How Do I Keep Raccoons & Skunks from Digging Up My Lawn?

It starts with a few small holes. And before you know it, your yard looks like a crime scene. Raccoons and skunks don’t care about your lawn (or its curb appeal). 

These night-time burglars are here for the grub, and there’s not much that can stop them once they’ve decided to invade. So, how do you keep your yard from becoming their food hotspot?

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Why Are Raccoons & Skunks Digging in Your Lawn?

Before you treat the symptoms, you need to understand the cause. Wildlife is not digging up your lawn for fun; they’re simply following their instincts, looking for food.

Photo credits to unsplash.com

If you get to the root of why they are there, you can address the problem much better.

• Grub Hunting: Raccoons and skunks are insect connoisseurs, and their favourite dish? Grubs. These plump little larvae live beneath the soil, and both critters dig them up like buried treasure. If your lawn is full of June beetle larvae, earthworms, or other soil-dwelling snacks, it’s basically an open invitation for them.
• Food Scraps & Garbage Nearby: If there’s easy access to food, wildlife will come looking for it. Unsecured garbage bins, compost piles, bird feeders, or pet food left outside attract raccoons and skunks. Even if they’re digging in your yard, they may have originally wandered over because of a tempting smell.
• Soft, Easy-to-Dig Soil: Raccoons and skunks prefer moist, loose soil—it makes digging easier and means more insects are likely present. 
• Shelter & Nesting Sites: If your yard has cozy hiding spots (think under decks, sheds, porches, or dense shrubbery), raccoons and skunks may decide to stick around. Once they settle in, they’ll continue digging for food nearby.

How to Protect Your Lawn From Raccoons and Skunks

1. Remove Food Sources

If you eliminate their food supply, they’ll have no reason to dig.

• Treat your lawn for grubs using beneficial nematodes or grub control products. These reduce the grub population without harming your grass or the environment.
• Secure your trash bins. Raccoons are infamous for breaking into garbage cans. Use bins with locking lids or store them inside overnight.
• Clean up fallen fruit, seeds, and food scraps. If you have fruit trees or bird feeders, pick up any leftovers daily.
• Keep pet food indoors. Even water bowls can attract thirsty critters.
• Compost smartly, avoid adding meat, dairy, or strong-smelling scraps that raccoons and skunks can sniff out.

2. Use Physical Barriers

If raccoons and skunks can’t access your lawn, they’ll move on to easier targets. Physical deterrents make it difficult for them to dig, nest, or move freely.

• Lay chicken wire or mesh beneath garden beds, freshly seeded lawns, or sod to prevent digging. Make sure it’s buried at least 2–3 inches deep so they can’t pry it up.
• Install motion-activated sprinklers or lights to startle night-time visitors. Sudden bursts of water or light make raccoons and skunks uncomfortable, discouraging repeat visits.
• Create a gravel or mulch perimeter around common digging spots. Sharp-edged gravel or rough-textured mulch makes digging unpleasant for sensitive paws.
• Use fencing strategically. If raccoons or skunks nest under decks or sheds, install buried fencing at a 90-degree angle outward to prevent them from tunnelling underneath.
• Cover access points under porches and structures. If a raccoon or skunk finds shelter in your yard, they’ll stick around. So make sure they can’t get in in the first place. Use wood, rocks, or heavy-duty mesh to block entrances.

3. Try Natural Repellents

Most wildlife is quite smart. If they think danger is near, they won’t stick around. Natural repellents trick them into believing a predator is nearby or make your lawn unpleasant to dig in. 

• Raccoons and skunks hate spicy, strong-smelling odours. Sprinkle cayenne pepper, garlic powder, or citrus peels around common digging spots to make your yard less appealing.
• Placing ammonia-soaked rags near entry points or dig sites has been known to work. The smell mimics predator urine and keeps wildlife away from entering.
• Get motion-activated scent dispensers. These deterrents release bursts of essential oils or vinegar when triggered.
• Since most repellents can fade over time, it’s important to refresh and reapply, especially after rain. Also, rotating methods should be used to keep wildlife on their toes.

4. Modify Your Landscaping

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Your lawn’s layout could be an open invitation for raccoons and skunks. If they find shelter, easy digging spots, or lots of cover, they’re more likely to stick around and keep coming back. 

• Raccoons and skunks prefer remaining hidden, and overgrown shrubs and bushes provide them prime hiding spots. Keeping vegetation trimmed and well-maintained removes hideaways, making them feel less secure.
• Remove piles of leaves, wood, or debris since these critters love nesting under logs, brush piles, or stacks of firewood. Keep your yard tidy to eliminate their shelter options.
• Use hardscaping features to discourage digging. Add stone borders, gravel pathways, or decorative rocks to keep wildlife away.
• If raccoons and skunks keep tearing up your grass, consider turf alternatives. You’ve got–like clover lawns, ground cover plants, or artificial turf, which will all reduce their interest.
• If you spot small holes or tunnels near decks or sheds, fill them as soon as possible. Use gravel or dirt to show them whose yard it is and discourage further digging.

5. Create Disruption

Raccoons and skunks are creatures of habit; if they find a quiet, undisturbed place to dig or nest, they’ll keep coming back. Change your yard environment to force them out. 

• Rotate different repellents, sounds, and light-based deterrents so wildlife doesn’t get used to one method.
• Use timed noise disruptions with a portable radio playing talk shows or loud music near entry points at random intervals to spook unwanted visitors.
• If raccoons or skunks frequent a specific spot, try relocating furniture, decorations, or garden tools to disrupt their comfort zones.
• Raccoons and skunks dislike strong human smells. Sprinkling coffee grounds, human hair (from a brush), or even worn clothing near problem areas can discourage them.
• Change up watering times; for example, watering your lawn in the morning instead of the evening reduces soil moisture at night, making digging more difficult.

What Happens if Raccoons & Skunks Refuse to Leave Your Yard?

You’ve set up barriers, switched up your routine, and done everything short of getting into a snarling contest with the raccoons and skunks—but if they’re still treating your lawn like their personal excavation site, it’s time to call in the pros.

We specialize in pest exclusion and humane wildlife removal, ensuring raccoons and skunks move out—without harm. 

Whether you’re in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, or Regina, our team is ready to help. 

Call us to get an estimate and reclaim your lawn before all you’re left with is a post-battle minefield.