Mystery hole

[doodlebug]

Hi wildlife fans How is everyone?

Okies...last week i caught my rather over excitable dog sniffing around a patch of my lawn near the edge of some decking and next to my kitchen.

On further inspection, i found a hole! It's about 50mm accross and sort of goes straight down, and then curves off about 100mm into the actual hole itself.

Now i didnt know if there was anything actually living in there, but i put some soil over the hole in the hope of seeing what happened.

Well, i went out yesterday to have a nose at it, and it appears the tunnel has been re-dug and the hole is back!!! I popped a couple of peanuts and some sunflower seeds at the edge of the hole, again, a couple of hours after i left them, they had gone! So i know there is something living in there.

Not sure what though! I've taken a photo, although i cant upload it at the moment there are no obvious runs coming out from it, and no signs of droppings or anything. I have smoothed the soil at the entrance of the hole this morning with the hope that whatever is in there will leave a clue in the form of some handy footprints.

So...my question is...WHAT IS LIVING IN THERE? I dont think its a rat, im thinking vole or mouse. As i said, the fact the soil is patted down around the hole is my doing to get some footprints, there wasn't a real mound where the soil had been put my the creature.

Here is a photo of it!

[mh68]

Hi Doodlebug, welcome to WaB

Sounds like a Wood Mouse to me, by the way the hole goes straight down before levelling out.

Mark H

[doodlebug]

Oooo thats lovely, i love Wood Mice I think ill just leave them too it then, they can forage all they want in my garden, hopefully they wont decide to wander into my kitchen

[mh68]

If you`ve got bird feeders in the garden keep an eye out under them, as Wood Mice love to mop up fallen seed etc, even during the day. They love peanut butter too, our Mouse can sniff out peanut butter within seconds, wherever I put it in the garden...good way of getting close views or pics

Mark H

[doodlebug]

Originally Posted by mh68

If you`ve got bird feeders in the garden keep an eye out under them, as Wood Mice love to mop up fallen seed etc, even during the day. They love peanut butter too, our Mouse can sniff out peanut butter within seconds, wherever I put it in the garden...good way of getting close views or pics

Mark H

Oooo great stuff, yeah i have a few bird feeders with seeds which do fall on the ground, again my hound keeps sniffing around here as well, she's a terrier so i guess its in her nature

Ooo id love to get piccies of it, ill dust off my 400mm lens and see what happens

So it wouldnt be a rat living down there then?

[mh68]

I think if it had been a Rat, you`d have seen it by now - theyre not exactly shy creatures
Wood Mice are so small, and fast they`ll often exist unnoticed, you have to watch carefully to spot them due to their speed.Best way would be to put something like peanut butter in an easily observed spot near the hole and watch closely at dusk. The culprit should show itself then

Mark H

[doodlebug]

Originally Posted by mh68

I think if it had been a Rat, you`d have seen it by now - theyre not exactly shy creatures
Wood Mice are so small, and fast they`ll often exist unnoticed, you have to watch carefully to spot them due to their speed.Best way would be to put something like peanut butter in an easily observed spot near the hole and watch closely at dusk. The culprit should show itself then

Mark H

Ahh great stuff, ill get some peanut butter and see what happens Thanks so much for letting me know, as i said, i thought i was a mouse/vole but nice to know someone else thinks the same Im happy the mouse has decided to make my garden its home