Skunk or raccoon?

 

Most likely a raccoon or multiple raccoons. They dig for grubs mainly but will eat just about any critter in the soil and once they find a food source will keep coming back. They tend to visit my yard in the early morning between 1 and 4.

I've been dealing with this for a few years now and even had to hire someone to catch and remove 4 raccoons in fall of 2016 before buying a trap myself and catching 4 more the following spring. They keep coming back every year but it hasn't been as bad as it was then after doing my Reno.

Typically raccoons dig with their paws and will try to flip the turf over where skunks dig more with their noses creating holes.

 

Here are some pics of my side lawn and what I woke up to one morning in early October 2016.



After fixing that I woke up the next morning to this

 

Jeez, I'm just waiting till it looks like that one morning. I'm hoping they leave once the ground freezes

 

They are trying to fatten up for the winter.

I've tried a few things but removing them was only thing that worked. I may try one of those motion noise and or lights designed to scare them but I have a feeling that will only work until they realize no threat.

They also like to get in attics so keep an eye on possible entry points they can break into. I haven't had this happen but a few neighbors did.

 

I kinda see tunnels too, so it could be voles.

 

Alright, so how do we help solve this problem?

Feral cats?
Air rifle?
Foxes?
Traps?
Poison?

 

Alright, so how do we help solve this problem?

Feral cats?
Air rifle?
Foxes?
Traps?
Poison?

Cats won't do anything, doubt foxes will either.

Best course of action is don't give them a reason to come to your property which is easier said than done. Preventing them from getting into your yard if possible would be the next step but also not easy.

Trapping and removal is best but where there is one raccoon there are others.

This could have been investigating digging too so it's entirely possible it won't keep happening.

 

My first thought was boar but the damage is a little different when looking closer.

Sometimes they go crazy :roll:



fixing that is a nightmare

 

definitely an animal that's about to be dead LOL OMG. I'd have to agree with all the others, I've seen skunks and raccoons make these messes before.

 

I would dig into the soil to see what they're trying to eat so you can treat it.

 

Holy sht! That's terrible! Any idea what did it yet? Man.... 😥

 

My crazy solution until the ground freezes was to fill my sprayer with bottle of squirrel repellent for bird seed (basically super hot sauce) and sprayed my back yard. It wasn't very concentrated but I'm hoping a somewhat spicy back yard turns them off.....

 

My first thought was boar but the damage is a little different when looking closer.

Sometimes they go crazy :roll:



fixing that is a nightmare

You sure the Tasmanian Devil wasn't spinning around in your yard? He usually travels with a wabbit and a duck that argue a lot.

 

Haha it might be that as well :nod:

Caught these guys red handed a few times though

 

Wild boar, yummy.

 

Wild boar, yummy.

I got chased by one of those growing up in Florida. They are not your average swine. I swear that is what improved my 40 time that summer. They are fast and they are mean.