Turf damage - Ask Extension
Last night we had a lot of turf dug up in our front yard. I dug up another area with browning grass and only found one grub. I have seen squirrels dig...
Knowledgebase
Turf damage #945610
Asked September 22, 2026, 11:59 AM EDT
Last night we had a lot of turf dug up in our front yard. I dug up another area with browning grass and only found one grub. I have seen squirrels digging in my mulched areas but never in the lawn. Another small animal like a raccoon or skunk? We live in the middle of a housing subdivision. Picture attached. Thank You.
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Merry,
You can always email me directly!
Yes, it has to be grubs. And likely raccoons or skunks. It's odd that you only found one grub, unless the animals ate a large portion of them.
There is a rescue treatment that you have applied called Dylox (trichlorfon). Once applied and watered in, it can kill the grubs in 24-48 hours. However, it can be very deadly to birds who eat the grubs.
A lawn care company, like Lawn Doctor of Fort Collins, can apply this for you. Then you'll need to go about repairing the lawn by leveling and possibly reseeding (which may need to wait until the spring, unless you can water it in).
Next spring, in late May or early June, apply acelepryn sold as Scotts GrubEx. Apply with a fertilizer spreader set the correct setting. Then water it in with at least 1" of water. This will provide season-long control of all white grubs (Japanese beetles, chafers, billbugs, and cranberry girdler).
You can always email me directly!
Yes, it has to be grubs. And likely raccoons or skunks. It's odd that you only found one grub, unless the animals ate a large portion of them.
There is a rescue treatment that you have applied called Dylox (trichlorfon). Once applied and watered in, it can kill the grubs in 24-48 hours. However, it can be very deadly to birds who eat the grubs.
A lawn care company, like Lawn Doctor of Fort Collins, can apply this for you. Then you'll need to go about repairing the lawn by leveling and possibly reseeding (which may need to wait until the spring, unless you can water it in).
Next spring, in late May or early June, apply acelepryn sold as Scotts GrubEx. Apply with a fertilizer spreader set the correct setting. Then water it in with at least 1" of water. This will provide season-long control of all white grubs (Japanese beetles, chafers, billbugs, and cranberry girdler).
