Who Dug A Hole Like This????

[witham]

I saw this hole in the side of the drain a trail comes down the opposite bank and across the drain I have taken a few shots to get a clearer picture of where it is, there was no sign of footprints as they had been washed out by the heavy rain

[paulthomas]

Hard to say from those photos. Probably a Rabbit.

[Dogghound]

How big was the actual hole?

[witham]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

How big was the actual hole?

Big, much bigger than a Rabbits, I thought it may have been a Fox or would a Badger dig in such a perilous place, also the drain is a good metre and a half wide at the bottom so could a Badger jump or do they swim as the trail down the opposite bank definitely leads to it, It's much too far to be anything to do with the Badger we have near us but there is supposed to be a seperate group nearby

[Dogghound]

The large spoil heap at the front could indicate both a fox or badger. You may have to look around the hole for more clues, footprints, droppings, food caches etc. Although the fact its a single hole makes me think it may be more likely a fox.

[witham]

No footprints as I said if there were any they had been washed out by the heavy rain I'll have another look later this afternoon when I go back that way, no other obvious clues although the trail goes over where I was walking and disappears into some thick scrub, the other side of that is the old railway line now a bike track/foot path then there's some more scrub then the river bank.

[witham]

Me and the dog had a walk past there again and there are signs of fresh digging, I took a pic of some footprints at the entrance, hope they're clear enough, sorry about the shade it wasn't me but from the surrounding vegetation etc




There were a few of these holes on the top of the bank not too far away from the hole down the side

[Dogghound]

Its a Badger

[witham]

Thanks for the Badger I.D. yet again Doghound , crikey, I knew there were an awful lot in the county but seems we have our fair share in the locality, will the drainage board ignore it when it comes to 'do' the drains out as they inevitably will at some point, especially if it keeps digging at the rate it seems to be as it's getting very near to the sand falling into and blocking the drain. I hope there's not a cave in, sand is a bit iffy but not sure how far the seam goes as there's clay further along where we have found a few ammonite fossils over the years. We have someone from the local Badger group comming over to check the Badger activity and possible sett on our land and to record it, I think it will be best if I will mention this to him as well don't you think. I think this must be one of its auxiliary setts as it's a bit public to be the main sett, although its fairly quiet as the majority of people use the bike track further across, he maybe had a big night out and couldn't make it back to his main sett so thought 'this looks a good place to crash'

[mrs fish]

That is a cool find , keep us updated please