What the heck is making these holes?

[searcyfarms]

doubtful it they are multiplying its carpenter bees this time of year - tooooooo cold especially in your climate
I have never seen a carpenter bee hole over 1/2 inch - easily remedied by spraying surrounding wood and hole with diesel fuel
they prefer cedar wood over others for some reason

looks more like a woodpecker hole for us here in the Midwest - must have some bugs in there they are after

presuming there is some kind of entrance where they can get in/out

easily found by using a cheap game camera - like others have said a rodent usually chews its way in from the outside and doesn't bore round holes

on a flat surface you can sprinkle dirt down, wet it and then let the critters make footprints in it - you can find out a lot that way also but if its on your roof that obviously isn't going to work so I would go with a game camera - that will bring this to light pretty quick, they will pick up a butterfly, mouse, bird, you will have your answer in short order

 

[mikester]

If the holes are cut from inside, there should be plenty of shavings or dust on the floor. Since these are just now appearing the sawdust should be fresh looking too, but I don't see anything on the floor other than usual barn dirt.
If they are cut from under the barn you should be able to see the sawdust below the holes, using a flashlight.

Holes look old, man-made with an auger bit. Interesting to see three in a nice straight line. I'd guess you are going to find more like that.

If it was recent damage the cuts would look clean and you would find a lot of shavings.

Ask one of your Mennonite neighbours you will probably get a good answer.

 

[Timm250]

The holes look old. Someone could have sawed up old beams from a post & beam building to make the boards.

The holes could have been from the pegs holding the joints together.

 

[Deere Dude]

I would spray the all the wood with a termicide spray. It is concentrated and 2oz per gallon will keep bugs (almost any kind) from eating wood. I used Bifen IT and that did wonders in getting rid of carpenter bees and spiders etc. and I would bet would also take care of your monster bugs. It would be my first step, to alleviate them from drilling more holes.

 

[oosik]

I think Timm might have the answer. Those holes are NOT rat holes - unless you have the smallest rats in the USA. I have wood rats and they couldn't even get their nose caught in a hole that small. And why would a mouse spend time boring thru a 2" floor board when he can waltz in under the main door.

No - I bet those holes came from some previous situation and the milled floor boards show where dowels were employed.

 

[bruceha2000]

The holes look old. Someone could have sawed up old beams from a post & beam building to make the boards.

The holes could have been from the pegs holding the joints together.

That seems the most likely to me as well. The peg holes in my pre Civil War post and beam house are 1.25", I just measured them How wide are the boards? My posts run about 8"-9" x 11". Shine a small flashlight down the hole and see if you don't find plugs lying on the dirt. And sweep then clean the rest of the floor really well and look for more "future holes" the same diameter.

 

[MossRoad]

C.H.U.D.

Hahahahaa nice! :laughing:

 

[radios1]

if you find the culprit please let us know what it was!.. it would help others to stop this..

 

[Diggin It]

^^^ I tend to agree that the others have pegged it already.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Look too small to be for wood pegs, and too scattered. The closeup also looked slightly oval instead of perfectly round.