Strange hole in the lawn

Norfolk · #1 (**permalink**) 23-04-2006, 02:39 PM

Hello all,

We have a lot of rabbits in our garden, who are extremely active in digging around. So last autumn when I tripped in a new hole in the lawn I assumed they were up to their usual tricks.

However when I mowed the lawn for the first time this year I thought I'd see how far they had gone. I put a stick down the hole, which was about 4/5 inches across and circular, and it went down about three foot, absolutely vertically, with no sign of any tunnels off it. It was almost as though there had been a fence-post in the lawn which had been pulled out (there wasn't). This didn't seem like the way a rabbit would burrow.

Also the stick came out with some yellowy pulpy stuff on the end.

What have I done? I wondered if it was a mammal, an insect - I know bees and wasps nest in the ground, but this seems like a very big hole. And also there was no evidence of any of the soil which was removed - it was just a hole fringed with grass.

Can anyone solve the mystery? Or point me in the direction of somewhere I might get an answer? i'd hate to think my stick had done some damage.

Thanks

glsammy · #2 (**permalink**) 23-04-2006, 04:20 PM

Hi and Welcome to WAB! I've no idea what can be causing the holes, no doubt some of our other more experienced hole making experts..

will be able to help..

gez · #3 (**permalink**) 15-05-2006, 04:20 PM

hi there, it may be a rabbits bolt hole! these are often totaly diff form a normal used hole & are quite well hidden.& the pulpy stuff? this may be from a insect that has took up residence there ? can you describe it better?

Alan · #4 (**permalink**) 15-05-2006, 05:33 PM

Hello Norfolk, and welcome to the forum

As gez says, it could easily be a rabbit bolt-hole. It could also be a mole hole - they don't always leave a hill, but at 4/5 inches wide, maybe not!

Norfolk · #5 (**permalink**) 16-05-2006, 08:33 AM

Thanks everyone - a rabbit bolt hole sounds like a possibility.

The yellow pulpy stuff could almost have been a very yellow clay - I did begin to wonder if it was an underground spring or something as it seems quite damp. Perhaps the whole garden will disappear!

I'll let you all know if I get any more clues.

Alan · #6 (**permalink**) 16-05-2006, 10:06 AM

Whan I was a teenager I did a lot of Ferreting. These bolt holes are just that, an emergency escape route. Some of them I've encountered can come straight up from a metre or so underground, and are very inconspicuous as they are dug from below. When a rabbit bolts out of these they can shoot straight up in the air, and I've often had one nealy hit me in the face as I looked into the hole wondering where the Ferret was!

Adam · #7 (**permalink**) 16-05-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Hello Norfolk, and welcome to the forum

As gez says, it could easily be a rabbit bolt-hole. It could also be a mole hole - they don't always leave a hill, but at 4/5 inches wide, maybe not!

Like Alan says, it could be a mole hole.

A mole hole is very likely as a mole is much better adapted to climbing vertically that a rabbit. Was the opening very small?