The meadow vole makes runways which are unsightly but will fill in during the growing season. The tunneling pine vole has been known to cause damage to turf by eating grass roots if their normal food supply of roots, tubers or bulbs is in low supply. Skunks and racoons Skunks and racoons can sometimes cause extensive damage to lawns if an adequate grub population exists. Skunks will usually dig golf ball size holes or smaller when removing grubs. Racoons may dig a similar size hole but will often tear sections of the sod apart in search of the grubs.
Damage is usually heaviest in the spring and fall when the grubs are near the surface.
As night feeders, both animals are seldom seen, but the damage is obvious. The food supply must be eliminated. The presence of moles in the lawn is usually an indication of a white grub infestation. Moles can cause considerable injury to lawns by raising ridges of turf over their runways as they tunnel through the soil in search of food. The ridges dry out, turn brown and give the lawn an irregular pattern of brown streaks.