As a homeowner in Southaven, MS, it’s important to be able to distinguish if the damage to your lawn was caused by raccoons rather than other wildlife like skunks, armadillos, opossums, moles, or rats. Raccoons often leave distinct clues behind. Look for scattered, divot-like holes or patches of upturned sod in your yard. These are signs of raccoon activity as they dig for grubs, worms, and insects beneath the soil. Raccoons also tend to create larger, messier areas of destruction compared to smaller pests.

Skunks, on the other hand, dig smaller, cone-shaped holes when hunting for insects. Armadillos leave long, narrow holes and often root around in search of insects, creating distinctive trenches. Opossums rarely cause noticeable lawn damage. Moles, in their quest for earthworms, produce long, raised ridges and mounds of soil.