very strange

[jibbx]

hi everone, new to the forum i am hoping someone can help me on this one . for the last 4-6 months i have been getting these strange soil piles at the bottom of my garden ( see pics ) . i no its not moles because it allways in the same place , and there is pea shingle and a membrain under that which when i clear the soil it is all intact . i would say after i clear it the following day there must be 25-30 kg of soil back there the next day ,and i dont put the soil anywhere near where i am moving it from. hope someone can help me on this one many thanks jibbx , cant upload pictures keep on saying exceed amount size sorry

[AshLee]

Maybe somebody is doing this? I can't think of an animal that transports that quantity of soil about. But I'm prepared to be proven wrong.

[jibbx]

thanks for your reply , but it is inpossible for a human to do this there is a railway embankment at the bottom of my garden about 20 feet high and very very over grown and it looks like the soil is been scraps under the fence. i also sat up one night trying to find this animal, i did hear well the only way i can descibe it was like a pig grunting and a snarling dog . and a lot of rustling , it was not any human noises

[AshLee]

Ahh, I see now - a picture paints a thousand words

The animal doesn't hibernate. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along. But I'm thinking badger or fox.

[davecatt]

Hi Welcome to WAB
Because this has been happening for several months I'm inclined to think that You have the entrance to a Badger sett at the other side of the fence. Because it is dug into an embankment the badgers are having a problem with the tunnel roof falling in, and have to clear out the debri.

The solution to your problem would simply be to block the bottom of the fence with something solid, a plank for instance, bottom edge buried an inch or two into the ground and supported by some short stakes should stop the soil coming through.

I hope this helps
Dave

[Wild-Woman]

One way you could check out what is digging there (I'd be inclined to suggest fox by the way as they are prolific diggers) would be to attach some sellotape face down on the underside of the fence so that as the animal digs, some of its fur will stick to the tape. If it's red/ brown- fox, if the hair shaft is white broken with grey, then badger. There may already be some caught on the fence itself. Just an idea.

[Merrow]

I'd go for badger what with the gruntingy noises etc too.