You don't indicate where you live. That would help. That kind of nocturnal activity is most commonly caused by raccoons and/or skunks digging for grubs. If your lawn has grubs and you're in an area that still has mild temperatures, that could be your problem. Once the temperatures really begin to fall, the grubs migrate deep down under the soil. If they're in the top several inches, the critters find them. If that's your problem, you will need to apply and water in a grub control product designated for use late in the season.

Usual suspects at night are skunks, armadillos, and raccoons. digging up worms and grubs.

This post was edited by texas-weed on Tue, Oct 15, 13 at 12:02

Thanks for your replies. I live in Virginia :-)

Anything I can buy and use to keep them away?

You must remove their food source, and that means controlling grubs in your lawn. You will never be able to buy something that actually works to keep the critters out. Don't fall for the gadgets in mail order catalogs. They do not work.

This month, you can use a late-season grub control product, but it will need to be watered in and might take a week to work. Next season, apply a grub preventive, something containing imidicloprid, also known as Merit, and call your VA Tech Extension service to find out when to apply it in your area. It's an excellent resource, and it's free.

Here is a link that might be useful: Virgina Tech Cooperative Extension

In addition to the critters listed above, we get possums doing it, too.

MulchMama,

Thanks for your helpful reply, I'll try that and hopefully it will work...

dchall_san_antonio,
I hope mine is not a possum, I've heard they're harder to get rid of...