Who dug this hole?
Discussion
I was just in my garden throwing a ball for my dog, and noticed a hole in the edge of a bank in my garden. It is about the circumference of a tennis ball, and it appears to go straight down for 10 out twelve inches and then turns a corner.
My first thought was a squirrel bit they have only ever dug small craters into pots and flower beds, not left a really neat deep hole like this.
Here are some photos, and one with the pooch who's a small patterdale for size reference.
My first thought was a squirrel bit they have only ever dug small craters into pots and flower beds, not left a really neat deep hole like this.
Here are some photos, and one with the pooch who's a small patterdale for size reference.
Very odd that there is no spoil to be seen. In fact, other than the hole, no sign of any activity on the surface either. Any obvious paths made in the grass by repeated visitors?
Beyond that I can't really help, save to say it looks too large to be a small rodent's hole. They're flexible little so-and-sos, and tend to keep the entrances to burrows as small as possible to deter predators, as well as digging them under better cover. Maybe something has broken through to the surface by digging from underneath, with another entrance elsewhere, possibly outside of your property?
Jam a smoke grenade in the hole, and see where else the smoke comes up from? Choking pyrotechnic smoke should also flush out whatever is in there. Cross your fingers and pray it isn't angry, though, with sharp and pointed teeth...
Beyond that I can't really help, save to say it looks too large to be a small rodent's hole. They're flexible little so-and-sos, and tend to keep the entrances to burrows as small as possible to deter predators, as well as digging them under better cover. Maybe something has broken through to the surface by digging from underneath, with another entrance elsewhere, possibly outside of your property?
Jam a smoke grenade in the hole, and see where else the smoke comes up from? Choking pyrotechnic smoke should also flush out whatever is in there. Cross your fingers and pray it isn't angry, though, with sharp and pointed teeth...
Having looked at rat holes (quiet) on Google I think it's rats. Balls. I'll send the terrier in. Pretty sure she'll chase them but do f
k all when she catches them. She chased a chicken once and caught it and I thought I would be clearing up a feathery mess. I get around the corner and she's lying on her back, wagging her tail, pawing the air towards the chicken like she does with dogs to get them to play.
k all when she catches them. She chased a chicken once and caught it and I thought I would be clearing up a feathery mess. I get around the corner and she's lying on her back, wagging her tail, pawing the air towards the chicken like she does with dogs to get them to play.Sounds like rat to me too. Definitely too big for a vole - our garden is vole city and there's nothing that size.
This may help. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-w...
Edit. Bear in mind that it may have been there for some time, and only became visible when the vegetation died back. Also consider that although it may be a rat hole there might be something else living in it now. Maybe a stoat if you're lucky.
This may help. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-w...
Edit. Bear in mind that it may have been there for some time, and only became visible when the vegetation died back. Also consider that although it may be a rat hole there might be something else living in it now. Maybe a stoat if you're lucky.
Edited by Mort7 on Saturday 26th January 21:20
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