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Holes/burrows in new allotment?

Just JenJust Jen Posts: 12
in Fruit & veg

Hi All,

Can anyone please help me to identify what animal has made their home on my newly acquired allotment? The holes are fairly smallish, maybe 10cm wide, there are no obvious mole hills around. This is the only spot I have found the holes so far but there is a lot of clearing to be done so there could be more! This area happens to be very close to an old established apple tree.. could be relevant?

Thanks!
Jen

image

 

«13

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    My money is on rats



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ForrestgrumpForrestgrump Posts: 247

    Do you have rabbits, foxes, or badgers near by they will all do this. the rabbits do it to get to tender new shoots, the foxes and badgers to get at worms and grubs.

    It could also be rats if it is clearing the ground will move them on but be carful and I would wear gloves as they carry Weils disease.

    If you have a friend with a Jack Russell they are great ratters.

    If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138
    nutcutlet wrote (see)

    My money is on rats

     

    Mine too. 

    Foxes, badgers and rabbits make bigger holes and more mess.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286

    Don't panic, they are small mammal burrows. Rat holes are bigger and have clear signs of excavation around them. With that many holes all close together, it is something totally harmless such as a family of volves. image 

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Is that area raised, as in a mound or a bank?  If so, it could well be voles (Gemma's typo made me read 'wolves' - then you would be in trouble!) image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286

    Damn I can't change it now either image It looks more like volvos to me when I read it now, they make much bigger holes though. image I meant one of these:

     

    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

  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286

    This is a rat hole, large circular and clear signs of excavation at the entrance. Compare it to your holes Jen.

    http://ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info/image_files/0000/0001/0759/Norway_rat_burrow-1.JPG

  • derbyduckderbyduck Posts: 137

    voles , but try not to harm them ! they will move on when you clear the ground unless they are volvos  then you will have to wait till they rust away,image 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    10cms Jen says

     I'm going to take a ruler to my known rat holes and vole holes this afternoonimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    My rat holes are 10cms

    voles a lot less

    I'm sticking with my original suggestionimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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