Regarding picture by Yoby in post 23 looks like same problem we had few years ago turned out to be a skunk digging for nightcrawlers, grubs, or whatever. Would always happen during the night, but he stayed to long one morning and I watched him doing it thru the scope, no problems since
Raccoons also will do this, same as skunks. I agree that is what this looks like.
If you have a lot of cutworms (Junebug larvae) it is like a buffet to coons and skunks. While they did you of the grubs they wreak havoc on your yard...as the grubs would have done.
Have you in the past couple years has a crazy year for June bugs within the past three years, yoby?