What is digging up my lawn?

[lifewild]

I have found that something seems to be digging up my lawn at night times.

The holes are around 1-2 inches in diameter, some up to 3" deep, others a few centimetres. The earth is dumped next to the hole, and there also appears to be quite a lot of the grass 'scratched' aside, as it seems that there is dead grass in and around the holes. It is literally all over my garden (approx 20m x 20m), there is probably around 50 holes, and I have no idea what is doing it!

I live in a fairly rural area in Surrey. We do have deer and foxes around, and also a river at the bottom of the garden.

Does anybody know what may be causing it?

[aeshna5]

Maybe Badgers seeking worms/grubs?

[dampflippers]

I was going to suggest badgers. Otherwise possibly squirrels lloking for nuts. Can you find any footprints?
Are there any other signs like faeces or hairs left on fences or clear points of access?

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by lifewild

I have found that something seems to be digging up my lawn at night times. The holes are around 1-2 inches in diameter, some up to 3" deep, others a few centimetres. The earth is dumped next to the hole, and there also appears to be quite a lot of the grass 'scratched' aside, as it seems that there is dead grass in and around the holes. It is literally all over my garden (approx 20m x 20m), there is probably around 50 holes, and I have no idea what is doing it! I live in a fairly rural area in Surrey. We do have deer and foxes around, and also a river at the bottom of the garden.
Does anybody know what may be causing it?

As suggested look for faeces and paw prints. Are the holes actually round or more like ovoid scratches going into the lawn at a shallow angle ? If so then I'd suggest rabbits digging for roots.

CM

[lifewild]

Thanks for all the help.

The holes definitely look like scratches made from an angle, although they do go pretty deep. CM's comment re a rabbit digging for roots sounds most plausible as all of the digging is around a large cherry blossom tree, and a lot of the holes have a tree root clearly showing at the bottom.

There are no faeces on the fence, or on the lawn anywhere, or any tracks to show that anything has been there. There are strong boundaries, a 6 foot hedge on one side, a 4ft hedge on the other, and a 4ft fence at the end.

Now I am intrigued to know why a rabbit would dig so many holes just to get at some tree roots?!

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by lifewild

Now I am intrigued to know why a rabbit would dig so many holes just to get at some tree roots?!

Rabbit's scratch for grass and other perrenial roots as these have a greater nutritional value than is provided just by grazing the plant 'tops'. If the holes in your lawn are concentrated around tree roots then I think the suggestion of squirrels (or perhaps Jays ?) digging for burried nuts may be more likely. Rabbits almost always leave some faeces around where they feed, so if there's no rabbit droppings then probably there's no rabbits.

CM

[TALLYHO]

could always be domestic felines, whilst i have no cats myself all the neighbours cats seem to do this to my lawn.

Usually leaving their calling card too.

[epops]

when i was landscaping we had loads of problems with foxes digging holes in turf that had been down about 6 weeks the holes were similar to those described, when we lifted the turf there was loads of leather jackets under it dont no if this is just coincidence or those pesky animals were actually digging and eating them

[ricwine]

A real mystery. I read your post last week. I planted a load of plant pots outside with fresh bulbs ive had in the propigator. I left these outside in a corner of my garden which is a suntrap. As the plants come on like stink there. I checked a few days later and was astonished to see that one of the half a dozen pots there. Had most of its bulbs removed. Quite carefully in fact. Similiar to how you describe with the roots exposed from the side. A few of the bulbs were lying on the ground. But none of them appeared to be damaged as far as i could see. Even with the roots still intact.

Literally ! i thought of this post. There was also a small quantity of earth from the pot scooped/dug out. So i thought >squirrels<. But also foxes use that corner as theres a gap in the fence. We have several members of the crow family and deer ( rare though, Roe and muntjak ).

So its a real mystery. Ive got new bulbs again but no return visit so far.
The pics below are not good quality but you can see the disturbance.

richard

[Nestonlady]

Just a thought but could it be moles?