They're probably going after European chafer beetle grubs. The beetle is
newly introduced, spreading fast, and apparently delicious.

On Fri, 20 Dec 2024, 07:31 Constance Sidles via Tweeters, <
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:


> Hey tweets, in answer to David's question, the lawn chews are most

> probably being caused by an invasive beetle, the European chafer beetle.

> The larvae feed on grass roots underground, loosening divots of grass

> clumps. The crows then move in and turn over the loose divots to eat the

> beetle larvae. So the crows are helping, not hurting! What surprises me is

> the sheer immensity of the beetles' activity. At Montlake Fill, large areas

> of the IMA fields are torn up. There must be thousands of beetle grubs at

> work. We need more hungry crows, and what about the gulls? They should get

> busy too. - Connie, Seattle

>

> On Dec 19, 2024, at 1:26 PM, David B. Williams via Tweeters <

> tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>

> Greetings all. I apologize if this was previous asked and I missed the

> answer.

>

> I assume that people have noticed all of the lawns and green grassy areas

> that look roughed up, as if someone was digging in the grass looking for

> something. I am pretty sure it's crows but I don't remember this behavior

> being so widespread and common.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Thanks kindly,

> David Williams

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