Randy Bilesky BScF CP RPF
President at Go Green
October 21, 2024
Yes, it’s a wildlife adventure in your yard! Those little bandits can really make a mess. Raccoons, skunks, and crows are all opportunistic foragers, and your lawn is like a buffet for them! They dig around looking for grubs and insects, which are a tasty source of protein. Grubs are particularly attractive to these animals because they’re easy to dig up and full of nutrients. Plus, crows are smart and will scavenge just about anything they can find. It’s a natural part of their behavior, but it can definitely be frustrating if they’re tearing up your yard!
If it gets too out of hand, some people try deterrents like motion-activated sprinklers or noise makers to encourage them to find dinner elsewhere.
The only proven biological strategy to defeat chafers is to use nematodes – microscopic organisms. These are watered into the grass in summer and attack the developing chafer larvae. However, there is only a narrow window of opportunity to use nematodes effectively, usually in the third or fourth week of July or the first week of August. The ground needs to be moistened in advance and ideally the nematodes should be applied in the evening or on a cloudy day.
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