Strange Hole In The Garden

[Tilly2]

What creature would dig a round 2 inch hole in the flower border of my garden. Its round and goes down about 3 inches and then veers off to the side.

Picture here.


http://i59.tinypic.com/2agrmzc.jpg

[Tilly2]

Off again. Thanks for the answers, everyone. I am not going into the garden tonight. There are some funny things lurking around. Oh, rats!

[tonyav]

Take your torch with you.

[Retrochic]

Rat hole. We had a few like that at the side of our hen house,about 2 1/2 inches in diam. OH saw a rat as big as a 4 month old kitten come out.

[janbee]

Foxes dig all the holes in my garden

[waterboatman]

It's a leprechaun getting ready for St. Patrick's day on Monday.

[RATTER15]

The holes in the tree are most likely a woodpecker.

[RATTER15]

Retro, please don't go down the road of rats the size of cats, they don't exist in the UK, it just peoples vivid imaginations, and yes I seen all the photo shopped pictures as well.

[Tilly2]

Well, I won't be leaving the back door open today. I don't want any funny little Irish creatures in my house.

The hole is next to the fence and on the other side of the fence is a chicken coup.

Not the woodpecker, Ratter. He uses the other tree to bash his peanuts on.

[Chipchopper]

Hi Tilly,

Just going by the hole size alone, my vote is 'rat'.
Is it anywhere near to where you feed the birds ?

[Tilly2]

Hi Chip. Yes, it's virtually under the feeding pole and next to the bird bath. Food and water 'on tap'.

Is it an exit hole? There is no loose soil around it. It's a very clean hole.

[Tilly2]

.....any ideas about the tree holes, Chip? I saw a bee type thing with its head down one of the holes yesterday but I couldn't find any information.

[RATTER15]

//The hole is next to the fence and on the other side of the fence is a chicken coup.// definitely a rat, a rats body is about 2 inches across, don't believe anything else you hear about the size of rats, its twaddle!

[Thecorn]

A fracker ?;)

[Tilly2]

ok, ratter. Shall I put a plant pot over it? Will that stop it/them or will the just excavate another hole?

[RATTER15]

Oh! and my money is still on the woodpecker!! http://macphailwoods.org/wp-content/gallery/snags-and-debris/woodpecker-holes.jpg

[RATTER15]

Tilly, It will need to be killed, advise your neighbours of the situation as they be quite harmful to the chickens, especially young ones, they would be best to treat the problem from their side really, if you block the hole from your side the rat will just come up at a different spot. if you put poison down the hole, block the hole and advise the neighbour.

[RATTER15]

Tell them to go to a farm type shop and get a specific rat killer! locate all the holes and put poison in plastic bags and push down the holes and then cover, do not put directly into holes with the chicken run as ratty may push them out again and kill the chickens.

[Tilly2]

Thank you, Ratter. The neighbours have small children and a dog. I'll talk to them about it. I haven't actually seen anything though. Do they tend to come out at night?

[jno]

a chicken coup? I heard they were planning a takeover.

[Chipchopper]

Hi again Tilly,

Just found your tree hole pic and it looks to me like a tree boring insect, such as a beetle, stag beetle maybe or perhaps a wood wasp.