What the heck is making these holes?

[check]

Hello guys, I have a real puzzle on my hands. The wodden floor of my old barn is growing holes!

Something is drilling perfectly round holes through the wooden floor members, each of which is about 2 inches thick. A couple of the holes are a bit bigger, but mostly they are about 1 inch across and cut as neatly and cleanly as if I had drilled them with a drill myself. I have seen carpenter bee holes, but they are much, much smaller.

Any ideas what critters are making these holes?

My barn is in a colder climate, about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto.

 

[mikester]

Post a photo and some dimensions. I would have said carpenter bees at first but those are a nice round 3/8" diameter hole

 

[oosik]

I had one mouse hole in my storage shed - about 1" - but that was going thru 3/4" plywood flooring - not 2" flooring. Come to think of it - it was a bit ragged also. Covered it with a metal lid off a can of Copenhagen - glued & screwed down.

Adds that distinct flare to the Tuff Shed - my motorcycle storage shed.

 

[Diggin It]

Look at a mouse or rat hole close enough and you'll see the gnaw marks. Without those, I'd have no idea. Any way to set up a camera?

 

[tvman]

Hello guys, I have a real puzzle on my hands. The wodden floor of my old barn is growing holes!

Something is drilling perfectly round holes through the wooden floor members, each of which is about 2 inches thick. A couple of the holes are a bit bigger, but mostly they are about 1 inch across and cut as neatly and cleanly as if I had drilled them with a drill myself. I have seen carpenter bee holes, but they are much, much smaller.

Any ideas what critters are making these holes?

My barn is in a colder climate, about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto.

Got the same thing here in Indiana. Our's was caused by bumble-bees. The big black and yellow type. They are persistent little buggers.

 

[Diggin It]

As the OP noted, bees make a hole about 3/8" or so, just big enough for them, not an inch or so in diameter like he's seeing. I've also never seen a bee hole in a floor, only in rafters and posts up higher.

 

[BubbaJr]

Do you have kids that like to play practical jokes?

Joe

 

[npalen]

This definitely sounds like pallet beatles!

 

[Ford850]

Sounds like your floor boards dried and the knots dropped out.

 

[check]

Post a photo and some dimensions. I would have said carpenter bees at first but those are a nice round 3/8" diameter hole

Here they are:

 

[check]

Maybe I should set a couple of rat traps. Don’t have a camera.

 

[atsah]

Whatever insect it is it's a doing a nice job. I have seen bees do this..

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm at a total loss and just want to follow along to learn what it is. The smoothness of the holes makes it very odd, also that there are so many. I've dealt with squirrels and racoons doing this to get into the attic of a house, but they only make the one hole and then they are done. Wood peckers are also bad on wood here, but I've never heard of one going inside a building before.

Is there any sign of poop anywhere? Can you spread a thin layer of cooking flower on the floor and check back for tracks?

Please keep us posted on what you find out.

 

[rScotty]

I'm at a total loss and just want to follow along to learn what it is. The smoothness of the holes makes it very odd, also that there are so many. I've dealt with squirrels and racoons doing this to get into the attic of a house, but they only make the one hole and then they are done. Wood peckers are also bad on wood here, but I've never heard of one going inside a building before.

Is there any sign of poop anywhere? Can you spread a thin layer of cooking flower on the floor and check back for tracks?

Please keep us posted on what you find out.

The flour sounds like a good idea. I'd like to know what it is too. What's under those boards? Can you pull one up and look?

 

[bcp]

Maybe:

Floor made with used boards. Previous holes were drilled out and plugged. Plugs are now falling out.

Clean the floor very well, till you can see the grain. Any remaining secure plugs may be visible then.

Bruce

 

[ruffdog]

Some new giant beetle species that is coming out of the melting permafrost?

 

[radios1]

do you, or a close neighbor have chickens, or other fowl? because this could be rats. but if they are coming into your shed, there should be rat droppings inside.. what you could try, is get a pack of 4 insect fogger cans, and set them off inside the shed, let that sit for the recommended time, what ever this is will either be killed, or will flee, I'd look outside for anything fleeing that spray.. you could put down sheet metal over the floor, it's pretty cheap, and nothing will be getting in anymore, but if it's something that eats wood, you could have big structural problems.. you could also try getting a funnel, and pouring rat killer down each hole..

 

[Diggin It]

What's under those boards? Can you pull one up and look?

'Don't Look Under The Floorboards'


Oh wait, that was Don't Look Under The Stairs: The People Under the Stairs - Wikipedia

 

[Diggin It]

Some new giant beetle species that is coming out of the melting permafrost?

I vote Jurassic Termites.

 

[Ford850]

Are there holes in the roof directly above these?