I just moved to upstate NY area. I don't have too much experience with lawn but I know my lawn is terrible compared to my neighbors'.
I took this picture today. There are clearly some activities under my lawn. I think it is killing my lawn because the upper left area in the photo is grass-less before I moved in. What animals are those? How can I get rid of them?
These holes below may not related to the first one because there wasn't any burrow. Just quarter size holes. What animal made these?
Most likely moles are the culprits in the first photo. As has already been mentioned, moles forage for insects and larvae that dwell in the lawns top soil. They don't harm the grass when they dig. The soil that is moved is pushed behind them and remain under the lawn so the grass will continue growing. For a non-toxic repellent I've read of castor oil mix with water in a spray tank and applied to the ground keeps them at bay.
The second and third photo's showing the tunnel opening is probably a mole and not a gopher. The pocket gopher will collect the soil that it excavates when tunneling in a large cheek pouch and disperse it out side so it fan shaped. Gophers will destroy lawns, but I believe they haven't colonized in your neck of the woods.
There are both species in your area. In the wintertime, the gophers go deep below the frost line. Pocket gopher pups do leave open holes like this without a mound of dirt. Typically this indicates they are 2 weeks old and are learning how to tunnel. Within 2 weeks more, if a huge mound appears,then consider a female pup pregnant.
Moles are not here in Arizona but I have trapped them before in other states as I’m a Wildlife Specialist. They do tunnel just underneath the surface consuming grubs and worms as it was mentioned before. They do have eyes, just thought I’d mention it as many think they don’t. They’re just tiny and buried in all that fur. Moles are not as destructive to homes and pools as gophers, bother leave yards looking ugly, moles leave endless connect the dots patterns and gophers leave open holes, mounds and plant destruction.
You may have both but I’m leaning more towards moles. The traps for moles are different and are aboveground. Trapping is the only “true method” for both.
If you need additional help, let me know.
Those look like mole runs under the sod. That is how they move around. They eat grubs and worms just under the root layer of the grass. Eliminate their food source and they will leave.
You can treat the lawn with grub killer or nematodes that kill the grubs. I have had these for years. They come and go but when I treat the lawn they seem to leave for a season.
Good luck!
