What could be causing these holes??

[dippasan]

So I have about 25-30 of these critter holes all over the grass on my Sleepers Island property. I set up a baited "Have a Heart" trap for about a week and caught nothing. I've never seen a chipmunk on the property but there are a lot of red squirrels. I have yet to see anything go in or out of the holes. In 5 years being out on the island this is the first summer I've seen holes like this.

If I run water down the holes with the garden hose it will run on and on and not fill up. I've put moth balls down the holes. I see no mole tracks either.

I'm stumped! Neighbors are stumped too.

Thanks in advance for any info

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by dippasan

So I have about 25-30 of these critter holes all over the grass on my Sleepers Island property. I set up a baited "Have a Heart" trap for about a week and caught nothing. I've never seen a chipmunk on the property but there are a lot of red squirrels. I have yet to see anything go in or out of the holes. In 5 years being out on the island this is the first summer I've seen holes like this.

If I run water down the holes with the garden hose it will run on and on and not fill up. I've put moth balls down the holes. I see no mole tracks either.

I'm stumped! Neighbors are stumped too.

Thanks in advance for any info

Could it be skunk holes after they were searching for grubs?

[Not to Worry]

I have the same thing in my yard. I am sure mine are chipmunks.

[TCC]

Snakes ... maybe?

[pjard]

I have the same things and they are chipmunks without a doubt.

[Slickcraft]

Back to the holes in question, chipmunks for sure. Some find then a problem, we do not. Just let them be and they will hibernate for the winter. Or maybe they go south?

[That Guy]

1. Get Lawn Mower
2. Pour quart of oil into tank
3. Connect garden hose to exhaust
4. Place garden hose into hole
5. Start lawn mower

[ApS]

Red squirrels make trashy nests and don't burrow.

Chipmunks make tidy entrances to their burrows—not like these. It doesn't look like an average-sized chipmunk would even fit those holes—plus chipmunks are a "daytime" critter. That you haven't seen them is another clue that what you have are voles—which are reportedly only nocturnal.



(Though my photo above of a Wolfeboro vole was taken during daylight hours).



"Broomstick-sized" holes are a sign of voles.

Vole populations can grow very large within a very short period of time. Since litters average five to 10 young, a single vole can birth a hundred more voles in a year.

Wikipedia

.

[TiltonBB]

I have about 20 of the same holes in my lawn. They go deep and have tunnels. One day about 3 weeks ago when it was real rough and the waves were hitting my shorefront block wall water was coming out the holes 6 feet from the shoreline. They must have built some nice waterfront condos down there!

I thought it might be from chipmunks because my yard is loaded with chipmunks, but this is the first year that they have dug all of the holes. I bought some "shake" type powder at Lowes and put it in each hole. The container says that they don't like the scent. It seems to be working because the holes that I put the powder in and filled with loam have not been re-dug.

[SIKSUKR]

Chipmunks have made similar holes around my property.

[dippasan]

In all the time I spend here I've never seen a chipmunk here or heard their "chirping". I have tons of chipmunks at home but there are no holes in my lawn at home. They live in the stone walls and brush.

Holes are too small to be skunks. I thought about snakes but I would have seen one basking in the sun at some point. I'm starting to think maybe something nocturnal because I've never seen anything go in or out of the holes during the day.

Might have to pull an all night vigil with a tall vodka drink.

P.S Not my crock in the photo. Just wanted to make that clear.

[ishoot308]

Reminds me of this...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR0sWU1HzTE



Dan

[dippasan]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Reminds me of this...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR0sWU1HzTE



Dan

That's what I was thinking when I said "All Night Vigil"
.22 would probably do nicely but don't wanna scare the neighbors

[SAMIAM]

I have a lot of mole tunnels but was advised by a friend who is a landscape contractor to leave them alone. He said that they aerate the soil and do more good than harm.
Now...if my cat would just stop murdering them.

[dippasan]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I have a lot of mole tunnels but was advised by a friend who is a landscape contractor to leave them alone. He said that they aerate the soil and do more good than harm.
Now...if my cat would just stop murdering them.

That's pretty interesting. Never thought of it that way. I can see where that could be helpful. The holes I have seem to go to China

[dippasan]

Originally Posted by ApS

Red squirrels make trashy nests and don't burrow.

Chipmunks make tidy entrances to their burrows—not like these. It doesn't look like an average-sized chipmunk would even fit those holes—plus chipmunks are a "daytime" critter. That you haven't seen them is another clue that what you have are voles—which are reportedly only nocturnal.



(Though my photo above of a Wolfeboro vole was taken during daylight hours).



"Broomstick-sized" holes are a sign of voles.







.

I would vote Voles as well. I did set up a have a heart trap with the traditional peanut butter with seed on a cracker and not so much as a nibble.

Think I'll try it again.

[SIKSUKR]

I will say that I have had a lot of mole activity also but mostly in spring.They always make shallow tunnels that can be seen above after the snow melts.They also have done lots of damage by looking for grubs but usually the raised lawn can just be stamped down as they rarely use those tunnels again.
Voles can certainly damage plants.Here is a brief article on them.

suspect #2, the voracious vole

Voles look like mice; some are commonly called meadow mice or pine mice. Voles may travel through mole tunnels, but also dig their own burrows. The only visible evidence of a vole burrow is the neat exit holes an inch or two across. Vole holes can be right out in the open, or cleverly hidden under foliage or debris in the garden. Deep mulch and areas of groundcover plantings offer excellent vole habitat. Voles eat plants, and are far more destructive in the landscape than moles. Voles can travel above ground but really prefer to stay hidden. They may make pathways just under mulch, matted leaves, boards or snow; just about anything laying on the surface of the soil will make a nice roof for a vole run.
Voles are rodents, with front teeth designed for gnawing. All parts of plants can be vole food. Since voles like to work under cover, it's the undergound parts pf plants that bear the brunt of the vole's foraging. Bulbs, fleshy roots like those on Hostas, and tree bark at the soil line all fall victim to voles' appetites. A favorite trick of the vole is to eat the roots of a plant without disturbing the top growth at all. Many vole-plagued gardeners have gently lifted the leaves of a "sick" plant, only to find the roots have been completely eaten away. A previously unseen tunnel leads right to the stricken plant.


FWIW I've seen chipmunks in very similar holes that you show.