Readers ask: Do Shrews Damage Lawns?

Moles, voles and shrews can wreak havoc on lawns causing damage to the root system of your grass and ruining the look of your lawn. Their tunneling may cause destruction to your flowers, vegetables and shrubbery.

Are shrews bad for your yard?

Shrews don’t damage plants, and they do little or no burrowing into garden beds. They live under leaf litter and grass and might travel along existing mole and vole tunnels. For these reasons, shrews are beneficial in a garden and should not be eliminated unless they become a nuisance.

Do shrews dig holes in lawn?

Shrew Holes Shrews live in shallow tunnels, usually located under a rock or pavement in your garden. They dig tunnels similar to those of moles but are not destructive.

Are shrews destructive?

Generally, shrews do not cause damage to property. they potentially may feed on stored food and can contaminate it with feces and urine.

How do I get rid of shrews in my yard?

How to Get Rid of Shrews

1. Place shrew-hospitable shelters away from your garden area.
2. Rake up leaves and foliage.
3. Move all brick and firewood stacks into your garage.
4. Mow your lawn on a regular basis (shrews are attracted to tall grass.)
5. Clear away overgrown shrubs and low-hanging tree limbs.

Do shrews eat grass?

Basic Shrew Diet Although common shrews consume very high levels of invertebrates and other animal-based foods, they also occasionally eat some plant-based meals — think conifer seeds, for example. However, plant consumption is relatively uncommon in these animals.

Do shrews tunnel underground?

Shrews do not create surface tunnels but may feed in runways or tunnels of other small mammals.

Do hedgehogs dig holes in lawns?

Hedgehogs do dig, but unlike moles, who may wreck your lawn, or rats who may not be welcome, hedgehog digging does little damage. A few worm-sized holes in the lawn seems a small enough price to pay for offering sanctuary to one of our best-loved and most endangered mammals.

What is digging holes in my lawn at night?

Raccoons and skunks are two common grub-eating nocturnal culprits for digging in yards. If you have wild animals digging in your yard at night, they are almost certainly seeking either shelter, in the form of an underground burrow, or food, such as the grub worms many animals eat that live in the soil beneath the turf.

What causes small round holes in lawn?

What causes holes in the lawn? Most small round holes in the yard are likely to be caused by insects and small rodents like rats, moles, voles, squirrels and gophers. Characteristically, the holes will differ depending on what animal is digging them up.

Will a shrew eat my garden?

Although they don’t eat plant roots, they may be nuisances if you grow nut trees and may dig holes that disturb roots or bulbs. They can also be troublesome if they get into your home as well.

Do voles damage lawns?

Chewing by voles at the base of unprotected stems can cause girdling and result in significant dieback and even plant death. As turf pests are concerned, voles are among the vertebrate pests most likely to cause turf damage. Notable damage to turf most commonly occurs during the winter season under snow.

How do I know if I have shrews?

Some common signs of shrews and their damage include: Shrew droppings: small, dark-colored and corkscrew-shaped. Pungent odor in or around home. Pilfered plant seeds or bird seeds.

Does peppermint oil repel shrews?

Keeping natural predators of shrews like cats and dogs. These will kill shrews or repel them with urine. Shrews have a high metabolic rate, so curing your lawn of insects deprives them of a food source, forcing them out. Lastly, use peppermint essential oil spray as a natural repellent.

Are shrews protected?

Shrews of all species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) – but only from trapping and certain methods of killing.

What smell do shrews hate?

Foxes Hate Them, Trout Love Them Shrews may be fierce predators, but they’re small, which means they in turn become prey. Many mammalian predators, including red foxes, raccoons and cats, will attack them but rarely actually eat them. That’s because shrews emit an unpleasant musk that some liken to the smell of skunk.