What could be digging in my post hole

[djw2112]

Hi,

Last week i dug a post hole and put some stone in the bottom of it and was going to set the post after lunch.  I came back from lunch and the hole was half full of dirt.  At the time i thought well maybe the sides caved in but the dirt didnt look like that happened, it was puffy dirt.  So i redug the hole and finished setting the post and did not think too much about it.  Until yesterday, again same thing, i finished the post hole and went to lunch, came back and there it was again, puffy dirt.  There has to be some kind of animal doing this but there are no footprints.  The dirt was kind of like it had been sifted through a flour sifter, if that makes sense.

If you have ever seen a fire ant mound, you know how the dirt is full of holes like it is airrated and puffy, this is what it was like and it was alot of dirt, like 4 shovel fulls.  At first i poked at it with the shovel to see if it was ants and nothing.  So as i dug it out i looked for grubs, i looked for a tunnel (maybe rabbit) and nothing, just the dirt.  I even thought it might be a cat but no cat poop.

So it makes me wonder if maybe a blue jay was in the hole scratching for worms, but can blue jays create that much dirt from digging in just over an hours time?

 

[Punomatic]

Things that make you go, "Huh?"

 

[maddog348]

mole

 

[djw2112]

mole

Interesting, it could be a mole.  Last time i dealt with moles was when i worked as a greenskeeper on a golf course in Ohio.  I was not aware we had them in Texas, could be.
I have also read stories where ants in africa swarm and then move on, so it makes me wonder if there is a large ant colony near by and they came "did what they had to do" and moved on leaving their puffy dirt behind.  Where i dug this time is right next to the neighbors fence so there could be ants on the other side that i disturbed.

 

[Isaac-1]

Look up Texas Pocket Gophers  I suspect this is what you have, they will typically dig tunnels that are roughly in a straight line and push up a mound of loose dirt every 10 or so feet along the way.  They are common in east Texas and western Louisiana, and are just starting to be active this time of year.  I just saw a mound from one yesterday where it popped up in the middle of a gravel driveway which is a bit unusual for them.

See this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ4AqVc9Gzc

 

[Rene T]

Just don't take any breaks. Dig the hole, drop in some stone, set the post and fill with concrete. Problem solved.

 

[Gizmo100]

Just don't take any breaks. Dig the hole, drop in some stone, set the post and fill with concrete. Problem solved.

And invite Rene over to show you how it's done ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[Rene T]

And invite Rene over to show you how it's done ;D ;D ;D ;D

I can't. I just got back from the hospital. Had surgery on my right knee. Can't drive for 2 weeks.  :'( :'( :'(

 

[NY_Dutch]

Just don't take any breaks. Dig the hole, drop in some stone, set the post and fill with concrete. Problem solved.

Better yet, dig the hole, drop in the stone, and then munch on a take-out lunch while you watch for the digger. Your curiosity satisfied and you still get a lunch break...

 

[msw3113]

How deep are your fencepost holes?

 

[IBTripping]

OK! I confess. It was me kicking dirt in the hole whenever you left.  ;D

 

[Gizmo100]

OK! I confess. It was me kicking dirt in the hole whenever you left.  ;D

You will do anything to cause trouble.....Let me guess....You were out looking for toads. ;D ;D

 

[IBTripping]

You will do anything to cause trouble.....Let me guess....You were out looking for toads. ;D ;D

NOPE!!! I already had a pocket full of toads. I was just being evil.  8)

 

[Arch Hoagland]

How deep are your fencepost holes?

He said 12" on another thread.

I'm thinking Gophers too.

 

[whiteva]

Tell your friends how only you can dig all those holes and paint the fence.... maybe they will jump in and finish the fence while you have a beer.

Sincerely
Tom Sawyer

 

[dave54]

An alien Chupacabra sent by the Illuminati from their secret UFO base in the Bermuda Triangle.  He went digging to take a break from all the vaccine chemtrails he was spraying.


Oh wait.... sorry. I was reading some Facebook posts again, got confused about which forum I was on....

 

[djw2112]

lol very funny stuff guys  ) )...  but i will be taking a week off, the old body is hurting from head to toe and needs to heal.  I was only there yesterday from 1230 to 4pm and i had enough.  So no more holes for at least a week maybe more depending how i feel.