Why Are Crows Destroying the Grass and What Can Be Done

You've likely noticed there are a lot of crows digging up grass in Langley City recently, and you might be wondering why this is happening. The reason is the European Chafer, an invasive species that was inadvertently introduced to Metro Vancouver in 2001. It was first detected in New Westminister and has been slowly spreading. This infestation is now establishing itself in Langley City.

The European Chafer lays its eggs in grass, and its grubs feed on grass roots over the fall and spring. You'll notice an infestation if you have patches of dead or thinning grass, but this can go unnoticed because grubs feed during our rainy season. These grubs are delicious for crows, and while you might blame the crows for destroying grass, the European Chafer has already killed it. The crows are just a symtom.

Langley City's Parks department is fully aware that the European Chafer is in our community and is working on addressing it in our parks and boulevards. What can you do for your lawn?

If you live in a strata, a good first step is to let your strata council know and ask them to ask your landscapers to look into landscaping that is more resilient to European Chafer.

If you are responsible for your lawn, one thing you can do is mow your lawn to a taller height of 6-9 centimetres. You can also test a patch of your lawn over the fall through spring to see if you have an infestation. If you do, there are treatments available.

As for the crows, they are providing you with a service. They are removing the European Chafer. It is actually best practice to allow them to eat up these grubs. You can plant grass seeds or resod your lawn in April or May.

For more information on preventing and handling a European Chafer infestation, please read the document "Best Management Practices for European Chafer Beetle in the Metro Vancouver Region."