Raccoons are highly adaptable omnivores that thrive in suburban and urban environments. These clever animals often dig up lawns and gardens, primarily searching for insect larvae known as grubs. This foraging activity is a direct response to a dense food opportunity and can leave a significant mess.
Raccoons and Their Grub Diet
Raccoons are opportunistic feeders, shifting their diet based on what is most abundant and easiest to acquire. White grubs—the larvae of beetles such as Japanese beetles or June bugs—are a concentrated source of protein and fat highly appealing to foraging raccoons. These grubs live just beneath the soil surface, feeding on grass roots, which weakens the lawn.
The digging is particularly noticeable during late summer and into the fall, aligning with the grubs’ life cycle. During this period, the larvae mature and move closer to the soil surface, making them easier for a raccoon to detect. Raccoons use their acute sense of smell to locate pockets of larvae and will revisit the same area until the food source is depleted.
Signs of Raccoon Lawn Damage
Identifying raccoon damage relies on observing the specific pattern of disturbed turf, which differs from other grub-eating animals. A raccoon uses its dexterous front paws to lift and flip over sections of sod while searching for food. This results in shallow, torn-up patches where the grass is rolled back like a piece of carpet.
This damage is typically more extensive and less precise than the foraging signs left by a skunk. Skunks, also common grub hunters, usually leave behind smaller, cone-shaped holes or distinct, shallow divots. Raccoon damage, by contrast, involves larger, scattered mats of turf ripped up and displaced from the soil. If your lawn feels spongy or you notice dead patches that peel away easily, it indicates that grubs have eaten the grass roots, making the area an easy target.
Stopping Raccoons From Digging
The most effective long-term strategy for preventing raccoon digging is eliminating the underlying food source: the grubs. This can be achieved through biological or chemical grub control methods, such as applying beneficial nematodes or milky spore to the lawn. These options target the grub larvae, reducing the population to a level that no longer attracts wildlife.
For immediate deterrence, physical barriers and sensory deterrents can discourage nighttime visitors. A temporary solution involves laying chicken wire or netting over affected areas, which frustrates the raccoon’s attempts to flip the sod. Motion-activated sprinklers are also highly effective, as the sudden burst of water startles the raccoon. Finally, securing outdoor food sources like trash cans, pet food, and bird seed removes other easy calories that initially attract raccoons to the property.