Who's been burrowing in my lawn?

[cupid_stunt]

Almost had a nasty accident when my foot got caught by this hole, whilst mowing the lawn, it wasn't there two & half weeks ago when I lasted mowed. .



It's about 20-25cm in diameter when you disregard the overhanging grass, and about the same deep, before taking a turn

From what I've found it's too big for mice, rat or vole actively, for the size I am guessing foxes or badgers, but there's no sign of spoil around the area, so perhaps it's a portal to another world?

I need to infill it, as it's dangerous, but I don't want to do that if there's foxes or badgers in there, how would I know? For now I've put a couple to sticks over it, to see if they get disturbed.



Any suggestions from the urban hive mind?

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-animal-holes

 

[Puddy_Tat]

how big are wombles?

 

[Epona]

Most likely I would say a rat.
Do badgers tend to burrow in open areas like that? Not sure, we don't get badgers round here so my experience is limited - although I did see the devastation they wreaked on my parent's garden by digging up bumblebee nests! The holes were much bigger and messier than that, but they weren't dens, just where the bees nests had been.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Most likely I would say a rat.

i've not knowingly encountered a rats' burrow but would rats make holes 25 cm in diameter, though?






although it could be a bloody big rat -

 

[cupid_stunt]

Most likely I would say a rat.

According to that link in the OP, rat holes tend to be 6-9cm in diameter, so I doubt it's rats.

 

[gentlegreen]

Yearling foxes most likely based on my experiences..lock up your shoes, gloves and dog toys ..

 

[moochedit]

Almost had a nasty accident when my foot got caught by this hole, whilst mowing the lawn, it wasn't there two & half weeks ago when I lasted mowed. .

View attachment 426933

It's about 20-25cm in diameter when you disregard the overhanging grass, and about the same deep, before taking a turn

From what I've found it's too big for mice, rat or vole actively, for the size I am guessing foxes or badgers, but there's no sign of spoil around the area, so perhaps it's a portal to another world?

I need to infill it, as it's dangerous, but I don't want to do that if there's foxes or badgers in there, how would I know? For now I've put a couple to sticks over it, to see if they get disturbed.

View attachment 426934

Any suggestions from the urban hive mind?

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-animal-holes

Moles?

 

[The39thStep]

Trotskyists

 

[WouldBe]

i've not knowingly encountered a rats' burrow but would rats make holes 25 cm in diameter, though?






although it could be a bloody big rat -

Coypu or capybaras.

 

[bellaozzydog]

Keep your eye out for a vaulting box

 

[gentlegreen]

I had the entrance to a fox den in my garden.
I stuffed progressively more challenging blockages in it to make sure I didn't trap one.

 

[T & P]

 

[Indeliblelink]

I think you should get a photo taken of you pointing at the hole while frowning and send it the local paper with an accompanying story.

 

[AnnaKarpik]

It's not rats, I've just cleared a section of flowerbed to try and move them on and a well-used hole is about 10cm max.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

It's not rats, I've just cleared a section of flowerbed to try and move them on and a well-used hole is about 10cm max.

capybaras, then

 

[Orang Utan]

I think you may have an infestation of Ricky Gervaises. Unfortunately, they’re very difficult to eliminate, their shit is extremely toxic and pervasive, and their persistent cackles are likely to keep you awake at night, so the only effective option for you is explosives.

 

[Dystopiary]

Neighbour's dog(s)?

 

[WouldBe]

But where's all the soil?

Juvenile grabboid?

 

[two sheds]

sink hole? I'd avoid going out in the garden

 

[cupid_stunt]

But where's all the soil?

That's what so weird.

sink hole?

Sink holes just go down, this is about 20cm deep, then has a tunnel heading away from the bungalow, towards the bottom of the garden.

 

[two sheds]

That's how they start it'll be 30 foot across by tomorrow

 

[smmudge]

Looks like a rabbit a hole to me

 

[moose]

Sorry about that, I was hungry.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Well the sticks haven't moved, so no beasties have been in or out of the hole overnight.

I also had a lightbulb moment last night, there used to be a willow tree there, that had to be cut down as it was too close to the bungalow and a surveyor was concerned if if was left to grow more it could undermine the foundations, so, I wondered if the hole had opened up because roots left behind have rotted, and that seems to be the case from looking at the video below.

Good job it was cut down when it was, as at that point the roots shouldn't have grown far enough to cause any subsidence problems <crosses fingers>.

 

[two sheds]

I'm still rooting for a sinkhole.

Was there any mining in the area? I heard that a bloke in the village up the road a few years ago went out in the garden on day and saw his oak tree had disappeared after it fell into an old mine working. Cornish tin miners apparently used to dig upwards when they were following a lode (tin vein) and went back down if they hit tree roots and tried somewhere else.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I'm still rooting for a sinkhole.

<groan> Let me help you with your coat.

Was there any mining in the area?

No mining in the area, the village was built on farm land belonging to a local estate.

 

[two sheds]

yeh yeh they didn't start making records of mines around here until the 1700s or so

 

[danny la rouge]

Napoleon got his channel tunnel further than previously thought?

 

[Gaia]

Nac Mac Feegles. Or rabbits. Or both...