About YardClues

YardClues is an independent educational resource that helps homeowners across the United States identify the strange things that show up in their yard — a hole that wasn't there yesterday, pellets on the patio, leaves chewed to the veins, a ring of mushrooms in the grass — and decide, calmly, what to do next.

Why we built this

Every yard produces mysteries, and most of them have ordinary explanations. But when you search for one, you usually land on a pest company trying to sell you a treatment, a forum thread with ten contradictory guesses, or a scientific paper written for entomologists. We wanted a calmer middle: one clear guide per clue that walks through the likely causes the way a knowledgeable neighbor would — what to measure, what to look for, which suspects are common and which are rare, when a clue is harmless, and when it genuinely deserves a professional's attention.

How we research our guides

Every guide is written by synthesizing established, publicly documented information: animal behavior and tracks, insect life cycles, and lawn, tree, and garden science. Our primary references are the Cooperative Extension System and the integrated pest management (IPM) programs run by land-grant universities — the same university and government resources that Master Gardener programs rely on. We explain the full process, and the specific kinds of sources we use, on our editorial guidelines page.

We write in plain American English for homeowners, not specialists. We do not invent statistics or cite studies we haven't read, and we never claim certainty — identification from a description is always a matter of probability, so we deal in "most likely," not "this is definitely."

Safety comes first

A lot of yard clues touch on health and safety: stinging insects, wildlife that can carry disease, structural pests, and mushrooms that are dangerous to children and pets. On those topics we are deliberately conservative. We do not give risky do-it-yourself chemical instructions, we never advise handling wildlife or droppings, and we point clearly to licensed professionals — pest control operators, certified arborists, wildlife control experts, veterinarians, or physicians — whenever a situation calls for one.

Editorial independence

YardClues is supported by advertising, which is clearly labeled and kept separate from our guides. Advertisers have no input into what we write or which causes we list. Our only job on the page is to help you understand what you found — nothing we cover is chosen to sell a product.

What YardClues is not

We can't see your yard, so we deal in probabilities, not diagnoses. YardClues is not a substitute for a licensed pest control operator, certified arborist, wildlife control professional, veterinarian, or physician, and nothing here is medical, veterinary, or legal advice. The details are in our disclaimer.

Corrections and suggestions

We take accuracy seriously and revise guides when better information comes to light. If you spot an error, disagree with a call we've made, or have a yard mystery we haven't covered yet, we genuinely want to hear about it — reach us through the contact page. Every message is read by a person.