What's destroying my lawn?
Author
Discussion

JimM169

Original Poster:

818 posts

150 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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My lawn is looking like something out of a warzone as some little bugger is digging it up. Got to be around 30 of these holes, approx 3" across and about the same deep. I've filled a few in but they keep appearing.
Pretty sure it's not the dog as she would make a bigger mess, we do get rabbits in the garden but never seen them in this particular area, could it be squirrels or rats?





ESSEM123

46 posts

47 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Crows?

Joe M

850 posts

273 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Frozen sausages?

Simpo Two

92,413 posts

293 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Squirrels trying to find the nuts they buried last year?

Does it happen during the day or night?

Monkeylegend

28,911 posts

259 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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^^^^^

This, have the same in my garden I even watch them digging for them.

Nightmare

5,279 posts

312 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Could be squirrels tho they tend to fill in holes they make - but not always. That said, the one in our garden must have Alzheimer’s as it clearly has no sodding idea where it’s previously buried stuff and just randomly digs around looking for things and seems to be less bothered about filling them back in at the moment.

Rabbits only tend to dig a scrape to hide in if anything at all and they don’t look like your pics (usually…. it’s not like all members of any species are exactly the same in behaviour or anything else)

Could also be a badger though their damage is usually a bit more extensive than that IME

I’d be very surprised if it was rats as they’re much more stealth

My guess would be squirl but it’s a perfect excuse to buy a trail cam to find out smile.

Oh we also had a heron visit which I think was either trying to find buried squirrel food or more likely newts and it dug some very impressive holes but they were a lot tidier

LimmerickLad

7,020 posts

43 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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My money is on squirrels as well.

Turn7

25,569 posts

249 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Id say Corvids after chafer grubs, they can destroy a lawn if they turn up mob handed.

Pitre

6,174 posts

262 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Could be deer?

Baldchap

9,610 posts

120 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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A small badger could do this. A large one will make more damage though.

If it happens night after night it is more likely badgers.

Kwackersaki

1,727 posts

256 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Turn7 said:
Id say Corvids after chafer grubs, they can destroy a lawn if they turn up mob handed.
Could be. They absolutely ruined both the front and rear lawn of my last house, just as I was trying to sell it. Used to spend mornings trying to patch it up and make it presentable.

White-Noise

5,500 posts

276 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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I've seen squirrels doing that sort of stuff with the acorns. As above though good excuse to get a camera! If its happening overnight it's less likely to be a squirrel though?

AdamV12V

5,313 posts

205 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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We have the same thing and Im also 99% sure its squirrels as Ive seen them digging on the lawn many times.

That said we also have magpies and crows who over the last few weeks have taken to pulling out the moss in big clumps. To some extent they are doing us a favour but it looks messy. I also dont like it when they pluck off the more ornamental mosses and lichens off the stones and tree bark.

soad

34,525 posts

204 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Install a camera/GoPro etc.

Mad Maximus

988 posts

31 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Pirates looking for the treasure they buried.

M1AGM

4,969 posts

60 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Turn7 said:
Id say Corvids after chafer grubs, they can destroy a lawn if they turn up mob handed.
If the OP lifts some turf he should easily find some of these if they are present, quite large and white. If its not grubs it’s squirrels. Stupid animals forget where they bury their nuts, they tend to make swirls in the grass when they dig.

FMOB

1,994 posts

40 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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I would suggest squirrels unless it is happening a night then most likely badgers.

If it is badgers, then pepper or chilli powder is a good deterrent

P.S. That pallet isn't much of a squirrel trap.

Digger

16,714 posts

219 months

BalhamBadger

1,186 posts

201 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Badger(s) - we had exactly this a few nights ago and caught the bugger on camera

Techno9000

253 posts

104 months

Sunday 14th April 2024
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Squirrels...they bury the acorns and pat down the turf in autumn to hide their food. However on retrieving the stash in winter / spring there is no benefit to them in leaving it neat and tidy, so it's damage all over the place. Seen it happening on my lawn in daylight in the last few years