Moles or grubs?

[NC FNS]

I’ve heard various things about moles and grubs, but I’m wondering if one or the other has wrecked my yard. I have had a lot of moles tunnels over the last few years. Anyone know? Pics attached (hopefully) show what my yard looks like now, and a different part of my property that shows what the first pic has usually looked like in the past.

 

[OMCHamlin]

I’m fighting the same thing, I have been told that you are best to treat the grubs, as they are food for the moles, which are damn ankle breakers all over my yard in every direction.

 

[Slidboot]

Tough call, but I had to pick one, I'd pick moles. Grubs usually select really nice turf grass; you can lift up the lawn and see them---ugly white beetle larvae.
But I probably wouldn't pick either; I've had moles and ground hogs and such, but I've never seen that kind of damage.

 

[Watertender]

Maybe skunks digging for grubs? They are like candy to the two toned stink machines

 

[eveled]

Maybe skunks digging for grubs? They are like candy to the two toned stink machines

My first thought too.

I gad the same issue. I put down milky spore one time about 20 years ago. No more grubs, no more digging.

 

[NC FNS]

I have a gamecam pointed at the yard. Never seen a skunk. Lots of squirrels . Occasionally a possum or coon, sometimes a deer or bear, but usually the neighbor’s cat. Actually had a pic of the cat holding a rodent of some sort, mouse or mole, from a week or two ago. I’ll try to post it next week when I can get to it.

 

[hittman]

I bet a local lawn company would give you a free estimate and tell you what it is.
Wife’s aunt had a bunch of moles …… 1 or 2 treatments to kill grubs and moles went away. Wasn’t expensive either.

 

[contender]

Grubs. Kill them & other problems go away.

 

[Jeepnik]

I too would go with grubs. But I take a different view of critters. Nightly I have a skunk, several possums and a couple of coons come through my yard. They stay for a while eating whatever they find. Often this is oriental water bugs, crickets, black widows and what have you. As far as I know I don't have grubs. But if I did the population would be pretty small with all the critters dining at casa Jeepnik. I do tend to have lots of sowbugs and earwigs, so this may be what they are after. Because this was such a mild winter the crickets never disappeared.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Grubs like turfgrass. If dead spots in lawn turfgrass are suspected to be caused by grubs, one should be able to see more than two in a square foot area. Usually only have to lift a portion of the turf to see many. An occasional grub cannot and will not cause destruction of an entire area. If the area is dead because of grubs, you'll A LOT of evidence.

That looks like it was sprayed with 41% gly so either the local municipality spilled/overdosed killing the right of way weeds as maintenance, a vandal got you, or some other runoff/transfer of chemicals took place. Grubs don't like weeds and they generally won't kill every single kind of vegetation like chems will. If it was a yard with traditional grass, I could help more.

 

[Jim Walsh]

My vote is for grubs. Just kill the grubs and everything else will go away.

 

[loaded round]

Definitely grubs. Looks like my yard years ago before l I got professional lawn care people in to treat my lawn. Good luck!

 

[tazbigdog]

Tough call, but I had to pick one, I'd pick moles. Grubs usually select really nice turf grass; you can lift up the lawn and see them---ugly white beetle larvae.
But I probably wouldn't pick either; I've had moles and ground hogs and such, but I've never seen that kind of damage.

^what he said. Peel some grass up, and if you have grubs, you’ll see white wormy larvae. Treat for that with pesticide.

 

[arfmel]

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