.... who is making these holes into the base/stump of my cut-down tree. I never see what's doing this. If it fill the holes, they reappear in a few days.
Guess the Critter(s).....
- Thread starter this_is_nascar
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I"m thinking a Deer Mouse or Chipmunk nest under or inside the stump,possibly shrew or mole as well.Size of the hole is important.Chipmunks are bigger then the other three.
Also He said it keeps digging them out and a snake except when denning usually doesn't come back to the same place over and over.I"m definitely thinking small mammal and it lives there.
The holes all appear to be perfect circles, about an inch or so across. I'm in the city, so chipmunks are almost definitely out. Snakes I would doubt, but who know. It first occurred in the late summer months. I covered the holes up and they were untouched for a few weeks. Since then, they reappeared, I covered and then reappeared, at least a half dozen times. I've thought of pouring some water down there or something, but wasn't sure what to do. I certainly don't want to jab a stick in there. I'm really curious as to what it could be.
PS one inch diameter would be a bit small for chipmunks and moles usually travel and don't stay in one place long unless rearing young.I"m leaning toward Deer Mouse.They will stay in one place and use the same nest over and over as long as they have food available and are left unmolested.
Yep. If I were to go out and cover those holes, they'd be there again within a couple of days and probably more of them.
Wolf Spiders live in holes about that size but usually not at the base of trees,they build more in the open and they usually don't leave a telltale mound around the hole since they hunt from the opening by ambush.
Since filling those holes back in with the dirt didn't help, should I find some large branches to plug the holes?
They'll dig around it.I know it's not eco sensitive but you need to put a nasty smelling chemical down to get rid of them,either that or poison.I"d sprinkle the area with gasoline or chlorine.Thats the only way I seemed to be able to get rid of yellowjacket nests in my yard.Flooding them with the hose didn't work.Another option is to put mice traps near the holes.That might do it depending on how smart your mouse is.
I hope it's not the dreaded Irish Deer Mouse.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090106230720.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090106230720.htm
Cover the area with the hottest pepper your supermarket stocks, pour some down the holes. If you only see them during warm times I'd suspect ground dwelling bee's/wasp's/hornet's. Carpenter bee's make a perfect half inch or so circle. Chipmunks are in the ground now, their holes are about 2 inches. Maybe a vole, had lots of them this year.
I'll see what I can find around here. I may have some dry/powered pepper I can use. I really wish I would see whatever it is. It has my curiosity up.
I'm curious, since it's an old stump and not a living tree you're trying to preserve, why any sort of preventative action at all is warranted? Is the sight of the holes somehow offensive? Beyond the curiosity about what kind of critter is making them, what is the motive to try and stop it/them?