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Re: Holes in the ground
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Dan Espen
May 18, 2012, 9:19:46 PM5/18/12
to
denn...@dennism3.invalid (Dennis M) writes:
> http://web.blomand.net/~dennmac/hole.jpg
>
> The past few weeks I've noticed several small holes that are about 2 inches
> wide appear in my back yard like the above example. I've been at this
> location for six years and this is the first time I've seen a bunch of
> small holes like this, which is odd. I live at the foot of a mountain and
> have had a running problem with moles, but currently there are no active
> mole tunnels and I don't think moles are doing this. I tried filling all
> the ones I could see up with dirt about a week ago but the holes were back
> very soon.
>
> By chance I overheard some people talking in a local store about small
> holes in the ground yesterday and one guy said the only thing he knew that
> would cause a hole like this are snakes, but I haven't seen any snakes in
> this area yet. The holes are in close proximity to my sunflower seed bird
> feeder which is mounted on a 6 foot steel pole for what that's worth.
>
> Any ideas what could be causing these holes? Thanks.
I get holes like that too.
Central New Jersey.
My best guess is Skunk.
Looks to me like an animal digging for grubs.
--
Dan Espen
> http://web.blomand.net/~dennmac/hole.jpg
>
> The past few weeks I've noticed several small holes that are about 2 inches
> wide appear in my back yard like the above example. I've been at this
> location for six years and this is the first time I've seen a bunch of
> small holes like this, which is odd. I live at the foot of a mountain and
> have had a running problem with moles, but currently there are no active
> mole tunnels and I don't think moles are doing this. I tried filling all
> the ones I could see up with dirt about a week ago but the holes were back
> very soon.
>
> By chance I overheard some people talking in a local store about small
> holes in the ground yesterday and one guy said the only thing he knew that
> would cause a hole like this are snakes, but I haven't seen any snakes in
> this area yet. The holes are in close proximity to my sunflower seed bird
> feeder which is mounted on a 6 foot steel pole for what that's worth.
>
> Any ideas what could be causing these holes? Thanks.
I get holes like that too.
Central New Jersey.
My best guess is Skunk.
Looks to me like an animal digging for grubs.
--
Dan Espen
Red
May 18, 2012, 9:26:27 PM5/18/12
to
On May 18, 7:55 pm, denni...@dennism3.invalid (Dennis M) wrote:
> http://web.blomand.net/~dennmac/hole.jpg
>
> The past few weeks I've noticed several small holes that are about 2 inches
> wide appear in my back yard like the above example. I've been at this
> location for six years and this is the first time I've seen a bunch of
> small holes like this, which is odd. I live at the foot of a mountain and
> have had a running problem with moles, but currently there are no active
> mole tunnels and I don't think moles are doing this. I tried filling all
> the ones I could see up with dirt about a week ago but the holes were back
> very soon.
>
> By chance I overheard some people talking in a local store about small
> holes in the ground yesterday and one guy said the only thing he knew that
> would cause a hole like this are snakes, but I haven't seen any snakes in
> this area yet. The holes are in close proximity to my sunflower seed bird
> feeder which is mounted on a 6 foot steel pole for what that's worth.
>
> Any ideas what could be causing these holes? Thanks.
Clue #1: Where's the dirt that came out of the hole? A squirrel,
> http://web.blomand.net/~dennmac/hole.jpg
>
> The past few weeks I've noticed several small holes that are about 2 inches
> wide appear in my back yard like the above example. I've been at this
> location for six years and this is the first time I've seen a bunch of
> small holes like this, which is odd. I live at the foot of a mountain and
> have had a running problem with moles, but currently there are no active
> mole tunnels and I don't think moles are doing this. I tried filling all
> the ones I could see up with dirt about a week ago but the holes were back
> very soon.
>
> By chance I overheard some people talking in a local store about small
> holes in the ground yesterday and one guy said the only thing he knew that
> would cause a hole like this are snakes, but I haven't seen any snakes in
> this area yet. The holes are in close proximity to my sunflower seed bird
> feeder which is mounted on a 6 foot steel pole for what that's worth.
>
> Any ideas what could be causing these holes? Thanks.
chipmonk, or other top dwellers would leave the dirt near the hole. A
snake will move loose surface dirt to get under something (i.e. a
mostly horizontal hole) but they're not going to dig a verticle hole
out in the open like that one in the pic.
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
David Hare-Scott
May 19, 2012, 12:22:08 AM5/19/12
to
Dennis M wrote:
> http://web.blomand.net/~dennmac/hole.jpg
>
> The past few weeks I've noticed several small holes that are about 2
> inches wide appear in my back yard like the above example. I've been
> at this location for six years and this is the first time I've seen a
> bunch of small holes like this, which is odd. I live at the foot of a
> mountain and have had a running problem with moles, but currently
> there are no active mole tunnels and I don't think moles are doing
> this. I tried filling all the ones I could see up with dirt about a
> week ago but the holes were back very soon.
>
> By chance I overheard some people talking in a local store about small
> holes in the ground yesterday and one guy said the only thing he knew
> that would cause a hole like this are snakes, but I haven't seen any
> snakes in this area yet.
Snakes have no means of digging. They may use holes dug by others but there
> http://web.blomand.net/~dennmac/hole.jpg
>
> The past few weeks I've noticed several small holes that are about 2
> inches wide appear in my back yard like the above example. I've been
> at this location for six years and this is the first time I've seen a
> bunch of small holes like this, which is odd. I live at the foot of a
> mountain and have had a running problem with moles, but currently
> there are no active mole tunnels and I don't think moles are doing
> this. I tried filling all the ones I could see up with dirt about a
> week ago but the holes were back very soon.
>
> By chance I overheard some people talking in a local store about small
> holes in the ground yesterday and one guy said the only thing he knew
> that would cause a hole like this are snakes, but I haven't seen any
> snakes in this area yet.
are no snake excavators.
D
Nancy Young
May 19, 2012, 12:14:38 PM5/19/12
to
On 5/18/2012 10:16 PM, Dennis M wrote:
> There is no dirt surrounding the holes. I'm pretty sure there's a network
> of tunnels under the ground caused by moles, I remember when I tried to
> fill them up with dirt I'd stick my fingers in and I could reach
> horizontally in some directions as far as my fingers would go (probably not
> a good idea if it's snakes doing this).
Chipmunks make nice clean holes like that and they lead to
chambers and other exit holes.
nancy
> There is no dirt surrounding the holes. I'm pretty sure there's a network
> of tunnels under the ground caused by moles, I remember when I tried to
> fill them up with dirt I'd stick my fingers in and I could reach
> horizontally in some directions as far as my fingers would go (probably not
> a good idea if it's snakes doing this).
Chipmunks make nice clean holes like that and they lead to
chambers and other exit holes.
nancy
Message has been deleted
Dan Espen
May 19, 2012, 2:40:31 PM5/19/12
to
They go down about 2 inches with no tunnels going anywhere.
We have lots of chipmunks but I'm outside all summer and I've never
observed one being dug.
We have other holes that are plainly chipmunk tunnels.
Almost always next to a root or rock so they can tunnel under something
solid.
We have lots of raccoons and skunks. So since I don't see them in
action, I blame one of them.
--
Dan Espen
Kay Lancaster
May 19, 2012, 5:42:02 PM5/19/12
to
On Fri, 18 May 2012 19:55:44 -0500, Dennis M <denn...@dennism3.invalid> wrote:
> http://web.blomand.net/~dennmac/hole.jpg
>
> The past few weeks I've noticed several small holes that are about 2 inches
> wide appear in my back yard like the above example. I've been at this
> location for six years and this is the first time I've seen a bunch of
> small holes like this, which is odd. I live at the foot of a mountain and
Looks like a vole hole to me... they're critters similar to mice, and they tend
> http://web.blomand.net/~dennmac/hole.jpg
>
> The past few weeks I've noticed several small holes that are about 2 inches
> wide appear in my back yard like the above example. I've been at this
> location for six years and this is the first time I've seen a bunch of
> small holes like this, which is odd. I live at the foot of a mountain and
to make these flat holes that are (depending on species) 1-2" or so.
Other possibilities include crawdads and chipmunks, as well as a number of
other species. Depends on where you live, but a call to the local extension
service or master gardeners will usually get you a list of local probabilities.
Gophers typically dig a mound with the hole off to one side and a fan of
bare, dug up soil around it... sort of like an off-center egg yolk in a fried
egg. Moles make volcanoes with the hole in the middle. Voles do the very
flat holes, usually 1-maybe 2" in diameter, depending on species and local
erosion.
Kay
Message has been deleted
Kay Lancaster
May 20, 2012, 5:42:02 AM5/20/12
to
On Sat, 19 May 2012 18:49:47 -0500, Dennis M <denn...@dennism3.invalid> wrote:
> In article <slrnjrfho...@hub.fern.com>, Kay Lancaster
> Voles sound like a good possibility. I've heard of them, and the pellets I
> buy sometimes to fight moles also say they can take care of voles. When the
> moles really get bad I'll usually wrap the pellets up in chewing gum to
> make them more palatable to them, that's a lot cheaper than buying that
> "worm-like" poison.
Voles are also known as meadow mice or field mice, and look pretty mouse-ish.
Short ears. They go through boom and bust population cycles
(like most small mammals) and you're probably in a boom year now... about
7 years is a typical small mammal boom and bust cycle. You'll probably have
a lot of happy owls, coyotes, cats, etc. with full bellies. <g>
If you see a lot of plantings that look like you've got root disturbance going
on, pull any loose mulch away from them and you'll probably get the voles to
go elsewhere.
> In article <slrnjrfho...@hub.fern.com>, Kay Lancaster
> buy sometimes to fight moles also say they can take care of voles. When the
> moles really get bad I'll usually wrap the pellets up in chewing gum to
> make them more palatable to them, that's a lot cheaper than buying that
> "worm-like" poison.
Voles are also known as meadow mice or field mice, and look pretty mouse-ish.
Short ears. They go through boom and bust population cycles
(like most small mammals) and you're probably in a boom year now... about
7 years is a typical small mammal boom and bust cycle. You'll probably have
a lot of happy owls, coyotes, cats, etc. with full bellies. <g>
If you see a lot of plantings that look like you've got root disturbance going
on, pull any loose mulch away from them and you'll probably get the voles to
go elsewhere.
Red
May 20, 2012, 9:14:14 PM5/20/12
to
On May 19, 6:49 pm, denni...@dennism3.invalid (Dennis M) wrote:
>
> I really don't mind these holes as much as the mess that moles can make.
> Maybe the voles can drive the moles away, lol.
>
Look at other posts in this group about getting grass to grow. You'll
usually see a response about renting an aerator to make holes similar
to the ones you have. It allows air to reach down into the soil and
makes plants healthy. So if the holes you have are not causing you a
problem consider them a benefit.
>
> I really don't mind these holes as much as the mess that moles can make.
> Maybe the voles can drive the moles away, lol.
>
Look at other posts in this group about getting grass to grow. You'll
usually see a response about renting an aerator to make holes similar
to the ones you have. It allows air to reach down into the soil and
makes plants healthy. So if the holes you have are not causing you a
problem consider them a benefit.
David E. Ross
May 21, 2012, 2:06:20 AM5/21/12
to
this thread indicated holes about 2 inches in diameter, which can be a
hazard to an unwary person walking across the lawn.
--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
<http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>
Brooklyn1
May 21, 2012, 9:27:48 AM5/21/12
to
On Sun, 20 May 2012 23:06:20 -0700, "David E. Ross"
<nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote:
>On 5/20/12 6:14 PM, Red wrote:
>> On May 19, 6:49 pm, denni...@dennism3.invalid (Dennis M) wrote:
>>>
>>> I really don't mind these holes as much as the mess that moles can make.
>>> Maybe the voles can drive the moles away, lol.
>>>
>>
>> Look at other posts in this group about getting grass to grow. You'll
>> usually see a response about renting an aerator to make holes similar
>> to the ones you have. It allows air to reach down into the soil and
>> makes plants healthy. So if the holes you have are not causing you a
>> problem consider them a benefit.
>>
>
>Aerators make holes about 1/2 inch in diameter. The original message in
>this thread indicated holes about 2 inches in diameter, which can be a
>hazard to an unwary person walking across the lawn.
And if voles they are far more destructive than moles... mole
<nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote:
>On 5/20/12 6:14 PM, Red wrote:
>> On May 19, 6:49 pm, denni...@dennism3.invalid (Dennis M) wrote:
>>>
>>> I really don't mind these holes as much as the mess that moles can make.
>>> Maybe the voles can drive the moles away, lol.
>>>
>>
>> Look at other posts in this group about getting grass to grow. You'll
>> usually see a response about renting an aerator to make holes similar
>> to the ones you have. It allows air to reach down into the soil and
>> makes plants healthy. So if the holes you have are not causing you a
>> problem consider them a benefit.
>>
>
>Aerators make holes about 1/2 inch in diameter. The original message in
>this thread indicated holes about 2 inches in diameter, which can be a
>hazard to an unwary person walking across the lawn.
tunneling is merely unsightly but they do the benefit of eating
grubs... however voles eat plant roots leaving death in their wake.
The reason there's no mound of excavated earth at those holes is
because they are very likely exit holes, their entrance holes could be
many yards away, maybe under a large rock or shrub. If you begin to
notice dying plants and dead patches of lawn you have voles. I didn't
notice any lawn around those holes, just bare earth and sparse weeds,
very likely not a gardener living there, just someone curious about
the holes but in all likelyhood will do nothing about them.
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