Something's digging up the place...

GoDawgs · March 14, 2018

Something's digging lots of holes at night. The average hole is 6-8" deep, 4-5" wide at the top and cone shaped. I searched online last year when this was happening (it eventually stopped after a couple of months) and think it's probably either a skunk or armadillo. Haven't smelled any skunk around this year so maybe it's a 'dillo. Whatever it is, it's baaaaaack!

Can anyone confirm this or provide another possibility?

Where these clusters of holes are, there are usually about for or five of these large ones and a lot of smaller 3-4" ones. Like maybe it started digging, thought better of it and moved. Yesterday I backfilled fifteen holes in a 20' diameter area with maybe 6 large ones and the rest small ones. I grab a hoe and use that to scrape dirt back into the holes.

Here's one of the larger holes, located at the corner of one of the garden beds. Fortunately they haven't gone into any of those beds. So far, whatever it is has avoided the game cam.

Nan_PA_6b · March 14, 2018

I've seen similar holes over here that were rats moving in, but yours may be slightly bigger. The good news is it isn't eating your garden. What else is in the area that's appealing to it? Bird feeder? It seems weird that a wild animal would want to have a hole in an open space.

Nan

Douglas_OW · March 14, 2018

It doesn't matter what kind of critter it is. You need to discourage it now, before it gets comfortable, and moves into the garden. Once it digs up your plants, it will be too late.
You should consider stringing some electric fence wire around your garden beds. For a small area, you can use a solar powered charger with a few strands placed outside the perimeter of your beds, low to the ground. This will encourage the critter to move on to greener pastures, before your garden is ruined.

Jim

GoDawgs · March 14, 2018

I'm real tempted to stay up all night and check the area every hour on the hour with either the .22 or 20 gauge.....

Worth1 · March 15, 2018

Armadillo.
Worth

Goodloe · March 15, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Armadillo.
Worth

Yep, I'd bet on it. I have one that makes a tour through my front yard every so often. Just haven't been able to catch him in the act. I recommend #3 buckshot in your 20 ga.

Worth1 · March 15, 2018

I have an armadillo waller in one spot of my yard they love the thing.

Worth

GoDawgs · March 15, 2018

Thanks for the help! I haven't checked the game cam yet this morning. I sure hope it shows up and gives me a time frame for when it comes around.

brownrexx · March 15, 2018

We don't have armadillos in PA but our skunks dig small round holes looking for grubs. Their holes are about the size of a quarter and maybe 3" deep. They are also attracted to any blood or bone meal fertilizer so I don't use that.

imp · March 16, 2018

If it's an armadillo, you might have grubs. They are especially fond of grubs, which is good, but bad because they do tend to make holes like the one in the picture. They also like worms a lot, LOL.

If it's an armadillo, castor oil may make them leave.

http://www.havahart.com/how-to-get-r...adillos#choose

Patihum · March 17, 2018

You could set up a trap for it. Get a live cage and place 2 long boards to make a funnel to the opening. Secure the boards with in ground stakes so they won't fall over. We've caught several that way. Firearms are faster but who wants to set up all night waiting for them to show up only to have it be too dark to shoot.

Worth1 · March 17, 2018

Another option if it is practical is to look for the hole they live in.
I used to hunt and eat the things until I found out they carried leprosy.
My best was three running armadillos three shots.
They were cooked on the BBQ and folks thought it was the best rabbit they had ever had.

Worth

GoDawgs · March 17, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patihum

You could set up a trap for it. Get a live cage and place 2 long boards to make a funnel to the opening. Secure the boards with in ground stakes so they won't fall over. We've caught several that way. Firearms are faster but who wants to set up all night waiting for them to show up only to have it be too dark to shoot.

Thanks for that suggestion. I think I'd end up catching one of four very inquisitive cats.

I really wish I could get a game cam shot of one so I could narrow down the foraging time. But it's never too dark to shoot.

Goodloe · March 17, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDawgs

Thanks for that suggestion. I think I'd end up catching one of four very inquisitive cats.

I really wish I could get a game cam shot of one so I could narrow down the foraging time. But it's never too dark to shoot.

A gal after my own heart! You sure you're not from Bama?

upcountrygirl · March 17, 2018

Goodloe...ever seen Steel Magnolias? A southern woman(any woman if you push her far enough) is a force to be reckoned with!

March 14, 2018	#1
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Something's digging up the place... Something's digging lots of holes at night. The average hole is 6-8" deep, 4-5" wide at the top and cone shaped. I searched online last year when this was happening (it eventually stopped after a couple of months) and think it's probably either a skunk or armadillo. Haven't smelled any skunk around this year so maybe it's a 'dillo. Whatever it is, it's baaaaaack! Can anyone confirm this or provide another possibility? Where these clusters of holes are, there are usually about for or five of these large ones and a lot of smaller 3-4" ones. Like maybe it started digging, thought better of it and moved. Yesterday I backfilled fifteen holes in a 20' diameter area with maybe 6 large ones and the rest small ones. I grab a hoe and use that to scrape dirt back into the holes. Here's one of the larger holes, located at the corner of one of the garden beds. Fortunately they haven't gone into any of those beds. So far, whatever it is has avoided the game cam.

March 16, 2018	#10
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	If it's an armadillo, you might have grubs. They are especially fond of grubs, which is good, but bad because they do tend to make holes like the one in the picture. They also like worms a lot, LOL. If it's an armadillo, castor oil may make them leave. http://www.havahart.com/how-to-get-r...adillos#choose Last edited by imp; March 16, 2018 at 07:34 AM.

March 14, 2018	#2
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	I've seen similar holes over here that were rats moving in, but yours may be slightly bigger. The good news is it isn't eating your garden. What else is in the area that's appealing to it? Bird feeder? It seems weird that a wild animal would want to have a hole in an open space. Nan

March 14, 2018	#3
Douglas_OW Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NJ z5 Posts: 281	It doesn't matter what kind of critter it is. You need to discourage it now, before it gets comfortable, and moves into the garden. Once it digs up your plants, it will be too late. You should consider stringing some electric fence wire around your garden beds. For a small area, you can use a solar powered charger with a few strands placed outside the perimeter of your beds, low to the ground. This will encourage the critter to move on to greener pastures, before your garden is ruined. Jim

March 15, 2018	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Armadillo. Worth

March 15, 2018	#9
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	We don't have armadillos in PA but our skunks dig small round holes looking for grubs. Their holes are about the size of a quarter and maybe 3" deep. They are also attracted to any blood or bone meal fertilizer so I don't use that.

March 17, 2018	#11
Patihum Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Southeast Kansas Posts: 878	You could set up a trap for it. Get a live cage and place 2 long boards to make a funnel to the opening. Secure the boards with in ground stakes so they won't fall over. We've caught several that way. Firearms are faster but who wants to set up all night waiting for them to show up only to have it be too dark to shoot.

March 17, 2018	#15
upcountrygirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: south carolina Posts: 562	Goodloe...ever seen Steel Magnolias? A southern woman(any woman if you push her far enough) is a force to be reckoned with!