What is living in these holes

19 years ago

Hi,

I just noticed these today. They are at the base of a white pine in a wooded area in from of our house. You can see the scale from the corn.

We live in the mountains of western North Carolina, although we are actually in a valley at about 2200 feet.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Jeanne

Image link:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

kentuck_8b
19 years ago
How big(diameter) are the holes and how deep do they go?

They look almost like 'cave-ins', where something dug underground, then it caved in. It's kind of hard to tell from the photo.

Kt
jean001
19 years ago
Perhaps holes from a small rodent -- voles.
Related Discussions
Live oak, hole to trunk: What to fill/cover with?
Q
Comments (10)
I definitely think there are times that an opinion from a certified profession arborist can be valuable, but there simply isn't enough information here to know whether this is such a time. If I had hired a professional arborist to trim all my large trees, I would have had to put a second mortgage on the farm and be in debt for the rest of my life. If the tree is not likely to fall and damage property or hurt someone, minor pruning and letting nature take its course might be the most sensible. If there are questions about whether this tree is potentially dangerous for a treehouse maybe it would be easier to pick another tree. When you have a large piece of land with a lot of trees, you have to use good judgment and do some of the work yourself. Some large trees can be significantly improved with ground level pruning. None of us can tell whether the tree warrants a professional's attention without a lot more information, but common sense and visual inspection can go a long way in this type of situation.
...See More
Live Web Cam, South Africa Watering Hole
Q
Comments (35)
Tonight I was with my grandaughter tracking Santa on Norad and after we were done I clicked in to Wavelit live cam and there he was, a male lion. We watched for about 1/2 hour and saw a female lion and another male. This has been really interesting so far as I have seen a mother and baby giraffe, a wart hog, wildebeaste, elands, gazelles, monkeys, turtles and a stork like bird feeding in the waterhole. I have got two of my daughters watching too so it is really catching on. Cheers Al
...See More
holes holes holes galore!
Q
Comments (3)
Caterpillars and sawfly larvae are ubiquitous. If you could post pictures of your little pests, we cold make sure of what you are dealing with. If sawfly larvae, for example, Bt won't do a darned thing. Of course, you'll be changing the potting medium for next season, at least for some of those plants. Sawfly pupate in the soil, which could be a problem for your plants. Anyway, you could have a variety of chewing pests on your plants, so pictures would help.
...See More
Lighting Plan: What is better? Fewer holes or smaller holes?
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks for the link I'd never considered a product like that. They do look a bit industrial/commercial for a kitchen, but are obviously way better than a traditional fixture. Unfortunately, I do have a rather long rectangular space. It is roughly 12.25 x 26.5 feet, with the joists running parallel to the short dimension. We don't believe there are too many obstructions in this ceiling, as the HVAC is coming from the floor. Half of the space is already run with some existing 4" incandescent cans. I'll have a conversation with my GC this week during our planning meeting to review ways to simplify the overhead lighting plan.
...See More
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
19 years ago
Did you sprinkle the corn so that we could judge the size of the holes, or was it already there when you discovered the holes?

The holes look just like snake holes to me, another possibility for you to think about. (But snakes would not be corn eaters, lol.)
jcsgreenthumb
Original Author
19 years ago
Hi all,

To answer some of your questions... The holes are probably an inch or so wide and about 3-4" deep. The corn is from a squirrel feeder. They were raiding the bird feeder, so we put up a block of corn and nuts. I don't know if the eaten corn is from the squirrels alone or other animals too.

I don't think it is a cave in as our ground is very dry right now and we have a layer of leaf litter built up.

So, I guess rodents of some sort would probably be the best bet. I didn't check the depth of the holes when I first posted, but now that I know they aren't deep, it does rule out a lot of animals.

Thanks everyone! If I actually solve the mystery, I'll let you know.

Jeanne
sgray
19 years ago
Could they be cicada holes? Have you noticed a lot of these noisy large insects singing in the trees lately? We had similar holes in a metro New Orleans park, did some research, and came to the conclusion they were cicada holes.
horsetail
19 years ago
Bumble bees live down holes like this that lead to a chamber. The queen lays her eggs in the chamber. The eggs can survive there for a couple of years. When they sense that the weather conditions are right they will hatch and come out.
abbigail2
19 years ago
Ground Squirrels and or Chipmunks will both raid bird feeders and both live underground. Tis possibly one of those.
laurabs
19 years ago
Could be moles or voles.
comettose
19 years ago
I vote snake holes as I have them in my yard and I've seen small snakes use them. Not a big deal, just a place to hang out when needed.

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING Quick Fix: How to Patch a Drywall Hole

By Meg Padgett

Dents and dings disappear, leaving your walls looking brand new, with this fix that even a novice can do

Full Story

FUN HOUZZ Space We Love: Down the Rabbit Hole

By Janet Paik

We're dying to crawl through this secret Alice-in-Wonderland tunnel, aren't you?

Full Story

DIY PROJECTS 29 Home Projects to Make You a DIY Superstar

By Mitchell Parker

Patch up holes, turn trash to treasure, erase stains ... these doable DIY projects will better your home and boost your ego

Full Story

HOUSEKEEPING Lower Your Heating Bills With Some Simple Weather Stripping

By Buckminster Green LLC

Plug the holes in your house this winter to make sure cold air stays where it belongs: outside

Full Story

MORE ROOMS Play-Space Secrets for All-Ages Homes

By Houzz

Don't let a generation gap put holes in your interior design. These tips from family-friendly businesses can give your rooms all-ages appeal

Full Story

STORAGE 18 Rooms Made Better With Pegboard

By Spacesmiths

A grid of tiny holes punched in hardboard can be your versatile best friend in every room

Full Story

FURNITURE How to Arrange Furniture in Long, Narrow Spaces

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

7 ways to arrange your living-room furniture to avoid that bowling-alley look

Full Story

BASEMENTS 5 Awe-Inspiring Basement Renovations

By Becky Harris

Talk about transformation. These once-utilitarian spaces are now fully designed and inviting places for living, working and playing

Full Story

MORE ROOMS Idea of the Week: Driftwood Mantel

By Vanessa Brunner

Green builders turn black walnut river log into one-of-a-kind accent piece

Full Story

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

Full Story

What is living in these holes

Comments (9)

kentuck_8b

jean001

Related Discussions

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

jcsgreenthumb
Original Author

sgray

horsetail

abbigail2

laurabs

comettose

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

What is living in these holes

Comments (9)

Related Discussions

jcsgreenthumbOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jcsgreenthumb
Original Author