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Wild Animals/Which animal made this burrow?
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Question
I am trying to figure out which animal made a series of four burrows along one wall of my house. That wall has no human traffic along it, and no dogs. It's a garden area, and the garden plants (mostly small bushes and 4" tall ground cover) goes right up to the house. The burrow entrances are all right up against the foundation, with two along the slab of the screened-in back porch. One is under a splashblock, and one is in the corner of a chimney.
Three of the entrances are at about a 45 degree angle. All of the entrances are from three to four inches in diameter, and three of them have quite a large amount of dirt mounded outside of them (perhaps half a wheelbarrow of dirt each). The dirt has no scat that I can see, and seems freshly dug. Last summer I saw these mounds but did not look for the holes, and thought it was some of the dirt I had added around the house, and so I spread it around so that it was no longer a mound. This year the mounds are back and I discovered the holes.
I live in SouthEast Michigan, nowhere near a lake.
I have seen the following animals on my property over the last year, but not often: Opossum, Raccoon, Rat, Rabbit. I have never seen a skunk or fox.
If it's anything but the Rat, I'm going to let them live there. If it's a rat hole, I'll get rid of them. How can I determine for sure?
Dear Bill
Thnak you for your question. I also wish to thank the authors of the websites I used.
A possible candidate is the woodchuck or groundhog (http://www.gardenguides.com/pests/pestinfo/woodchucks.asp#), but the holes seem to be too small, as woodchuck holes tend to be 10-12 inches wide. A rabbit is a possibility, but moles (http://www.gardenguides.com/pests/pestinfo/moles.asp) seem more likely.
I think the holes are too big to be made by rats, but I advise you to contact a local pest control officer to check the holes and determine what animal has made them.
All the best
Jonathan
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Answers by Expert:
Jonathan Wright
Expertise
I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.
Experience
I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.
Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.
Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group
Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.
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