Raccoons are adaptable urban wildlife, often drawn to residential areas by readily available food and shelter. This presence frequently translates into property damage, and the answer to whether raccoons dig holes in your yard is a definitive yes. This behavior results from their persistent foraging habits, especially during nighttime hours when they are most active. Raccoons frequently tear into lawns and gardens in their search for a specific, protein-rich food source just beneath the soil surface.
Identifying Raccoon Digging Versus Other Pests
Identifying the culprit behind yard damage is the first step in effective mitigation, as raccoon signs differ from those of other common digging pests. Raccoons use their dexterous front paws, much like human hands, to tear into turf. The damage they leave behind is typically a noticeable peeling back or flipping over of sections of sod or grass. These disturbed areas often look as if the turf has been deliberately rolled up, revealing the soil and roots underneath, and can spread into large, messy patches.
This damage contrasts sharply with the work of other nocturnal foragers. Skunks leave behind many small, conical holes, pushing their noses into the ground and using their claws to excavate. These divots are about one to three inches wide and shallow, often making the lawn look aerated. Squirrels create very small, precise holes, usually to retrieve or bury nuts and seeds. If you find large, torn-up sections of grass that have been lifted and folded, you are highly likely dealing with a raccoon.
The Primary Reasons Raccoons Dig
The primary motivation for a raccoon to dig is the pursuit of food, specifically soil-dwelling invertebrates. Raccoons possess an acute sense of smell, allowing them to detect insect larvae, earthworms, and other edibles beneath the soil. While their diet includes various creatures, they are particularly drawn to white grubs, which are the larvae of beetles like the European Chafer or Japanese Beetle.
These grubs are a high-calorie meal and congregate in the upper few inches of soil, making them easily accessible. The presence of just five or more grubs per square foot can attract a raccoon, even before the lawn shows brown patches typical of a severe infestation. Digging for shelter is a rare cause of lawn damage compared to foraging for these hidden meals. Raccoons are most successful when the soil is moist, as this brings the grubs closer to the surface and makes the ground easier to tear up.
Actionable Steps for Deterring Raccoons
A comprehensive strategy to deter raccoons involves addressing the source of the attraction, implementing physical barriers, and modifying the habitat. The most effective long-term solution is eliminating the primary food source by treating the lawn for grubs. Preventative grub control applications, typically done in late summer or early fall, target the young larvae and significantly reduce the population size.
Grub Control
For an immediate, non-chemical approach, beneficial nematodes are microscopic organisms applied to the soil to infect and kill grubs. This biological method takes time but offers natural pest control, making the lawn less appealing over several weeks. While waiting for grub treatments to take effect, physical exclusion is the best way to prevent immediate damage.
Physical Exclusion
Covering the affected lawn with bird netting or chicken wire, secured tightly with stakes, prevents the raccoon from flipping the sod. This temporary barrier should remain until the grass roots have established firmly, which is important for newly laid sod. Making the effort to dig unsuccessful for several nights can convince raccoons to move on to easier foraging grounds.
Habitat Modification and Repellents
Habitat modification removes secondary attractants and creates an unwelcome environment. Securing all outdoor garbage cans with tight-fitting lids is primary, as is removing any outdoor pet food before nightfall. Motion-activated sprinklers can be highly effective by startling the animal with a sudden burst of water.
Chemical or scent repellents offer mixed results but can serve as an additional layer of protection. Commercial products containing capsaicin or oil of black pepper can make the lawn taste unpleasant, though they must be reapplied frequently, especially after rain. Home remedies are often less reliable and lose potency quickly, so they should only supplement more effective physical and source-removal methods.