Looking to ID/deter critter tearing up yard, some say only eating grubs in soft ground.
A distant friend suggested moth balls BUT am reading lots of no-nos on that idea .... even cancer/organ damage ..

Yes, have broadcast grub killer granulars but rain did not arrive to soak it in as "weatherman" promised here in Aggieland (mostly native clay soils).

The worse damage was to a whole line of 4in pots greshly planted in potting soil overnight!
Here fat raccoon takes suspect spotlight.

Other critters often spotted at times over the decades
skunk
armadillo
fat possum
over run with squirrels (shingles wear/tear damage)

UGH - add weather problems last 4 years, this black thumb about to give up anything not in pots, which do not have a perfect batting average either!

Thank You! Good to have backup advice
Neighbor/daughter of the green thumb said same thing, so application was Apr1 (HEB Wellborn also carries it)

Until known for sure ...
Poll WHO IS IT?
Skunk (seen but not often under bird feeders)
Raccoon (seen but not often under bird feeders)
Armadillo (not yet seen)
Squirrel (only in daylight)
Feral cats (seen always day/night)
Gray fox (rare)
Coyote small (2 nights ago)

Winner WILL be acknowledged


Next:
DETERRANTS?
Prefer safe for all good things out there, including occupants not completely immune, regardless of vaccs
FYI: Applied Aprr 1 attachment

Dollars in new plants dug up that will die if this continues
replacing plants that could not survive Feb deep freeze, summer droughts w/county salty waters that were rationed

Thanks for thinking the native, volunteer vegetation is pretty enough and certainly little/no care needed.
I agree with this & these new repair plantings to cature the status quo of the past is my last effort.
Weather & critters may prove dollars, time, efforts wasted on new plants this year.

Above read:
"The worse damage was to a whole line of 4in pots greshly planted in potting soil overnight!"

This may not be helpful for you, but it was for me.

Rather than spend time and money applying various products (many of questionable safety) to my yard with limited results, I decided to coexist with nature and not care if my flowers were eaten or my beds were dug up a bit……and now I'm a lot happier.

Except fire ants……F those SOB's.

I agree, no argument & was SOP for me until Feb deep freeze, then no salty county water = replacements were time/money down the drain + the critters that DO eat termites, wasps, etc. I've lived with for decades on this acre.

This will be the last attempt to "repair"/restore the house surroundings, now that hospital survivng wife is home with a view of all that from her window.

There's also wisdom in allowing God to volunteer plant & grow what/where He wants that TGIV doesn't have any caretaking duties! These volunteers are much grander and THE survivors. Bare areas still persist however.

I am on board with your preaching ... next year and beyond, no question. Golf a better outlet & exercise.

After all these years of losing to fire ants ... what FINALLY works for me!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D60GAW2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1