Something is digging up our lawn (1 Viewer)

Angelface

Well-known member

• Oct 18, 2007

• #1

Hi everyone,
For the past few weeks we have been waking up to find holes in our lawn. Some are quite big and others are small and whatever it is went quite mad last night and dug everywhere. My husband thinks it is squirrels but we have had them for years so why have they only just started doing it. I once saw a badger in my neighbours garden during the night but if it is a badger I don't know how it is getting in and out. Any suggestions?:h?:

 

B

bill moss

Well-known member

• Oct 18, 2007

• #2

Hi Chrissie,

Squirrels WILL dig holes to bury food (nuts, bulbs, etc) but only quite small ones and they cover the item over afterwards; if the holes are large and/or have nothing in them then it's unlikely to be Squirrels. Jays do much the same but even smaller and not at night. Both of these are seasonal, i.e. Autumn, so that's why now.

You should be so lucky to have a Badger (I know that Rose has them) and they DO dig quite large holes looking for food (worms etc) and don't refill them.

What else? A fox I suppose but why? Moles you'd know from the spoil-hills. Don't think Hedgehogs would (someone?). Not much help am I?

Take some photos and ask on the Wildlife Board.

Bill

 

Chickadeedeedee

Well-known member

• Oct 18, 2007

• #3

I think hedgehogs will dig to look for worms and slugs and other yummy items as the other critters mentioned. Here's a question Chrissie ... Have you seen any poo in the garden near the holes? We are sometimes fairly accurate poo-ologists on the board. As Bill suggested, can you take some photographs?

Lydia

 

Pam_m

Well-known member

• Oct 18, 2007

• #4

Hi Chrissie,

It sounds more likely that you have a Badger to me.

I have hedgehogs in my garden on a nightly basis and they do not make any holes in my lawn at all. The only evidence they leave is there Black Poo!

I hope you get to the bottom of this and please keep us updated.

 

D

dampflippers

Well-known member

• Oct 18, 2007

• #5

I think they can scrabble under quite small gaps, so search your boundary for any gaps, and see if it looks as though a route has been worn.
If there are any hairs caught on twigs or a fence, roll them in your fingers...I think badgers have flat hairs.
Take photos of poos and scrape areas and post on the mammals board.
Sprinkle a few unsalted peanuts if you want to do a stake out from the house.

 

Angelface

Well-known member

• Oct 19, 2007

• #6

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think it is definitely looking for worms as on close inspection of one of the holes you could actually see another hole the size of a worm where it had pulled it out from (hope that makes sense). We covered the holes up and I can see this morning that we had no visitor during last night. I will go out later and look for some of the clues that have been mentioned and play detective. I can't understand why it only digs up my lawn as neighbours each side of me have lawns and have never seen theirs in the same state. If it is a badger is there food that I could put out for it that would discourage it from digging up the lawn.
I am now off to poo hunt.

 

R

Ruth Daniel

Well-known member

• Oct 19, 2007

• #7

It could be Squirrels Chrissie?
We spent last weekend laying 50 sq metres of turf at my sons house and he rang last night to say that Squirrels are digging it up!!:eek!:

 

P

Peewit

Once a bird lover ... always a bird lover

• Oct 19, 2007

• #8

Hi Chrissie

I think a bit of detective work for the 'holes' will be your answer.

I would be inclined to keep a look out at night too, and see if anything appears which might be seen as the the culprit.

The wet weather may be a good time also - to keep a look out for the culprit, as the worms will come to the suface of the ground

Ruth Daniel said:

It could be Squirrels Chrissie?
We spent last weekend laying 50 sq metres of turf at my sons house and he rang last night to say that Squirrels are digging it up!!:eek!:

Click to expand...

Hi Ruth

Squirrels: Annoying little *****'a are they not :C

They make things very costly for us :eek!:

I hope that they are not continuing the mass destruction of your son's lawn.

Regards
Kathy

 

Last edited: Oct 19, 2007

R

Ruth Daniel

Well-known member

• Oct 19, 2007

• #9

Peewit said:

Hi Ruth

Squirrels: Annoying little *****'a are they not :C

They make things very costly for us :eek!:

I hope that they are not continuing the mass destruction of your son's lawn.

Click to expand...

He's coming here to find his old super-soaker water pistol for the weekend to hopefully discourage it!! :-O

 

P

Peewit

Once a bird lover ... always a bird lover

• Oct 19, 2007

• #10

Ruth Daniel said:

He's coming here to find his old super-soaker water pistol for the weekend to hopefully discourage it!! :-O

Click to expand...

:t: That is right, give them a good soaking to spoil their good looks o

Go for the tail as that is their pride and joy LOL

Regards
Kathy