Trail camera

[gpjoe]

Lately, I've got something digging in my yard. It has been sporadic, with a few holes in the lawn here and there, but this morning when I took the dog out for his morning business, I found approximately 30 small holes...each a couple inches in diameter, and an inch or two deep into the soil under the lawn. The damage was within an area about 40-50 feet in diameter, and looked like a miniature mine field.

It's been happening at night, while we sleep, so it's a nocturnal critter. We have coons, possum, squirrels, porcupine, foxes, skunk, and deer. I suspect raccoons or skunk but I'm not certain.

I want to set up an inexpensive trail cam to catch the intruder in the act, so that I can determine the correct remedy.

Will an inexpensive trail cam work?...any recommendations on brand?

I don't hunt, so this is a one time use, though I'll likely leave it up to surveil any potential bipedal intruders...for as long as it continues to function. I'd like to keep my budget under 100 bucks, preferably closer to $50 if that's reasonable.

 

[ColtRevolver]

If you have wifi, look into a wireless rechargeable security camera. They can be had for under 50 bucks.

My guess is you have a skunk problem.

 

[Filudo]

trap em (if legal)

 

[gpjoe]

trap em (if legal)

It is legal, though relocating is not...the animal must be euthanized.

My guess is you have a skunk problem.

I'm not sure.

We recently got a new Weber gas grill. The grill has a removable drip tray under the cast body of the grill that slides out to replace a disposable foil liner.

One morning a couple weeks ago I found the tray pulled out and a greasy mess of paw prints all over my deck. I cleaned everything up and removed the tray, and the next night the same critter came back and was reaching up through the slot on the underside of the grill and scraping any bits of grease that were accessible on the inside of the grill, creating another mess. We now have to store the grill when not in use.

I'm guessing that was a raccoon, but I may have a skunk too.

 

[spacemonkey42]

I have a Browning trail camera that works well. I’ve used it to figure out things like you mentioned. Otherwise it watches the yard and I pull the card out and review footage periodically.

 

[Whisky]

The holes in your yard are a standard sign of skunks, they’ll dig holes looking for grubs. I’ve had it happen in my yard before. You may also have a raccoon around that’s getting into your grill but skunks will do that kind of stuff too.

I’d get an indoor/outdoor webcam instead of a trail cam. The web cam you can use in the house for security if you want to after you figure out what’s in your yard, and it’ll give you live feed.

A trail cam is pretty much check it later to see what walked in front of it.

 

[gpjoe]

Just had a conversation with my wife...

...she said it's squirrels, and she's seen them in action.

We've got two LARGE trees in the area of the digging. I'm not sure what they are, definitely not oak, but they drop hard, green "fruit" (about the size of a nickel) that dries into a hard brown shell...with a nut inside. The nuts must get embedded in the lawn below, andI'm guessing that the foraging has ramped up as fall/winter approaches. Though the funny thing is, we've been here five years and never had any problem 'til now.

Humorous story:

We have chipmunks. They are kinda cute and nondestructive so they haven't been any problem.

In the summer, I store my winter boots in a closet in the garage, and my winter gloves in a cardboard box on a low shelf.

Last winter, I went to put on a pair of boots...and found the toe of one boot filled with nuts. When I grabbed my gloves, one was filled with nuts.

I've seen him in the garage in the past, and he squeaks and runs out under the chewed up seal at one end of the garage door. We've got a new door this year, so he'll have to find a new storage location.

Anyway, she thinks it's squirrels, but I'm still gonna get a camera to verify exactly who doing the digging.

 

[mikhou]

Could also be armadillos. They'll dig all over as well.

 

[Whisky]

Could also be armadillos. They'll dig all over as well.

Not a whole lot of Armadillos in Michigan, but in Texas they were definitely a nuisance.

 

[gpjoe]

Could also be armadillos. They'll dig all over as well.

My buddy had an armadillo problem in Tennessee, digging much larger holes in his lawn that were hazardous when mowing. As @Whisky pointed out, thankfully, I'm too far north.

 

[Whisky]

Just had a conversation with my wife...

...she said it's squirrels, and she's seen them in action.

We've got two LARGE trees in the area of the digging. I'm not sure what they are, definitely not oak, but they drop hard, green "fruit" (about the size of a nickel) that dries into a hard brown shell...with a nut inside. The nuts must get embedded in the lawn below, andI'm guessing that the foraging has ramped up as fall/winter approaches. Though the funny thing is, we've been here five years and never had any problem 'til now.

Humorous story:

We have chipmunks. They are kinda cute and nondestructive so they haven't been any problem.

In the summer, I store my winter boots in a closet in the garage, and my winter gloves in a cardboard box on a low shelf.

Last winter, I went to put on a pair of boots...and found the toe of one boot filled with nuts. When I grabbed my gloves, one was filled with nuts.

I've seen him in the garage in the past, and he squeaks and runs out under the chewed up seal at one end of the garage door. We've got a new door this year, so he'll have to find a new storage location.

Anyway, she thinks it's squirrels, but I'm still gonna get a camera to verify exactly who doing the digging.

It could be squirrels. We have tons of them around here and the dig but very rarely do they dig in the yard. Most of them enjoy tearing up the flower beds, probably because the dirt and mulch have been tilled and is easier to dig in.

 

[mikhou]

My buddy had an armadillo problem in Tennessee, digging much larger holes in his lawn that were hazardous when mowing. As @Whisky pointed out, thankfully, I'm too far north.

Ha! 1) I didn't catch where you are. 2) I have no idea where armadillos are and aren't. Being from Louisiana, I just see 'em everywhere down here.

 

[KenM]

I had the same thing happening last summer, it was racoons, I guess, digging for grubs. I put down grub killer and it's not happened since. Here's an article I ran across while researching what to so.

How to choose and when to apply grub control products for your lawn

Not all the grub control products on store shelves will be effective this spring. Here’s how to choose and use the right one for your lawn.

www.canr.msu.edu

 

[Frito Ray]

Squirrels are usually daytime critters. My money is on skunks.


Don’t cheap out too much on a trail cam because you will find other uses for it once you have it...never thought we would have a homeless problem in Canada.

 

[gpjoe]

I had the same thing happening last summer, it was racoons, I guess, digging for grubs. I put down grub killer and it's not happened since. Here's an article I ran across while researching what to so.

How to choose and when to apply grub control products for your lawn

Not all the grub control products on store shelves will be effective this spring. Here’s how to choose and use the right one for your lawn.

www.canr.msu.edu

Yep. This is why I need a camera, to determine my course of action.

I contacted the DNR and it's legal to "eliminate" racoons and squirrels since the animals are considered a nuisance and therefore fair game with no season and no license required. Though that will be a last resort (unless they start damaging the house).

We moved here for the natural beauty, and the wildlife is part of a "package deal". This is their home too, so I will research the possibility of grubs as the cause, and try eliminating those first.

 

[StillShaving]

When I saw the thread title and username, I thought why is gpjoe aka GoPro Joe posting about trail cameras.

I don't have any specific camera recommendations. A gopro might do well for a long timelapse, but I think they do poorly in low light.

 

[nemo]

Will an inexpensive trail cam work?...any recommendations on brand?

I've had three now. Older Bushnell is OK but I didn't like another I had, hard to set up and unreliable.

Right now I'm really enjoying using my new $50 GardePro E5S. Works well night and day, clear pics and videos.
www.amazon.com/GardePro-Advanced-Automatic-Activated-Waterproof/dp/B09ZLLH64Q

I think you've got a skunk digging.

 

[Ad Astra]

They have gotten better and cheaper (of course); hunting season clearance, they are about giving them away.

Hide it well, people steal them. My neighbor's done some clever things with his Blinks.

AA

 

[gpjoe]

I've had three now. Older Bushnell is OK but I didn't like another I had, hard to set up and unreliable.

Right now I'm really enjoying using my new $50 GardePro E5S. Works well night and day, clear pics and videos.
www.amazon.com/GardePro-Advanced-Automatic-Activated-Waterproof/dp/B09ZLLH64Q

I think you've got a skunk digging.

Just ordered this one from the 'zon for $43...I will post mug shots as soon as available.

 

[Frito Ray]

Just ordered this one from the 'zon for $43...I will post mug shots as soon as available.

Take the time to get to know your camera too, especially in night mode.

I was initially surprised when I saw my black nylon(?) jacket appear white in night mode. Could make identification by clothing difficult.