Many homeowners spend a ton of time working on their lawn to make sure it looks fantastic. However, they may wake up one morning to find the lawn has been damaged and they will need to spend quite a bit of time to get everything back in shape again. Though most wildlife that passes through will not leave serious damage to the yard, there are some animals that will. Skunks are just one example of the animals that can destroy a gorgeous lawn overnight.
Why Skunks Dig in the Ground
Skunks that are digging in the lawn are often doing so because they’re looking for food or shelter. When there are huge chunks of grass that seem to just be pulled right out of the dirt, it may be from skunks eating grubs that can be found in the ground underneath. They pull the grass out of the way to get to the grubs that are found just below the top layer of dirt. When there’s a whole family of skunks in the yard, they can actually tear up quite a bit of grass in just one night looking for any grubs and other insects that might be hiding.
Other Issues Caused by Skunks
Skunks can damage the home trying to find a place to burrow and can damage plants around the yard when they’re looking for food. They can also spray pets or people in the yard at nighttime, and it can be difficult to get everything cleaned up after that. Plus, skunks can carry diseases and may bite if they are trapped and spraying doesn’t give them an escape. This or the droppings from the skunks in the yard could cause diseases to spread to those living in the house.
How to Tell if Skunks are Causing the Issue
Skunks aren’t the only animals that can cause damage to a lawn, so how can homeowners tell if they are the problem? If the homeowner doesn’t actually see the skunk in their yard, they can look for other tell-tale signs that it’s skunks digging up lawn instead of a different animal. If there are tracks, looking at them and comparing them to skunk tracks can help the homeowner figure this out. Another way to tell is how they smell. If the skunk decides to spray in the yard, it sprays a unique smell that’s impossible to miss and that’s a sure sign that there are skunks in the area.
Tips to Get Skunks Out of the Yard
Homeowners who have had their yard torn up from skunks will likely want to know how to stop skunks from digging up lawn. One of the best ways to deter skunks is by using light. Skunks come out during the night, so a motion-activated floodlight that turns on when they’re near may scare them away. Predator urine can also be sprayed around the outside of the yard to discourage skunks from the area as can spraying a mix of dish detergent, water, and castor oil. If all else fails, homeowners can have a professional trap and release the skunk or skunks found in the yard. This must be done by a professional to ensure they are trapped safely and relocated to somewhere they won’t cause any issues. In some places, it’s also illegal for a homeowner to trap and release on their own.
Keep Skunks Out of the Yard
Once the skunks are gone, the homeowner may want to use some preventative measures to ensure the skunks will not return and damage their lawn further. The best way to do this is to make sure the yard is properly cared for so there aren’t any grubs under the grass. There are treatments that can be sprayed on the yard that will help with this. Another way is to look into fencing for parts or all of the yard. This has the benefit of keeping other types of animals out of the yard as well.
Despite how much care you put into your yard, skunks digging up lawn can lead to serious damage that will take time to repair. If you’ve noticed damage to your yard because of skunks, try out some of the ways to get them out of the yard and to keep them out once they’re gone. If they are still coming back despite trying the methods above, contact Animal Control Specialist so they can help you solve this issue once and for all.
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