silly question

seneira · 07-17-15, 07:08 PM

So just out of curiosity if you find a small round hole in your yard what usually makes them? Also I can't see the bottom of the hole. I use to find them in Florida everywhere, but here in Pennsylvania I just saw one for the first time.

Albert Clark · 07-17-15, 07:13 PM

Possibly a ground hog, chipmunk, or a rabbit. Top 3 picks. Haha.

wrecker45 · 07-17-15, 07:14 PM

Probably a mole.

FWK · 07-17-15, 07:20 PM

Can you describe the hole? Approximate diameter? Has the area around the hole been cleared of debris (leaf litter, grass, etc.)? Is there any dirt piled near or around the hole and if so where is it relative to the hole and is it scattered loosely or rolled into little balls? Any other details that may be worth noting?

seneira · 07-17-15, 07:32 PM

I don't see any debris around the hole and it's a perfect circle. the holes no more than 2 inches round.

FWK · 07-17-15, 08:27 PM

Sorry to be so particular but to be clear when you say it is no more than two inches around you mean circumference right? If so the odds are very good it is some sort of burrowing insect. The lack of dirt piles suggests it isn't a new hole and the dirt has had time to erode. I don't know what burrowing insects are common in Pennsylvanian but in my neck of the woods (Texas) the most common suspects are Cicada Killers (Sphecius sp.) or Dung Beetles. Cicada killers usually leave the evacuated dirt in a neat semi-circle around the hole, Dung Beetles are messy and pile the dirt all around, sometimes in small balls or clumps.

If you mean two inches across (diameter) then a burrowing mammal becomes much more likely.

prairiepanda · 07-17-15, 08:26 PM

Small rodent, like a chipmunk. Sounds a bit small for a gopher, unless gophers in your area are small. Wouldn't say a mole because they make a pile of dirt at the entrance. Gophers, chipmunks, and many other burrowing rodents with decent eyesight clear the area around the hole so that they have a clear view around it as they emerge.