[Irafly]

Ok WFF brain, maybe you could help me with this one. I live in Western Washington, and some kind of fairly large rodent has started a series of tunnels in my back yard. The tunnel openings are about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Whatever it is, it is discretionary with its droppings, choosing to place its poo in specific spots on the outside of the tunnels. The scat is fairly large, about 1 to 1 1/2" long and fairly thick. It looks like giant rat droppings, but they are sort of light creamy brown color versus black. I've had issues with rats and mice in the past eating my chicken food, but whatever this is it never leaves feces in the coop.

Ideas?

 

[Buzzy]

pocket gopher?

 

[Guest]

Pocket gopher is my guess, also.

 

[Richard Olmstead]

Ira,
You are here on the west side, right? Mountain Beaver! They are not beaver and they do not live in the mountains, but that is what you are describing.

They are a very interesting animal from an evolutionary point of view. A single species (Aploontia rufa) makes up the entire family and their distribution is the coastal forests from Oregon to Alaska. Apparently they are most closely related to squirrels, but not all that close.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_beaver

 

[Richard Olmstead]

Also, if you value your rhododendrons, sword ferns, or any other seemingly tough rugged plants, it will be worth the effort to dissuade them from sticking around. They are strictly nocturnal, so you are unlikely to see them, and a pair of them can create a tremendous burrow system with many openings.

 

[KerryS]

I have no idea what it is but I know how to eliminate it. I have had similar critters in my yard. Discription of the tunnels about identical.

I fill the tunnel with naphtha gas for about 30 to 40 seconds, wait about 4 or 5 seconds and light. Whoom! Critter fried.

 

[Guest]

I have no idea what it is but I know how to eliminate it. I have had similar critters in my yard. Discription of the tunnels about identical.

I fill the tunnel with naphtha gas for about 30 to 40 seconds, wait about 4 or 5 seconds and light. Whoom! Critter fried.

another great way is to buy a mole cat trap, I use one very successfully for a number of burrowing pest

 

[Irafly]

I have no idea what it is but I know how to eliminate it. I have had similar critters in my yard. Discription of the tunnels about identical.

I fill the tunnel with naphtha gas for about 30 to 40 seconds, wait about 4 or 5 seconds and light. Whoom! Critter fried.

I don't care too much about eliminating it, more just curious and burning it underground would never let me discover what it really is.

pocket gopher?

Pocket gopher is my guess, also.

Not likely, because there are no mounds of any kind, just open holes.

another great way is to buy a mole cat trap, I use one very successfully for a number of burrowing pest

I'm looking into some live traps.

Ira,
You are here on the west side, right? Mountain Beaver! They are not beaver and they do not live in the mountains, but that is what you are describing.

They are a very interesting animal from an evolutionary point of view. A single species (Aploontia rufa) makes up the entire family and their distribution is the coastal forests from Oregon to Alaska. Apparently they are most closely related to squirrels, but not all that close.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_beaver

Possibly, but I do have some hay type material around and so far their have been no outside mounds. And yes I am on the west side, so I'll update that.

 

[Irafly]

I have no idea what it is but I know how to eliminate it. I have had similar critters in my yard. Discription of the tunnels about identical.

I fill the tunnel with naphtha gas for about 30 to 40 seconds, wait about 4 or 5 seconds and light. Whoom! Critter fried.

Besides, wouldn't that burn all the fur off if I decided to use it for tying material

 

[Buzzy]

Besides, wouldn't that burn all the fur off if I decided to use it for tying material

I can just see you skinning this thing, tanning the hide and making a lovely hat for the spring bash

 

[Jeremy Floyd]

Yard destructive critters make the best dubbing

 

[Nick Clayton]

You're missing a golden opportunity for some cheap at home entertainment here...

I'm picturing a balloon or something as an indicator... hang a leader with various baits over the hole, set up a lawn chair, drink some beer, and prepare to watch an indicator go down in your own yard

 

[KerryS]

another great way is to buy a mole cat trap, I use one very successfully for a number of burrowing pest

To much work. I use the portable torch which is just inside the garage man door. 30 to 40 seconds of gas and a push of the igniter button, critter gone.

 

[lee c]

Trapping seems to be the answer, and my guess would be that a Indicator of some sort will be involved. By the way, great presentation at the show Ira, I really enjoyed.

 

[15130]

i don't know anything about the size of their scat, but another mid-sized rodent we've encountered (snohomish area) are weasle/mink family critters. but i would expect them to kill your chickens. something with a turd that size that also burrows? are you confident they are making the tunnels rather than just using them? we've seen lots of voles also, but the turds sound way too big for that. i'd say a live trap is the answer to your understandable curiosity.

 

[Nick Clayton]

Whatever you do I highly recommend filming the process for scientific purposes. Be glad to loan you my Gopro

 

[creekx]

Whatever you do I highly recommend filming the process for scientific purposes. Be glad to loan you my Gopro

A little C-4 and you could capture action like this:

 

[freestoneangler]

You're missing a golden opportunity for some cheap at home entertainment here...

I'm picturing a balloon or something as an indicator... hang a leader with various baits over the hole, set up a lawn chair, drink some beer, and prepare to watch an indicator go down in your own yard

Ira uses bobbers, but otherwise, good advice.

 

[Scott Salzer]

For large, I would go with Richard on this one, aplodontidae family, Aplodontia tufa. Are you by a green belt or wooded area. Mountain beavers are voracious. If you have plants you care about, removal would be best.

 

[wetline dave]

Growing up we had mountain beavers in the woods next to our property. As fate would have it we got a dachshund. Now once she found a mountain beaver hole the game was over. Fierce little dog! She went from mountain beavers to moles and did a good job on both.

Dave