What Kind of Critter will do this to pond dam

[GGB]

As has been noted, muskrats will usually burrow right at the water's edge, and usually have a smooth run into the water. Based on my experience, you may have something else digging out the burrow-in my case, it was my and my neighbor's dogs going after the muskrats.

When we bought our home, we had several muskrats that were doing serious damage to the edge of the pond banks and dams. I couldn't use a trap because our dogs were frequently in the pond, and the dogs would try to dig out the burrows to get to the muskrats which did even more damage. I had to spend a few early mornings with my .22 and a mug of coffee and the dogs in the house to get rid of the muskrats. I still have to deal with a few every spring when they try to set up a new territory. But there are far worse ways to spend a morning watching the world come to life!

This year as a concession to my age, I got a nice little Savage .177 HMR with a scope. It's a very nice inexpensive rifle for this purpose.

I'm still dealing with filling in the holes. The sooner you take care of the muskrats, the less time you'll spend repairing the damage.

 

[pacerron]

Why not just fill the hole with dirt, wet it down and tamp it level.
Wait a month and see what happens.

 

[riptides]

....
This year as a concession to my age, I got a nice little Savage .177 HMR with a scope. It's a very nice inexpensive rifle for this purpose.

...

Hah! I got one for x-mas last year. It's perfect for critter control, without all the fuss and mess.

 

[creekbend]

Buckgnarly
Thanks for serious reply. Hole does not even go to the waterline and that got my attention. We have a lot of fire-ants but not sure what there nest look like when you dig them up.
Thanks
Scott

Correct me if I'm wrong. I spent over twenty years fighting Fire Ants in Florida. I am unaware of ANY animal or Critter that will purposely dig up a Fire Ant Hill. I have seen Fire Any Hills over nine foot tall. Yes, Fire Ants, not Termites. A friend of mine that used to be a foreman on a large Ranch near Sarasota, even told me of some Cattle lost and killed by stumbling into a Fire Ant Hill. BTW, I knew that Fire Ants had moved into Georgia and South Carolina, but I was not aware they were already in NC. Fire Ants don't like Cold Weather very much. Just a thought.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

North Carolina I'd say you have muskrats, not nutria. I could be wrong though, I don't know for sure how far they've spread since they got introduced in Louisiana.
Shoot 'em or trap them. Personally, I'd say to Hades with the F&G if they have a problem with it. Especially since they aren't paying to repair your dam.

 

[nc redneck]

Creekbend thanks for reply unfortunately fire ants are all over us in central NC. I also could not imagine what kind off animal could go in and dig up a fire ant nest. I have heard about young cattle being killed by them. And have seen a few times what happens when a horse rolls on a nest, and its not pretty.
Dr_Zinj I have heard of nutria before mainly down east of here from farmers where we used to duck hunt.
( back before I had a daughter who has a horse and I could afford to hunt ducks ) I cant say I have ever seen one but guys down East swore they were the kiss of death to a impoundment.
F&G and ( Feds, Obama ) will have to catch me in the act.
Did I mention I am located in upstate NY
Thanks

 

[oosik]

It appears that the hole may have been there quite a while and the hard, dry dirt leaves no tracks. As Pacerron recommends - fill & tomp the hole and wait to see what happens. I would scarf the soil around the hole with a rake - in hopes the critter returns and you can get tracks that can be identified. Then you will know what you are up against and plan for its removal. A hole like that in my area is definitely a coyote digging for his breakfast.

 

[cqaigy2]

Bigger Snipes up North maybe mounting size. Come on up.!

File:Common snipe fencepost.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Snipe

 

[pacerron]

You might enjoy putting a deer cam on a stake near one end of your dam for a week or so.
The deer cams aren't critter specific.
Ponds are a very busy place at night with all kinds of critters dropping by to hunt for food and get a drink.

 

[dave1949]

You might enjoy putting a deer cam on a stake near one end of your dam for a week or so.
The deer cams aren't critter specific.
Ponds are a very busy place at night with all kinds of critters dropping by to hunt for food and get a drink.

Would that include skinny dipping teenagers?