Raccoons: here’s what they can do to your lawn
By Gary Bogue
Friday, October 24th, 2008 at 7:47 am in Lawn Abuse, Raccoons.
I’ve had some requests from people wanting to know how to recognize the kind of damage raccoons can do to your lawn.
This photo from one of my readers shows what happens when a small band of 2-4 raccoons go “prowling” through your lawn looking for earthworms and tasty grubs. The raccoons are usually attracted to
our lush, green lawns in the fall when the rest of the countryside turns dry and brown.
You can’t really blame the raccoons for foraging for food … BUT … there are humane ways to protect your lawn and still get along with your wild neighbors.
I’ve put together a 7-page “Gary’s Raccoon Help” and will be happy to provide a free copy to anyone who needs it.
If you need a copy, please request one under Comments/reply below. Please include your name and e-mail address so I can e-mail you back a copy. And please include your city so I know what area you’re from (I keep statistics on where the big raccoon problems are.)
Thanks. /Gary
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
October 24th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I live in Hercules, where my property backs up onto open space. The raccoons “party hardy” on a frequent basis, tearing up my backyard. I’d *love* a copy of “Gary’s Raccoon Help”. Thanks! (P.S. I love your blog….)
October 24th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I’d love a copy of “Gary’s Raccoon Help”.
I live on Springhill Road in Lafayette and both my neighbor and I are having problems with raccoons digging up our lawns.
My neighbor bought a motion-detecting rainbird sprinkler and set that up. Hopefully it works for the raccoons. I saw it scare a couple deer off the lawn this morning.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Gary:
Please send me a copy of “Gary’s Racoon Help”. We live in Pleasant Hill and our property backs up to an area of open space. A family of racoons has invaded our back yard and is digging up our back lawn and menacing our cat.
Thank you.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Gary, what about squirrels???? they dig everywhere and I have lots of planted pots..
October 24th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Please send me a copy of “Gary’s Racoon Help”. Although racoons haven’t affected my lawn yet, they have had a go at my neighbors’ yards, so mine my be next.
Thanks.
Elaine
October 24th, 2008 at 10:23 am
RABBIT EMERGENCY– dear Gary,Due to a foreclosure dear friends will be forced to move into an apartment. What to do with a large rabbit hutch and 20-30 animals?At least one shelter can’t cope with this many bunnies. Do you have any guideance for one or more locations which can give them a good home? Thanks in advance
October 24th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Get rid of the grubs underneath the grass. That’s good eatings for racoons.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I would greatly appreciate your guide. I live in Lafayette.
October 25th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Please send me a copy of “Gary’s Raccoon Help”. I live in Martinez, just off Center Drive. It’s solid houses here and several blocks from open space. There’s lots of raccoons in my area, along with skunks and opossums.
Thanks
October 25th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Please send your document. We live in San Jose, and have had our yard dug up twice this week.
October 25th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I’d like to receive a copy of Gary’s Raccoon Help’
The turf on the neighborhood street islands (11 of them) are being torn up by raccoons.
October 26th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Hi, Gary. PLEASE send me a copy of “Gary’s Racoon Help.” The racoons are making a mess of our front yard. Have used nematodes to eradicate grubs, but they are still destroying the lawn. P.S. There are more squirrels than ever before and they are being very destructive this year. Where are the hawks??
Barbara Britton
131 Luella Drive
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-2905
October 26th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Hi Gary,
My mom lives in Hayward and she’s having raccoon problems. May I have a copy of “Gary’s Raccoon Help” to pass along to her?
Funny - when I was living there (more than 30 years ago) I don’t remember any evidence of raccoons…
Thank you for your help!
DJ
October 26th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Hello Gary,
We live in Pilot Hill and have six acres. The first thing we did when we moved here seven years ago was to have an eight foot deer fence built around our vegetable garden and fruit trees. This works for the deer and they have the rest of the property to roam. However, we have a mystery and suspect raccoons are the culprits. Every year when the pears on one tree are still quite green and far from being picked (by us) they disappear overnight. In the morning every single pear is gone. This has happened for three years in a row. Maybe we should have a copy of your “raccoon help” book. Thanks for any suggestions you might have.
Kathleen Curtis
October 26th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Gary please send me a copy of Gary’s Raccoon Help. The raccoon have just started to laugh at me when I try to chase them away. I even brought out mt sons beebe gun but they just look at me and I couldn’t fire, I shot by them. I live in San Bruno, Ca. by Sweeney Ridge. Thanks, Don
October 26th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Hi Gary…I’d really appreciate your sending me a copy of your RACCOON HELP information. They are cute, smart, and quite aggressive. They love to burrow down into my back lawn for grubs. There must be some evil smelling/tasting material I can administer to my poor lawn.
Boris Minzyk
711 Blue Ridge Drive
Martinez, CA 94553
October 27th, 2008 at 7:04 am
I live in Concord and I need a copy of your raccoon guide!
Thank you.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Hi Gary, I offered up the 1st name for the Orange baby—did you enter it in the contest? Is there a prize for 1st entry? I still think Tomato fits perfectly and if you want to add a touch of class….add an exagerrated English accent!
October 28th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I am a groomer in Santa Barbara, Ca. The raccoons here have gotten to the point where they are targeting dogs- even large ones! I have had many clients that have had to rush their dogs to the emergency room at 10 at night and a few that have had their little dogs literally riped apart. Is there anything that you can recommend, other than contacting the federal trapper?
October 28th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Just when our lawn finally started to look good after the long hot Antioch summer the racoons discovered it! Please send me a copy so I can stop the morning ritual of stomping down the lawn divits! Thanks again.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:07 am
My sister in Bellevue, WA has endless raccoon troubles. They eat all the grapes on the deck and they poop all over the roof. NOTHING scares them away and they are actually destroying the roof. She can’t put out anything strong because the cats are on the deck often during the day. She wouldn’t use anything dangerous or violent.
Can you send her a copy of your raccoon booklet?
Christy Papadakis
1235 96th Ave. SE
Bellevue, WA
98004
Thank you very much.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
My sister lives in Pasadena and just put in a new lawn (sod.) She says the raccoons have been tearing it up and doesn’t want to poison them, just discourage them. I told her you would know what to do - you solved our squirrel problem. Would you email me the raccoon booklet? I’ll pass it on to her.
Thank you very much.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:40 am
Thanks for the great blog Gary. Please send me a copy of your Racoon guide. The bandits have been rolling up the lawn carpet nightly in East Danville.
Regards, Tom
November 4th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
My neighbors lawn is repeatedly dug up and I would love a copy of your Racoon Guide for her. We live in South San Jose, Blossom Hill area
Thanks
Frances
November 6th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I HAVE RACOONS TEARING UP MY LAWN EVERY FALL.PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF YOUR RACOON GUIDE.I COULD USE THE
HELP.MY NEIGHBOR HAD HALF OF HIS BACKYARD TORE UP IN
ONE NIGHT.OAK LAWN,ILLINOIS.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Hi- we live in Marin county, CA and recently sheet mulched with cardboard (This is to form a weed barrier under the regular wood chip mulch.) The cardboard attracts earthworms, but also… raccoons. Obviously, a big mess.
Look forward to any helpful advice!
November 7th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Hi Gary,
Love your sense of humor! Now we need a little help. May we have a copy of your racoon guide? For the first time in 30 years, racoons are visibly visiting our yard. While I appreciate their eating the grubs, they, for some reason, don’t put the lawn back where they found it. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk….
Thank you, Bobbie
November 7th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Please send me a copy of your raccoon guide. Many thanks!
November 7th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I would appreciate a copy of your raccoon pamphlet.
Thomas Straughen
2704 San Jose Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501
Thanks
November 8th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I would love a copy of your raccoon guide. I live on the San Francisco peninsula. This year the raccoons are targeting my lawn nightly. I haven’t had the problem before. Thanks a lot!
November 8th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
We have a family of four (at least) raccoons living in an enclosed rain gutter on one edge of our driveway. They come in through a window left open for the cats and ransack the kitchen. We’d like to move them out but don’t know how. An alternative-cat-door solution is not feasible. Please send help. Location: Oakland (Montclair, short distance above village.) Thanks.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I live in San Ramon and I need a copy of your raccoon guide!
Thank you.
November 9th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Hi Gary:
I would appreciate getting a copy of your “Gary’s Raccon Help.” I live in Novato, CA.
Thanks,
Sherry
November 10th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
hi gary monterey raccoons are killing me in my new lawn it looks like your pictures every morning send me a copy of your book please
November 11th, 2008 at 11:56 am
pls mail me ‘Gary’s Racoon Help’ right away. Huge problem in my yard. thank you.
Ruthie
Novato, Ca.
November 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Help Racoons are tearing up my new sod
thanks
Cindy
Paso Ca
November 14th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Hi Gary, I live in coarsegold california looking for a humane way to fix my raccoon problem. I would greatly appreciate a copy of your guide. thank you christie
November 15th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I live on Cortes Island, off the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Have quite a few fearless raccoons living around me…. Am considering getting some chickens and pigs and I’m always looking for ideas on how to deter these rascals!
November 17th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
The raccoons have been plowing up our back and front yards this year and also last year. Would like a copy of your Raccoon Help please.
Thank you.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
The raccoons have been plowing up our back and front yards this year and also last year. We would like a copy of your “Gary’s Raccoon Help.” We live in Pleasant Hill.
Thanks.
November 19th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Would love to have you send us, “Gary’s Raccoon Help”. We live in Orange County, San Juan Capistrano, and woke up this morning to a front yard that looks exactly like your second photo.
Thanks.
Tina
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:33 am
Doing research on this issue. haven’t read your book. I just want to know your best solution without laying in wait and shooting them with pellet gun.
HISTORY
I urinated around the lawn, a 30 x 120 rectagle, after racoons peeled back and tore up. They left for one year. Normal urine; do not drink alchohol I do like spicy food. It worked. Ever hear this before? Curious.Plese tell me your best solution. Thanks. Answer this and I will answer one legal question you have. and I will not send you a bill! (for too much) ha-ha, lawyer joke. I know ‘em all! Hope to hear from you.
Marty
November 24th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I live in Issaquah, WA. Our back yard is destroyed by racoon. I would like to have your document to work with problem.
Thanks
Prasad
November 26th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Please email me your seven-page document.
Thank you.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Gary:
I would appreciate getting a copy of your “Gary’s Raccon Help.” I live in Livermore, CA.
My lawn looks just like in the photo sent by a reader.
Thanks,
Dwight Vance
November 29th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
ear Gary,
Please email me Gary’s help for racoons.
I live in Seattle.
Thank you very much.
Anita Alokolaro
P.O. Box 31209
Seattle, Wa. 98103
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
PLEASE send me your anti-raccoon information. My lawn looks just like the second picture.
Thanks,
Sandy in San Luis Obispo
December 5th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Raccoons are making a mess of my front lawn for the past two months. Please send Gary’s Raccoon Help.
Thanks
Manny
San Juan Capistrano, CA
December 5th, 2008 at 10:43 am
I just layed down new sod and every night the raccoon family tears up my sod as in picture number 1. Please send me a copy of your book, I need help.
Thank you!
Best Regards,
Jack
Thousand Oaks, CA
December 7th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I would like a copy of your raccoon tips. A raccoon keeps pooping on our lawn. Thanks.
Monique
San Mateo, CA
December 9th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Hi Gary,
I would love a copy of “Gary’s Raccoon Help,” they are destroying my back lawn.
Thanks!
Maureen
Burbank, CA
December 10th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
My lawn has been destroyed much like th second picture but much worse. Please send a soft copy of the “Ratcoon Help” document. Also, when they are fininshed tearing my lawn up, they wash their paws in my fountain and leave a mud track path as they move next door for more destruction. tHANKS, PHIL
December 13th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Gary please provide me with your guide. Racoons are climbing over my fence and destroying the lawn. I have sprayed for grubbs but they still are comming.
Thank you,
John
December 15th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
pls. send me a copy of the guide. thanks so much!
the raccoons have been tearing up my lawn.
December 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 am
Hi. Can you please email me a copy of this to. I read about a few repellers you sprinkle over the grass but I’m not sure if that will work?
December 24th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Please provide a copy of “Gary’s Raccoon Help”. My lawn is torn up by these critters. I live in Redwood City, CA. Thanks.
January 4th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Please provide a copy of “Gary’s Raccoon Help”. We live in Olympia, Washington. We’ve been in this house for 11 years, and this is the first time we’ve had this problem! Thank you!