Lawn Invaders: Common Pests in Alaska and How to Fight Back

The Hidden Threat Beneath Your Lawn

Alaska may not have the same pest pressures as warmer regions, but that doesn’t mean our lawns are immune to invasive insects and damaging critters. While your lush green grass might look healthy from above, there could be trouble lurking just beneath the surface. Lawn pests in Alaska, although less numerous, can still cause significant damage if not properly managed.

From turf-hungry grubs to tunneling voles and surface-dwelling insects, pests can turn a well-maintained lawn into a patchy, brown, and uneven mess. And with our short growing season, quick intervention is crucial to give your grass a fighting chance to recover.

In this article, we’ll explore the most common lawn pests in Alaska, how to spot the signs of an infestation, and most importantly, how to handle them using environmentally innovative, effective strategies suited to our northern climate.

Voles: The Subterranean Lawn Destroyers

If you’ve ever noticed a network of winding, shallow trenches cutting through your lawn when the snow melts in spring, you’ve probably met the vole. These small, mouse-like rodents remain active all winter, tunneling beneath the snow and feasting on grass roots and stems.

Signs of Vole Activity:

• Snake-like trails or runways on the surface of the lawn
• Chewed grass, bark, or shrubs
• Small burrow holes in turf or garden beds
• Damage is most noticeable after the snow melts.

Why They’re a Problem:

Voles don’t just eat grass—they destroy root systems. Heavy infestations can leave large areas of lawn dead or stunted, requiring full reseeding or sod replacement.

How to Handle Voles:

• Habitat modification: Remove dense ground cover, piles of debris, or brush where voles hide.
• Traps: Place snap traps near active runways in early spring or fall.
• Repellents: Castor oil-based repellents can deter voles from active areas.
• Physical barriers: For gardens or young trees, install hardware cloth around vulnerable roots.

Pro Tip: Voles are especially active near forested areas or homes with woodpiles. Monitor these edges closely during winter and early spring.

Lawn Grubs: The Root-Chewing Culprits

Grubs are the larval stage of beetles, and though less prevalent in Alaska than in other states, they do exist, especially during warmer-than-average seasons. These white, C-shaped larvae live underground and feed on the roots of grasses, causing turf to brown and die in irregular patches.

Signs of Grub Infestation:

• Brown or spongy patches of turf that lift easily like a carpet
• Birds, skunks, or moles digging for grubs
• Grass that wilts despite adequate watering

Why They’re a Problem:

Grubs sever the roots of your lawn, leaving grass unable to absorb water or nutrients. Left unchecked, a small infestation can spread quickly and cause widespread damage.

How to Handle Grubs:

• Manual inspection: Dig up a 1 ft² patch of turf and count the grubs. More than 5–10 per square foot may require treatment.
• Beneficial nematodes: These microscopic organisms naturally kill grubs without harming your lawn.
• Milky spore (less common in Alaska due to soil temperature requirements)
• Preventative insecticides: Apply in late summer when grubs are most active, but use them sparingly to protect pollinators and soil health.

Pro Tip: Healthy lawns with deep roots and regular care are more resistant to grub damage—consider core aeration and proper fertilization.

Cutworms and Armyworms: Nighttime Grass Feeders

These surface-dwelling pests are caterpillar-like larvae that chew through grass blades and stems, often during the night. While large outbreaks are rare in Alaska, warmer springs and the introduction of imported soils can occasionally lead to them.

Signs of Cutworm or Armyworm Damage:

• Circular bare spots or clipped grass
• Presence of caterpillar-like larvae near the soil surface
• Increased bird activity in certain areas of the lawn

Why They’re a Problem:

Cutworms feed at the soil surface, cutting the young blades and stems of grass. Armyworms can move in groups and decimate patches of turf in a matter of days.

How to Handle Them:

• Spot treatments: Insecticidal soap or neem oil can manage localized outbreaks.
• Diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle around infested areas to disrupt soft-bodied pests.
• Early mowing: Short grass deters egg-laying and makes detection easier.
• Natural predators: Encourage birds and beneficial insects, such as parasitic wasps.

Pro Tip: Most outbreaks in Alaska are isolated. Monitor closely in early summer and treat early to prevent larger infestations.

Sod Webworms: The Silent Turf Wreckers

Sod webworms are the larvae of lawn moths, and while their presence is typically more prominent in the Lower 48, they’ve been occasionally reported in warmer Alaskan summers. The tiny worms live in silk tunnels near the soil surface and feed at night on grass blades.

Signs of Sod Webworm Activity:

• Irregular brown patches that worsen during hot spells
• Tiny green droppings (frass) in the thatch layer
• Sightings of small moths flying just above the grass in the evening

Why They’re a Problem:

The larvae chew grass down to the crown, weakening the plant. If unnoticed, damage spreads and can result in widespread browning.

How to Handle Sod Webworms:

• Keep thatch to a minimum with regular dethatching.
• Biological control: Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in early larval stages.
• Spot insecticide treatments: Use with caution to preserve beneficial organisms.

Pro Tip: Sod webworms tend to thrive in under-irrigated lawns. Regular watering and mowing at the proper height help minimize infestations.

Ants, Aphids, and Surface Nuisance Insects

While not always destructive to turf, these surface pests can weaken plant health and attract other problems.

Common Types:

• Ants: Can disrupt turf by building mounds, especially in dry, sandy soil.
• Aphids: Often found on garden plants, but they also infest adjacent lawn edges.
• Chinch bugs (rare in Alaska): Damage grass by sucking sap from blades.

How to Handle Nuisance Insects:

• Boiling water or vinegar for ant mounds (be cautious with lawn damage)
• Insecticidal soap or neem oil for aphid outbreaks
• Maintain a healthy lawn to make it less inviting to pests.

Pro Tip: Many nuisance insects are seasonal and can be controlled naturally by encouraging birds, ladybugs, or ground beetles.

Proactive Pest Control Means a Healthier Lawn in Alaska

Alaska’s lawns may not face the same pest pressures as other states, but when problems do appear, they hit hard and fast. With a short growing season and dramatic weather swings, homeowners need to take early, preventative action against common pests like voles, grubs, cutworms, and webworms.

The good news? With routine lawn care, smart watering, proper mowing, and occasional organic pest treatments, you can maintain a strong, resilient lawn that resists infestation and bounces back quickly.

Need help diagnosing or treating a pest problem in your lawn? Contact a local landscaping or lawn maintenance expert in Alaska who knows the region’s specific challenges and can help tailor a pest management plan that works for your yard and the local ecosystem.