food sources.
- Seasonal Availability: Grubs are particularly abundant and vulnerable in late summer and early fall, and again in the spring.
Effective Raccoon Deterrents for Your Lawn
When dealing with unwanted lawn guests, employing a variety of raccoon deterrents is key to successful lawn protection. A single method might work for a while, but raccoons are clever and can adapt. Combining strategies offers the best chance of preventing digging and reclaiming your yard.
Physical Barriers and Exclusion Methods
One of the most direct ways to stop raccoons is to make your lawn inaccessible or unappealing. This is where garden barriers and other animal proofing techniques come into play.
Burying Wire Mesh
- How it works: Burying chicken wire or hardware cloth just below the surface of your lawn can deter raccoons. They dislike the feeling of the wire under their paws.
- Installation: Dig a trench about 6 inches deep around the perimeter of your lawn or specific garden beds. Lay the wire mesh in the trench, ensuring it extends about 4-6 inches horizontally outwards from the edge of the lawn. Then, backfill the trench, covering the mesh completely.
- Benefits: This creates an underground barrier that is difficult for raccoons to dig through or around.
- Considerations: This is a labor-intensive method but highly effective for targeted areas.
Netting and Covers
- How it works: For specific garden beds or vulnerable patches of lawn, covering them with netting or landscape fabric can prevent access.
- Installation: Secure the netting firmly to the ground using stakes or rocks. Ensure there are no gaps or openings where raccoons can slip underneath.
- Benefits: This is a good option for protecting new plantings or small, sensitive areas.
- Considerations: Can be aesthetically unpleasing if not installed carefully and may require frequent removal for watering or weeding.
Fencing
- How it works: A sturdy fence can be a significant deterrent. For raccoons, a fence needs to be more than just a visual barrier.
- Raccoon-Proof Fencing Features:
- Height: At least 3-4 feet tall.
- Material: Sturdy material like wood or metal.
- Base: It should be buried at least 6 inches into the ground to prevent burrowing underneath.
- Overhang: Consider an inward-facing overhang at the top (a few inches wide and angled downwards) to prevent climbing. Raccoons are excellent climbers.
- Benefits: A well-constructed fence provides comprehensive lawn protection against various wildlife.
- Considerations: Can be expensive and may require permits depending on your location.
Repelling Raccoons with Scent and Taste
Raccoons have a strong sense of smell and taste, which can be exploited to create repelling raccoons strategies. Many common household items or natural ingredients can be used as natural repellents.
Strong Scents
Raccoons are often put off by strong, unpleasant smells.
- Ammonia-soaked rags: Soak rags in ammonia and place them around the perimeter of your lawn or near dug-up areas. The fumes can be quite irritating to raccoons.
- How to use: Place rags in small containers with holes or directly in the affected areas. Replace them every few days as the scent fades.
- Caution: Ammonia can be harmful to plants and pets. Use with care and avoid direct contact with vegetation.
- Cayenne Pepper or Hot Pepper Flakes: Sprinkle cayenne pepper liberally around the edges of your lawn or on disturbed areas. Raccoons dislike the burning sensation it causes when they step on it or ingest it.
- Application: Reapply after rain or watering, as the scent and potency will diminish.
- Considerations: May need frequent reapplication and can be washed away by sprinklers or rain.
- Epsom Salt: Some gardeners report success with Epsom salts. While not a strong repellent, it can make the soil less appealing.
- Application: Sprinkle around the lawn’s edge.
- Considerations: Its effectiveness is anecdotal and may vary.
Bitter Sprays
- Commercial Bitter Sprays: Several commercially available sprays are designed to make plants and soil taste unpleasant to animals. These often contain bittering agents.
- DIY Bitter Spray: You can create your own by mixing ingredients like garlic, hot sauce, and water.
- Recipe: Blend a few cloves of garlic with a cup of water and a tablespoon of hot sauce. Strain the mixture and spray it around the lawn.
- Reapplication: Reapply regularly, especially after rain.
Auditory and Visual Deterrents
Raccoons are intelligent and can be startled or annoyed by certain sounds and sights.
Motion-Activated Sprinklers
- How it works: These devices detect movement and emit a sudden burst of water, startling the raccoon and driving it away.
- Placement: Position them strategically to cover the areas raccoons frequent.
- Benefits: A humane and effective deterrent that doesn’t harm the animal. It also waters your lawn!
- Considerations: Requires a water source and can be triggered by other animals or even strong winds if not aimed correctly.
Ultrasonic Devices
- How it works: These emit high-frequency sounds that are inaudible to humans but unpleasant for many animals, including raccoons.
- Effectiveness: The effectiveness of ultrasonic devices is debated. Raccoons can become accustomed to them over time.
- Considerations: Ensure the device is designed for raccoons and place it strategically.
Reflective or Moving Objects
- How it works: Shiny, moving objects can startle raccoons. Think old CDs hanging from strings, pinwheels, or even aluminum foil strips.
- Placement: Place them near dug-up areas or along the lawn’s edge.
- Considerations: Raccoons may become accustomed to these static or predictable movements. Rotating or moving them can increase their effectiveness.
Addressing the Food Source
The most sustainable way to stop raccoons from digging is to remove what they are looking for: grubs.
Grub Control
- Identify Grub Infestation: Look for brown, dead patches in your lawn that pull up easily like a carpet. Small signs of raccoon digging can indicate a larger grub problem.
- Organic Grub Control:
- Beneficial Nematodes: These microscopic worms occur naturally and parasitize grub larvae. They are a safe and eco-friendly option. Apply them when the soil is moist and temperatures are suitable for grub activity.
- Milky Spore: This is a naturally occurring bacterium that targets Japanese beetle grubs. It takes a few seasons to establish but provides long-term control.
- Chemical Grub Control: If the infestation is severe, you might consider chemical treatments.
- Caution: Always follow product instructions carefully. Chemical pesticides can harm beneficial insects, pets, and wildlife. Choose products labeled for grub control and apply them responsibly.
- Timing is Crucial: Apply grub treatments when grubs are present and vulnerable, typically in late summer or early fall, or in the spring as they become active.
Modifying Your Yard for Wildlife Control
Making your yard less attractive to raccoons in general can significantly reduce digging. This is a broader approach to wildlife control.
Securing Trash Cans
- Problem: Raccoons are notorious for raiding garbage cans, which provides them with food and encourages them to linger in your yard.
- Solutions:
- Secure Lids: Use trash cans with tight-fitting, locking lids.
- Bungee Cords: Secure lids with bungee cords.
- Secure Storage: Store trash cans in a garage, shed, or a secure enclosure if possible.
- Cleanliness: Rinse food containers before discarding them to reduce odors.
Removing Pet Food
- Problem: Leaving pet food outdoors, even for a short period, is a significant attractant for raccoons.
- Solution: Feed pets indoors or remove food bowls immediately after they have finished eating.
Managing Bird Feeders
- Problem: Birdseed and spilled seed on the ground can be an easy meal for raccoons, especially at night.
- Solutions:
- Feeder Placement: Hang feeders from poles with baffles that prevent climbing.
- Cleanliness: Clean up spilled seed regularly.
- Remove at Night: Consider bringing feeders in after dusk.
Eliminating Water Sources
- Problem: Raccoons, like many animals, need water. Bird baths, pet water bowls left outside, or leaky faucets can provide this.
- Solution: Remove or secure outdoor water sources, especially overnight.
Humane Deterrent Techniques
It’s important to use humane deterrents that discourage raccoons without causing them harm. Many of the methods mentioned above, such as motion-activated sprinklers, scent repellents, and securing food sources, fall into this category.
What NOT to Do
- Poison: Never use poison. It is inhumane, can harm non-target animals (including pets and beneficial wildlife), and is often illegal.
- Trapping without Expertise: While live traps can be used, releasing trapped animals is often regulated and can be ineffective if the animal is simply replaced by another. If you consider trapping, consult with a safe raccoon removal professional.
Advanced Strategies and Troubleshooting
Sometimes, initial efforts might not be enough. Here are some advanced strategies and troubleshooting tips for stubborn situations.
Combining Deterrents for Maximum Impact
As mentioned earlier, using multiple deterrents simultaneously is far more effective than relying on just one.
- Example Combination:
- Install motion-activated sprinklers in key digging areas.
- Apply cayenne pepper along the perimeter of your lawn.
- Ensure all trash cans are securely sealed.
- Treat any identified grub infestations.
Seasonal Adjustments
Raccoon activity and food preferences can change with the seasons.
- Spring: Young raccoons (kits) may be exploring with their mother. Focus on securing food and water sources.
- Summer: Grubs are abundant. Grub control becomes a priority.
- Fall: Raccoons are preparing for winter and may be more desperate for food. Intensify your deterrent efforts.
- Winter: Raccoons are less active, but if food is scarce, they may still emerge.
When to Call a Professional
If you’ve tried multiple methods and are still experiencing significant lawn damage, it might be time to consult a wildlife control professional. They have the expertise and tools for safe raccoon removal and can offer customized solutions for your specific situation.
- Signs You Might Need a Professional:
- Persistent, severe damage despite your best efforts.
- Evidence of raccoons nesting or living on your property (e.g., in attics or sheds).
- Concerns about handling animals or using specialized equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the best natural repellent for raccoons?
A1: Many gardeners find success with strong scents like ammonia-soaked rags or cayenne pepper. Some also use a mixture of garlic and hot sauce sprayed around the lawn. However, the effectiveness can vary, and reapplication is often necessary.
Q2: Can I use mothballs to repel raccoons?
A2: While mothballs are sometimes suggested as a repellent, they are not recommended. Mothballs contain toxic chemicals (naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene) that can be harmful to children, pets, and the environment. They are also generally ineffective in the open air of a lawn and can pollute soil and water.
Q3: How deep do raccoons dig?
A3: Raccoons typically dig just deep enough to reach their food source, usually a few inches below the surface, to get to grubs or worms. However, they are capable of digging deeper if trying to create a burrow or tunnel under obstacles.
Q4: Why are raccoons digging in my flower beds?
A4: Flower beds are often prime real estate for grubs and other insects, just like lawns. The soil can be looser and easier to dig in, and the plants themselves can provide cover.
Q5: How can I protect my garden plants from raccoons?
A5: You can use garden barriers like chicken wire or netting, buried slightly around the beds. Applying scented repellents or bitter sprays to the plants themselves can also deter them, but be sure the products are safe for your specific plants.
Q6: Are there any humane traps for raccoons?
A6: Yes, live traps that capture raccoons without injury are available. However, trapping alone may not solve the problem, as other raccoons may move into the area. Furthermore, releasing trapped animals is often regulated by local wildlife authorities. If you choose to trap, ensure it is done humanely and legally.
Q7: How often do I need to reapply natural repellents?
A7: Natural repellents, especially those based on scent or taste, need frequent reapplication. After rain, heavy dew, or even strong winds, their effectiveness diminishes. Expect to reapply every few days to a week, depending on the product and weather conditions.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively deter raccoons and protect your lawn from their digging activities, ensuring a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing yard. Remember that consistency and a multi-faceted approach are your best allies in this endeavor.