Whats happening in my lawn?

I am in Sonoma Co, CA. Just recently in the past week or so we have been noticing odd 'divots' in our lawn. As if someone came along and plucked a patch of grass from the lawn.

In our previous home we were in a more rural area, and had a problem with gophers. There were gopher tunnels all over the backyard. We lost many vegetable plants to the gophers.

In our current location we have not noticed any gopher tunnels, our garden beds are now raised and protection in place for gophers (fingers crossed).

However we are now faced with this 'divot' problem.

We have also noticed large beetles, and a lot of on the grown bird activity. Does anyone have any idea what could be happening?

More Pictures

Another

and another

One more- thanks for looking

Are the shallow indentations or actually holes?

Looks like gophers to me. Look for mounds of dirt, like this one I found in the green house yesterday. Sneaky rodents will hide the dirt in overturned pots, wheelbarrows, inside of my prized pumpkin, after they ate the inside. If gopher snake is not available, you'll have to resort to a vicious cat, or worse case (any other suggestions here?), poison.
Good luck!
WIB,
SW

The first picture especially looks like gophers to me as well. The mound could be hiding somewhere as SW suggested, or if there were old tunnels under your yard from a long time ago, I've found that new gophers will come in and use the old tunnels from time to time, and I'll see them make new holes like that but no new mounds (at least until they decide to go dig in a new area)

I would say they are more shallow than a hole. It definitely looks like something ontop digging in.

We have had experience with gophers, not on this property.
With these divots, we do not see any types of mounds like in the picture posted by SingingWolf.

I asked the same question on a nother fforum and they are suggesting it is raccoons or skunks digging for grubs. We know there is a possum or two in the yard, we are wondering if it could be that also.

I would agree that it's an animal digging for grubs. You can have a hole in a lawn with no surrounding dirt if it's a vole though.

Either one is a possibility. The Opossums will dig for grubs just like raccoons. And doss is right that voles won't leave a mound. Put you finger in the 'divot' and see if there is a hole below. If so, it's probably a vole, if not, it's likely that possum is finding some food the hard way.

If you find it's a vole and for all of you trying to get rid of gophers, there's a little attachment you can buy for you automobile that slips over the exhaust pipe and clamps on then has an attachment to convert to garden hose threads. You screw your garden hose to it, put the other end into the gopher hole, start your engine and gas the little varmints. Painless death anyway.

Another thought occurred to me, but I usually see this only after a gopher has been removed. It may be where toads have taken up residence. You may want to put the water hose down the hole and see if any toads turn up before trying DP's suggestion. I took three out of what I thought was an old gopher hole. Still can't figure out how the toads got in there since it was covered with a large pot till I could replace the dirt. I didn't want to trip over it. LOL!
Desert Pirate, I liked the idea of a painless death, but doesn't the carbon monoxide escape out the open holes? Gophers usually have front and back doors. Just wondering.
I don't seem to have problems with moles or voles. Don't think they live here. Raccoons stay away from my dogs, even the squirrels have learned to be quiet of the dogs descend on them. The opossums can be a nuisance but they usually go for the easy stuff like cat or dog food.
Desert Pirate, where do you buy that attachment? Auto parts store? Gardening center?
WIB!
SW

Found it at a hardware store, I think it was an Ace, maybe a TrueValue. But don't do the water hose thing first because gophers will "dam-up" the hole where water comes in rendering ineffective the 'gas' treatment. And yes the carbon monoxide will escape through the other holes, but it permeates the entire colony. And if you're concerned about the pollution effect, oh well, we all drive....everywhere..

Naw, hate rodents, hate causing pain, guess I'll make sure it is a fresh hole before attempting, providing I can find the right stuff at Ace or True Value. Hoping I can find a good gopher snake. My favored method of gopher reduction. LOL!
Thanks DP.
WIB,
SW

I just got off another thread and they used ground jalapeno sauce to drive off the gophers. We do not have gophers in Las Vegas unless they are gophering for a cocktail...LOL. I know that was very Dangerfield. You must realize i was raised with Don Rickles and the Mob. I have been in Las Vegas since 1960. Long before the corporations took over the hotels. Another thread maybe!!!!!

Who'd want to waste tasty jalapenos on the likes of a gopher. Gas 'em with you pickup truck.

LOL!
WIB!
SW