Gardening Questions: Who is doing this and what are they doing?

Replies: 176 Views: 2,657

Author	Comment
vickijackson55 Vancouver, WA (Zone 8a) January 13, 2008 4:18 PM	Hi, In my front yard yesterday I noticed these small piles of dirt and rocks and, well the pic will show. I don't know what is doing it or why. They are all over my front yard. Does anyone recognize whatever this is and tell me what's doing it and possibly why? Thanks Vicki View Larger
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 13, 2008 8:52 PM	I'm curious, too. Do you have birds, maybe, that could do this? Crows do funny things. Or maybe it's the way the water flows. Have you been in the house for long?
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) January 13, 2008 11:02 PM	I would say you have a mole, or something coming from under the soil rather than something digging on top of the soil, even ants can shift that amount of soil when building a nest, the best thing to do is to get the garden trowel out, gently scrape away a few piles of earth so you can see the size, shape and how deep the underground tunnel is, I have no idea of your area, but here, by the see, it could be a crab, a frog/toad or whatever, but your best to find out now so you know what you are dealing with, whatever it was, it may have moved on to pastures new by now, nature sure is a strange learning curve. Good luck. WeeNel.
vickijackson55 Vancouver, WA (Zone 8a) January 13, 2008 11:15 PM	I had already thought of moles and so did my friends. I've had moles,these are not moles. I did gently move the dirt and twigs and stones aside to see the hole or tunnel. No hole, no tunnel, these little piles were made on top of the dirt, as near as I can tell whatever it is just moved dirt, twigs, stones and one case a small button to form this small pile. There must be at least 30. I thought of ants, seen ant hills, they aren't like these and not an ant in sight. Anybody???
JulieQ Cullman, AL (Zone 7b) January 14, 2008 12:43 AM	cats covering something?
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 14, 2008 10:43 AM	I still think it might be an animal of some kind. Birds would be my guess. How many piles are there?
drivenbonkers Perth,, ON (Zone 5a) January 14, 2008 4:47 PM	I thought of bower birds (sp?) as in the male bird will collect special things to impress a female bird. The collections are placed very similar to what you have in your yard.... Is spring in the air yet? lol
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 14, 2008 4:52 PM	Do they have Bower birds in Washington?
drivenbonkers Perth,, ON (Zone 5a) January 14, 2008 4:53 PM	or other birds that behave in a similar manner...... qood question!
vickijackson55 Vancouver, WA (Zone 8a) January 14, 2008 5:45 PM	Thank you all for the help. I have never heard of a Bower Bird. I looked them up, what a unique and marvelous bird. I tried to find out if they are in Washington State and all I got was they are in Austrailia. Most of the pictures are of beautiful birds. I had an incident a couple of months ago. Not far from where these "piles" are, I pulled into my driveway. Suddenly about 40+ birds were there just walking around. Kind of freaked me out. I carefully got out of my car, but they flew away. If these piles were from a bird, I couldn't figure out why there were so many of them. The appearance of all those birds at one time might account for it. The birds I saw looked something like the "drab" bower bird. These mounds are very plain and small compared to what they usually do, but they do build them on the forest floor rather than in a tree. I am going to go with the bird idea, bower or other and try to keep a close eye on the front yard. Thank you all for the ideas. If you get a chance go to google images and type in Bowerbird Bowers and look at some of the nests these guys build. This pic is too show how many and how close. Each darker spot is a small pile (bower?) Thanks Vicki View Larger
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) January 14, 2008 8:38 PM	Yip, I would agree, it is a mating/nesting ritual by some smart egotistical bird, he/she has a lot of showing off to do to impress a partner and just maybe the flock you witnessed was there way of having a huge meet and great party, has any of the neighbours has similar experiences, perhaps they witnessed who was the culprit, sounds like an awesome thing to watch, so keep a watch for part two happening. best of luck. WeeNel.
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 14, 2008 11:40 PM	Vickie, did your birds look like these? [HYPERLINK@search.live.com] European Starlings gather in HUGE numbers. Around here they can be close to 500,000 birds in a flock. It's amazing to see them like that.
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) January 16, 2008 2:32 PM	Bowerbirds don't appear to be in the U.S. But starlings are common nearly everywhere. Here is a link for them in WA: [HYPERLINK@birdweb.org] Those little piles of sticks and rocks have a very familiar look, but for the life of me I can't remember where I saw something like that or when. Must be old age setting in. I sure hope someone comes up with a better answer than I have. LOL. kwanjin, I think you may have answered the question I had about the flock of birds I saw this fall. It wasn't an especially huge flock, maybe a couple of thousand, but their behavior is what I found fascinating. They would fly 50-60 feet at about 20 feet in the air, land for a few seconds (appeared to be eating), then fly another 50-60 feet and land again. They zig-zagged back and forth across the road, up onto the neighbor's property, then onto our property, then back across the road, then back onto our side of the road, and so forth. They appeared to be following the road down to the lake. Karen
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 16, 2008 2:40 PM	Their feeding patterns are interesting. I watch them in the grass in front of the houses and DH says it looks like a military FOD walkdown. Spring and fall is when they gather in the big flocks.
Redtootsiepop Livermore, CA (Zone 9b) January 16, 2008 6:06 PM	those are the starlings I see around here time to time, they "work" the back yard and move on - the cat gets all in a tizzy about it . I haven't seen any this year yet. When I saw those piles, they remind me of something my kids would do. lol
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) January 16, 2008 6:13 PM	I think it is little tiny space men, haha.
planolinda Plano, TX January 16, 2008 7:04 PM	vickey i have them too! all over--and i know we have bunnies and thought maybe they sort of burrow down a bit but i think it is the birds too---we have tons of squirrels but it's not a hole that's been covered up-- lots of it is in the mulch--kinda funny since nothing destructive!
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) January 17, 2008 11:04 PM	OK Vicky, it's time to set up the web cam so you can put us all out of our misery, I would just love to witness this in action, pretty neat for whatever it is, even if it is kids playing tricks on us, but I think it is birds. Good Luck. WeeNel.
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) January 18, 2008 1:03 AM	cathy4, My daughter is voting for aliens, too. LOL. vicki and planolinda, I agree with WeeNel and the others who say it is some kind of bird. The close-up vicki shows does have not any tracks around the sticks/pebbles piles. It looks like very sandy ground, so I would think that an animal of any size would leave some kind of track or foot print or drag marks. But birds can fly and put the stuff in a pile without being on the ground and without dragging them there. WeeNel, Web cam -- great idea! Karen
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 18, 2008 1:21 AM	I vote for aliens! LOL I do so hope it's not water patterns because that would take the fun out of it.
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) January 18, 2008 11:15 AM	Nope, I don't think it's water. Water would wash the stuff into more like strip formations, I think. Enough water to move those little pebbles would wash the little wood chips farther, wouldn't it? Karen
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) January 18, 2008 11:21 AM	I still think it is aliens and they want to make you their queen, wait on you hand and foot, peel grapes for you, bring you cool drinks and fresh towels, fluff your pillows, rub oil into your skin, buy you the finest chocolates, weed your garden and bow to your every command.
JulieQ Cullman, AL (Zone 7b) January 18, 2008 11:40 AM	Was it especially rainy or warm the day before your strange discovery? I have had strange mounds made by nightcrawlers, and they do not leave a tunnel. They appear after a warm rain.
planolinda Plano, TX January 18, 2008 2:47 PM	aliens it might be for me!! did you hear about all the people this week who saw UFO's?
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 18, 2008 2:49 PM	I like those kinds of aliens! I want some, too!
vickijackson55 Vancouver, WA (Zone 8a) January 21, 2008 1:40 PM	Hi, This is a current pic of the mounds. They are not really mounds anymore. They are unusal because it seems that wherever there was a mound there now seem to be small holes, almost like an ice pick was pushed into the ground. I don't know what it was but it has gone. Holes? Breathing? This pic is very close so you can tell the amount of holes that seem to have been placed in the mound. Vicki View Larger
mistygardener Saint James, MO (Zone 6b) January 21, 2008 1:42 PM	I think I would have to go along with the Aliens! LOL
bhaugh Norfolk, VA January 21, 2008 2:05 PM	[HYPERLINK@images.google.com] your picture looks like the one at the above link. if this is what you have, they are ground bees. dangerous little critters from what I have heard.....I have a friend that was attacked by them. Any way, the link below gives instructions on how to get rid of them...... [HYPERLINK@wiki.answers.com]
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 21, 2008 3:15 PM	Me, again, voting for the aliens. Wouldn't you see bees? The article I read mentions that the eggs are laid in March or April and the bees emerge during the same months.
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) January 21, 2008 3:19 PM	My kids & friends have pulled well thought-out tricks on me before, I'm wondering if you will soon have giant plastic sunflowers growing there?
bhaugh Norfolk, VA January 21, 2008 4:16 PM	No you would not necessarily see the bees, unless you were constantly watching the holes non stop 24/7. These bees leave the nests early in the morning and return in the evening. My friend found her nests in her flower garden one evening while pulling weeds. She had no clue that it was even there because she had never seen the bees in that area of her yard before. They chased her all the way into her house and at the same time attacking her. I am not saying that this IS what Vicki has, I am only suggesting it as a possibility.
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) January 21, 2008 6:04 PM	According to the articles and the photos, ground bees would push some dirt to the top of the ground in digging. The photos of mining bees' holes look, I think, more like what Vicki has. Vicki, do you see dirt around the holes? It doesn't look like it in your photo. What happened to the piles of sticks and rocks? Did they wash away in a rain or are they just scattered now instead of piled up? I have seen holes similar to that formed by earthworms coming to the surface after a rain. Curiouser and curiouser. Karen
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 22, 2008 1:08 AM	Huh. Weird. I'm still curious, too! This message was edited Jan 21, 2008 10:08 PM
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) January 22, 2008 11:58 PM	kids?
cyndiehook Central, ME (Zone 5a) January 27, 2008 11:08 AM	My vote is with nightcrawlers. You can see them at night by shining a flashlight on the ground. But, they are really fast and if you want to see them, you have to be quick. Good "detective " work if you have kids.
planolinda Plano, TX January 27, 2008 12:09 PM	i said earlier in this post that i had the same happening to me--well my mysterious divets have stopped--so weather seems to have something to do with whatever is making them---does that help in eliminating some ideas? vicki did they stop for you when the weather got cold?
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) January 27, 2008 4:31 PM	when the weather got cold the kids had to come inside to play! lol!
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) January 28, 2008 2:15 AM	I would vote for the night crawlers except I wouldn't think they would pile the pebbles and sticks up like that. However, it is possible there are two things going on here -- the piled up stuff, which is no longer piled up, and the little holes. I tried Googling every combination I could think of -- came up totally empty-handed -- couldn't find anything that looked like those little piles of stuff. Karen
planolinda Plano, TX January 28, 2008 6:28 PM	sure hope it isn't my "kids" since the youngest of the 4 is 18!
cyndiehook Central, ME (Zone 5a) January 28, 2008 6:47 PM	Got a webcam? We'll all watch your backyard for you. LOL
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) January 28, 2008 6:49 PM	how far is plano from stephenville? lol
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) January 28, 2008 7:00 PM	18 is just the perfect age for pulling tricks on mom.
planolinda Plano, TX January 28, 2008 7:00 PM	too funny!!!!!!!!!! the government claims it was the air force but there sure are a lot who do not believe it --------my divits are too small--how tiny are aliens???
planolinda Plano, TX January 28, 2008 7:03 PM	kathy they did pull some on me when they were younger--live crawfish in my sink when i got up durring the night to use the restroom!! sign on back of my van "honk its my birthday" when of course it wasn't (here i thought i was popular for the day!!)
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) January 28, 2008 7:09 PM	How about this theory: The air was charged with negative ions that connected in little charges to the ground, attracting positive charged dirt and tiny rocks into little piles. (I made this all up, I know nothing)
planolinda Plano, TX January 28, 2008 7:11 PM	oh and i was sooooooo impressed for a short time cathy!! throwing around the negative ions theory always works for me!
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) January 29, 2008 12:12 AM	Ohhhhhhh, for heavens sake, will someone set up a web camera, I cant take any more suspense, aliens, bee's, fairies, air-force, kids, grubs, I want to know and I want to know before I go on vacation, PALEEEEEEEEESE, WeeNel.
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 29, 2008 1:41 AM	ROTFLOL Please stop! I can't stand it!!! LOL some more!!!
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) January 29, 2008 2:49 AM	I can't seem to let this drop. It sounds like night crawlers, the piles are called middens.
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) January 29, 2008 11:08 AM	Middens, huh? Sounded good, so I Googled to find out about the middens. I found lots of references to them, but unfortunately these nightcrawler middens don't appear to be anything like what we are looking at. All the references I found described the middens as being a mixture of plant debris and worm castings placed right on top of the worm's hole. I tried to find a photo of these middens but the only one I could find just looked like leaves lying on the forest floor, which wasn't much help. This article from Purdue explains it pretty much like all the others, but is little more detailed: [HYPERLINK@www.ces.purdue.edu] "The deep-burrowers ("nightcrawlers") build large, vertical, permanent burrows that may extend 5 to 6 feet deep or more. They pull plant residues down into the mouth of their burrow, where the residues soften and can be eaten at a later time. Nightcrawlers construct middens over the mouth of their burrows. Middens are a mixture of plant residues and castings (worm feces) and probably serve as protection as well as a food reserve. Because nightcrawlers require residues at the surface to pull down into their burrows, we do not expect to find any nightcrawlers in fields which routinely leave no surface residue cover (i.e. moldboard-plowed)." It's possible that the piles of small sticks and pebbles were made by a bird or small animal and that the piles provided cover for worms to come up out of the ground, thus creating the small holes we see there. Another reason I vote for it being birds or a small animal is the button in one of the piles. vicki, Why don't you call the Portland Zoo and see if one of the curators there would take a look at the two photos if you sent them imbedded in an e-mail? They probably wouldn't take it as an attachment for fear of viruses. I just know I've seen these stick/rock piles before -- but I can't remember where. Comes with old age, I think. Learn new things over the years, lose other things. Karen
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) January 29, 2008 12:32 PM	button Karen? I didn't see a button, but then i never was really any good at finding those hidden items in pictures. no, wait, i think i see the virgin mary! lol! I guess i'm not that observant, if i saw that in my yard, i'd maybe notice that i really do need to sow some grass seed or plant something in those bare areas. I'd probably just presume that it's probably a compacted area that drained a little slow causing sticks and debris to be floated into the rocks. looks like some cypress or cedar mulch pieces floated or blew in from somewhere. it's like when you fill a hole with water and all the floating little sticks, straw,mulch and trash seems to all clump together while floating on the water until it drains down and is left altogether. i see some moss growing, so i know that area stays damp. This message was edited Jan 29, 2008 10:36 AM
Redtootsiepop Livermore, CA (Zone 9b) January 29, 2008 12:42 PM	I agree with Len... either it was my kids or the rain that washed everything into piles.
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) January 29, 2008 12:50 PM	oh and by the way, weenel i think you really do need a vacation. lol!
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 29, 2008 1:00 PM	I agree about WeeNel! Who has the camera set up? Len, in an earlier post, she mentioned there was a button in one of the piles.
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) January 29, 2008 1:28 PM	oh sorry about the button.lol. it's hard to keep up with the details.
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) January 29, 2008 1:31 PM	I only remembered it because I re-read this whole thread 1st! ☺
kidderpam Lake Oswego, OR (Zone 8b) January 31, 2008 10:59 PM	Vicki, as a Master Gardener volunteer, I got photos similar to yours, only mostly aggregate soil particles. The client was worried they had strange insects due to a compost delivery. In answering, I found several websites describing turf maintenance for golf courses and apparently nightcrawlers/earthworms create divets all over messing up the turf. The sites chronicle the whole life and benefits of earthworms and it's quite fascinating. (Where I've had bee holes, I could stand nearby at night an watch as the bees returned to the nest every evening.)
Tir_Na_Nog Houston (United States) (Zone 9b) February 1, 2008 8:55 AM	That would explain the flocks of birds? Eating all those earthworms?
pardalinum Willamette Valley, OR (Zone 8a) February 2, 2008 10:15 PM	I think those little piles could be scrub jay caches, especially if you or a neighbor (within a block or so) put out food for the birds. Scrub jays will push a nut or seed a litle way under the soil then gather twigs, mulch, or watever is close by and cover up the stash. They think they are hiding it from other jays but I have seen jays watch and steal the stash as soon as the "stasher" leaves the scene. The fact that there was a flock of starlings in your yard could indicate that there is indeed something there to eat. I'm just 60 miles or so south of you and the scrub jays are my favorite birds to feed and watch their activities. I even have one trained to come into my kitchen to get a nut!
pardalinum Willamette Valley, OR (Zone 8a) February 2, 2008 10:19 PM	Here is a pic of "Heckle" (yes I give them names) coming in for a nut. Keep your eye out for birds that look like this. View Larger
trackinsand mid central, FL (Zone 9a) February 2, 2008 10:22 PM	sometimes if you get a light freeze, the ground kind of pushes up out of itself in places and will end up forming little mounds with whatever is closest to the surface. i know i'm not explaining it very well and i'm sure there is a name for it somewhere but i think that's what it is, cold and hot, cold and hot and it ends up like your picture.
dryad57 Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) February 2, 2008 10:26 PM	trackinsand - are you thinking of the term "heaving"? I've seen that, but not in such a controlled formation as these are.
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) February 2, 2008 11:13 PM	when i think of heaving i think of minnesota rather than a zone 8 wa.
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 3, 2008 1:20 AM	Neither one of those is what comes to mind when I think of heaving. Sorry, I had to! LOL
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) February 3, 2008 1:25 AM	rofl. ok i stand corrected, when i think of vomiting i think of minnesota...
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 3, 2008 1:36 AM	Glad you have sense of humor! LOL I was worried for half minute. ☺
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) February 3, 2008 1:44 AM	yes for sense of humor but some of the other forums they don't have much sense of humor, but they will usually d-mail you with a warning if it is too bad.lol.
heavenscape JayeVille, NC (Zone 8a) February 3, 2008 1:45 AM	Y'all guys are a riot!!! Glad I came across this for a good laugh! Thanks!
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 3, 2008 1:50 AM	Back to the mound thing, though. Is that what it is, do you think? Worms? Yes? No? Or is it the heaving? I'm lost.
trackinsand mid central, FL (Zone 9a) February 3, 2008 9:19 AM	yes, maybe it's called heaving. i agree that this seems too controlled, but then i don't think worms are that controlled either!
dryad57 Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) February 3, 2008 11:57 AM	I wondered what kind of reaction that would get when I posted it - LOL! But, that is indeed what it's called. I would be more inclined to think it's a living critter that's causing this, rather than the remote chance of the ground freezing and thawing (sorry, I just couldn't put the other word there - it was making me laugh too hard!). It just seems too organized a pattern, if that makes sense, for something as random as freezing. Such an effect really requires some pretty serious and prolonged freeze/thaw cycles - unless I'm mistaken. I'll stand aside for opinions from our friends in the much colder northern regions on that one. I agree with kidderpam, your best bet is to take (or send) those pics to your local Master Gardener place - they will either know right away (as they're locals) or they'll be able to find the answer for you. Be sure to let us know what they say if you do discuss it with them - this is a good mystery!
planolinda Plano, TX February 3, 2008 12:01 PM	or the start of a garden horror flic--heaving soils disrupt gardens across the world!
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 3, 2008 12:42 PM	Aliens the Culprit? News at 11:00!
planolinda Plano, TX February 3, 2008 12:48 PM	"do not-repeat- do not allow small pets outdoors until you check for heaving--several animals have been lost in the heaving process never to be found!"
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) February 3, 2008 1:45 PM	lol! i think they have even lost cars in the pot holes that the heaving causes in mn
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 3, 2008 1:53 PM	Stay in your homes! Do not venture out! We will keep you updated on this disaster!
mamajack Fate, TX (Zone 8a) February 3, 2008 2:03 PM	well i gotta follow this thing through as well. can't you hire a kid to stay up all night? or some old geezer that can't sleep?
planolinda Plano, TX February 3, 2008 2:53 PM	"gardeners from popular dave's garden web site tell of giant worms, followed by giant bird activity --some wonder if all of this has contributed to the heaving that has claimed small animals and now cars--gardening is at a standstill causing an overload of activity on the website as frustrated gardeners are at a loss as to what to do next"
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 3, 2008 10:10 PM	Rolling on the floor laughing out loud!!!!! That deserved to be spelled out! Thanks!
dryad57 Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) February 3, 2008 10:15 PM	buwahahahahahaha!!!!
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) February 4, 2008 1:21 AM	Love the "heaving" suggestion. But it doesn't get that cold in Vancouver, WA. Sorry, guys. No heaving there - at least not the ground. LOL. I still say it is some kind of bird -- I really think pardalinum is on the right track with the Western Scrub Jay. Here is some info about them hiding their caches: [HYPERLINK@www.birds.cornell.edu] "The Western Scrub-Jay has been used in laboratory studies of its ability to hide (cache) and remember seeds. Jays that had stolen the caches of other jays noticed if other jays were watching them hide food. If they had been observed, they would dig up and hide their food again. Jays that had never stolen food did not pay any attention to whether other jays were watching them hide their food." The little holes may be worm holes. In fact, that's what they look like. But the description of night crawler middens does not match these piles of sticks/pebbles. Karen
dryad57 Indianapolis, IN (Zone 5b) February 4, 2008 10:48 AM	The more I read through the suggestions, the more I'm beginning to wonder if it may not be a combination of two or more things at work? Possibly the Jays are taking advantage of a natural occurrence to build their little caches?
pardalinum Willamette Valley, OR (Zone 8a) February 4, 2008 11:56 AM	It's more likely that the worms are taking advantage of the jays. The jays loosen the soil and arrange the debris which then attracts the worms. When you look at the surface soil of Vicki"s yard, there really isn't much to attract the worms until the jays gather the debris. That study was first published in the journal Science. It was after I read it that I started paying more attention to what these amazingly smart birds do!
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) February 4, 2008 12:07 PM	Yes, I think so, too. One of the articles I read on the internet about the scrub jays is that in the winter they collect seeds and acorns to bury. They also move in flocks in the winter, so that would account for why there were so many little piles of stuff that showed up at one time. If the worms are night crawlers, they could be very far down in the ground (up to 5-6') and the jays' activities in digging and burying caused the worms to come to the surface. I know I have seen these little stick/rock piles before, but I still can't remember where or when. It may have been in Oregon as I lived in Portland for six years during the 1980s. Karen
lavender4ever (Louise) Leesburg, FL (Zone 8b) February 8, 2008 4:35 PM	I suggest popping an email of your pics over to your extention service and see what they think. Although this thread is hilarious and it would be a shame to find out it is something ordinary lol.
crazy4brugs Kansasville, WI (Zone 5a) February 8, 2008 4:56 PM	LOL is this ground over your septic? Maybe you need RID - X
Len123 Adrian, MO (Zone 6a) February 8, 2008 5:09 PM	lol
fancyflea Missouri City, TX (Zone 9a) February 8, 2008 5:16 PM	Why not take a shovel and carefully dig around and lift up one of the piles. Then you can see if anything is under there.
mamajack Fate, TX (Zone 8a) February 8, 2008 11:31 PM	i'm still holding out for the all night vigil person to show up cause i just gotta KNOW.
amberoseinjune Orem, UT February 12, 2008 2:54 PM	I KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE!!! How do I know?? My husband used to study them for hours on end, much to my consternation. They are little trap pits made by ant-lions. You may not know what ant-lions are- they are little bugs that look sort of like little earwigs- they dig holes as a trap for wandering ants. When an ant falls in, they flip up dirt over and over until the ant falls to the bottom - and then, like a spider, it consumes the fluids of the ant (gross, I know) and disposes of the rest of the ant. When it matures, the ant-lion changes (sort of like a butterfly) into a green lace wing flying bug- like a little green moth. You can keep them as pets, as did my husband, feed them ants, as did he- give them names, and look up library books about them. It was a hard time for our marriage, but we survived it. Hope that helps you!
amberoseinjune Orem, UT February 12, 2008 2:58 PM	I maybe spoke too soon. Oops. Maybe I need glasses. When I looked at the pics, they looked like ant lion holes. When I enlarged it, though, I think I was wrong. Sorry.
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) February 12, 2008 3:09 PM	LOL, don't be sorry! I learned something today, even if it didn't answer the original question. This is so funny!
lavender4ever (Louise) Leesburg, FL (Zone 8b) February 12, 2008 4:09 PM	I think it's catchy! I went out to the sunroom to water my elephant ears where they are over wintering and after a bit a mound of fluffy soil appeared in the pot. I don't wanna know what is living in there.........
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) February 12, 2008 4:19 PM	Pictures so we can guess?
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 12, 2008 4:52 PM	Amber, that's very cool! I have heard of ant-lions but didn't know anything about them.
lavender4ever (Louise) Leesburg, FL (Zone 8b) February 12, 2008 5:42 PM	OK here it goes...it is creepy! View Larger
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) February 12, 2008 7:57 PM	Amber, I loved the story anyway. When my brother was small he kept spiders as pets, but he did keep them outside. They were the house spiders that make a big funnel-type of web. He would drop flies down to the spider. When the spider would see his shadow over the top of the web and hear him call it, it would run to the top to get the fly. I remember one was named George. Don't remember the names of the other ones. Karen
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) February 15, 2008 9:50 PM	OK Mamajack, I'm that person who cant sleep, or I could be the kid who wants paid to stay up all night, after staying on this thread I dont think anyone will sleep, the suspense is killing me, Can you imagine what I was like every Christmas eve as a child ??????, no, thats another threads worth of answers. I leave for Florida 29th this month and I ain't missing my flight for aliens, pixies, Fairies, bees or night Jays, so will I bring my camera or my shot gun, answers on a post card please, wish the darn creatures would hurry up and return, It's 1:45 am in the morning here in Scotland, so must go off to bed as it looks like Mamajack needs me and I want to be ready for my all nighter. ha, ha, ha. WeeNel.
3gardeners Mableton, GA (Zone 7a) February 15, 2008 10:25 PM	Well, I've been waiting and waiting since this started and STILL no one has a definite answer. I do agree that they look like something deliberately made piles. There are more sticks and things in the piles than the surrounding ground. I'd go with the bird thing. I grew up with ant lions. They were in sandy areas. Not in the clay areas of the yard. I would take a pine needle and lightly tap around the top edge towards the center of the hole like a trapped ant that was trying to get out would. Then the lion would come up and I would get him! They were cute, soft bodied and had large (for their size) pinchers. I always put them back. (To trick another day!) (Hey, I was an only child and needed something to do to pass the time!)
mamajack Fate, TX (Zone 8a) February 16, 2008 1:26 AM	weenel, can you change that florida ticket? we need you on the other side of the country.
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) February 16, 2008 4:25 PM	Mamajack, we visited Tex 2 years ago, it was just so amazing, all the diversity of plants that grew, even the wild prairie plants looked spectacular in there natural environment, when I looked at them and then compared that to the gardens where folks attempt to grow prairie gardens on their own space, nature wins hands down, we had a fab time then went off to Hawaii for a few weeks, totally different again I know, but then nothing man can create can ever match what nature can do without even trying. Hope these darn critters have came back to Vickie's garden, my excitement will be the death of me, I will try get the airline captain to make a stop over there en route, tell him Mamajack said so. ha, ha, ha. Weenel.
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) February 16, 2008 4:32 PM	I still vote for pardalimum's suggestion of the scrub jays. I checked the internet and scrub jays do exactly like what is shown in the photo -- since they also travel in large groups during the winter, that's probably the reason that so many little piles of stuff appeared at one time -- lots of little beaks at work! Karen
mamajack Fate, TX (Zone 8a) February 16, 2008 4:56 PM	weenel, i'd love to visit scotland being william wallace country and all. and exactly what do you do to get to travel so much? obviously, i made some wrong decisions somewhere along the line. but you better not tell those airline people anything. i don't want to be on any kind of government list. lol and glendalekid......it is a good guess. but we don't KNOW it!!
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) February 16, 2008 6:28 PM	Mamajack, how could you be put on any government list, or any other gardener for that matter, all we do as gardeners is try make our world a little more beautiful, we take care of nature and we inspire to make a little Oasis for others to walk in our footsteps, so dont you worry, I will not get any government officials to step into your little patch of paradise, But that Vickie Jackson, well she better get the results of her problem sorted before I leave UK or, em, wellllllll, i dont know yet, but I will have to come up with something to solve her puzzle eh, I've been telling friends about this happening in her garden, they are not really impressed by my rather unusual conversation, but politely listening and perhaps wondering if I'm on some strong medication, but they dont know the answers either, but hey, each to their own, my list of friends is shrinking as I write. take care. WeeNel.
mamajack Fate, TX (Zone 8a) February 16, 2008 11:24 PM	good grief, weenel. how old did you say you were? even if you're a kid, will you be my friend? say yes or no. lol i was only being goofy about the "government list". i was making a joke about airport security nowadays. but you are pretty funny and i hope we get to talk again.
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 17, 2008 3:09 AM	"Government list". Good one, Mama! LOL Whatever it is better show itself soon and stop keeping us all in "suspenders".
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) February 25, 2008 1:23 AM	okay, I just read this entire thread....and you still dont have an answer? Did you ever find out what is it? Now,I'M dying to know!
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 25, 2008 1:25 AM	You may have to get used to disappointment like the rest of us. ☺ We've been on pins and needles for WEEKS!!!
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) February 25, 2008 1:27 AM	but I love a good mystery! even more when they have an ENDING! :o) And my mom and sis live in WA, if there is an alien invasion happening there, I need to warn them :o)
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 25, 2008 1:29 AM	I have a brother watching the skies, as well.
jlp222 Hammond, LA (Zone 8b) February 25, 2008 1:43 AM	OK, I just read the whole thread, and I have NO idea what is living (eek!) in your yard. I enjoyed the story about the Ant Lions. I had a tarantula when I was a kid and we would catch crickets to feed her. Sometimes she would gobble them up right away, sometimes she would stalk them for a week. Good clean family fun! Please keep us updated!
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 25, 2008 1:45 AM	We did, too! ☺ Hey, when you don't have a TV...
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) February 25, 2008 1:45 AM	I think its some kind of worm, I have lots of worms in my beds and see them sliver back into their hole really quickly. they are small, so I would never have noticed the hole (but then again I cant see well so who knows!)
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) February 25, 2008 10:38 AM	I really don't think there will be anything more to see. They came; they built the stick mounds; they left. I'm still voting for the scrub jays as the culprits! Karen
DebinSC Summerville, SC (Zone 8a) February 25, 2008 9:17 PM	I have this thread on my watch list, and when I saw it pop up I thought, "YES!". Anxiously, I clicked over here, expecting for the mystery to finally be solved....and...??? Sigh. ;) Nope, just more of us wanting to know if the mystery was soved. LOL!
jlp222 Hammond, LA (Zone 8b) February 25, 2008 9:20 PM	Sorry, but I was up late reading and got hooked!
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) February 25, 2008 10:39 PM	lol! what happened to Vicki? did aliens take her away?!
rednyr Newberry, SC (Zone 8a) February 25, 2008 11:32 PM	I'm just curious if that it were birds why are there no prints in the wet soil? For that matter, if it were any animal why are there no prints at all..hmmm ...leaning towards alien mound piles here...always happens before a crop circle...LOL
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) February 25, 2008 11:34 PM	maybe alien worms?
rednyr Newberry, SC (Zone 8a) February 25, 2008 11:36 PM	I do believe you have hit the nail on the head LOL
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) February 26, 2008 2:16 AM	That HAS to be it! ☺
shakeyj11 Central IL (United States) (Zone 5a) February 26, 2008 9:48 PM	I had something like that happen here and it turned out to be crickets...........needless to say when they finally emerged they about drove us nuts! Personally I like the web-cam idea too, be interesting to find out what they are!
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) February 26, 2008 10:54 PM	yes! set up a web spy-cam!
retiredbloomingidiot Fremont, MI February 27, 2008 9:27 AM	I HAVE AQUILEGIA BLUE COLUMBINE SEEDS SENT TO BE BY A FRIEND, IT SAYS NEEDS COLD STRATIFICATION FOR GERMINATION, DOES THIS MEAN TO PLANT THEM IS SOIL, PUT IN THE REFRIGERATOR, OR STORE SEEDS IN REFRIG OR FREEZER FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME? I AM READY TO PLANT THE SEEDS NOW.
rednyr Newberry, SC (Zone 8a) February 27, 2008 9:36 AM	It means you need to put them in the fridge for a specific period of time prior to planting to aid their germination... :o)
DebinSC Summerville, SC (Zone 8a) February 27, 2008 9:17 PM	Or you can winter-sow them in containers outdoors now. :) Deb
pardalinum Willamette Valley, OR (Zone 8a) February 27, 2008 10:06 PM	I wintersow mine about now. I believe they prefer light for germination so I just press them into the soil (in pots), water well, and then set out on my porch.
rednyr Newberry, SC (Zone 8a) February 27, 2008 11:37 PM	deb - what have you W/S thus far? I am always worried about this wacky weather lately...I mean I had to make the mad dash today to throw my pine straw back on everything again (yes you can blame the cold snap on me..I had to remove the straw last week and now see what I did LOL) I guess I worry that things will start to germ and then get zapped by the cold snaps
DebinSC Summerville, SC (Zone 8a) February 28, 2008 10:31 PM	Not your fault. I cleared off a bit of pine straw too. It was a team effort! :) I've W/S alot less this year than last. Only have done holyhocks, nicotinia and lisianthus this time. Deb
rednyr Newberry, SC (Zone 8a) February 28, 2008 10:50 PM	Deb - have you ever thought about going up to Charlotte to see Elizabeth Lawrences home? I am trying to see if folks in our general area and NC would be interested in a private tour...I talked to Dia at Wind Haven (the group purchasing the home from it's current owner) they have an open house in conjunction with Wind Haven (a bird sanctuary) in Charlotte...
Linda_R Houston, TX (Zone 9a) March 10, 2008 3:19 PM	Vicki, Are you sure these are not caused by squirrels? Linda
psychw2 Boise, ID (Zone 6a) March 10, 2008 4:45 PM	Oh man... STILL no answers??? I like the alien explaination best. And Cathy4, if you EVER see those little aliens, and they are looking for someone to "take care of", send them MY WAY! I could use some pampering.
lenawest Houston, TX March 12, 2008 5:56 PM	sorry, i know you heard this before, that's the same messes my cats make in the dirt part of my back yard
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) March 13, 2008 12:40 AM	ROTFLOL That's pretty good. My cats do that, too. Only not so neat.
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) March 13, 2008 2:43 AM	how do you keep cats out of your garden beds? Ive tried spraying with the hose... (just a misting) and putting poinker balls (those spiky things that drop from the liquid amber trees) all over as mulch -they just move those aside- and keeping the beds moist at all times, none of these tactics have kept them from using my newly planted beds as their litter box!
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) March 13, 2008 11:32 AM	I let them have at it. In the front they don't bother them but in the back? I still have some bare areas and they like to use that. DH and I just resort to using gloves more often.
lenawest Houston, TX March 13, 2008 4:57 PM	i get over it, too. it's better than cleaning litter boxes. moth balls do work, but can hurt some plants and ponds. the dogs, i clean up after in the back yard with a water hose, the cats.....well, they rule the front yards and regular watering and just rain take care of most of the problems
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) March 13, 2008 7:42 PM	We have a stray that likes to use the side bed as a toilette. I only see evidence of it in the winter, though. Go figure.
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) March 13, 2008 9:55 PM	Well the problem is that I am planting seeds, they kick up all the soil and bury the seedling under a foot of soil.... then nothing grows! or, I;ll have a tiny seedling that I plant and they dig those up, or trample on them. I thought of buying the scarecrow water squirting thing, but it is really expensive...
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) March 14, 2008 12:14 AM	You could follow them around with the water bottle a couple of days. Or are they outside by themselves? I have a new bed I'll be starting and WILL be concerned if they go in there because I'll have seedlings, too. Hmmm.. They're pretty fat. Maybe a low fence they can't jump over?
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) March 14, 2008 12:34 AM	naw, my kitties are very agile, and the neighbors are even worse, they are less than a yr old. I tried the water hose, but that only discourages them when I have it in my hand. kinda hard to get anything done while holding a hose all day :o) someone else told me to sprinkle hot peppers, but my lil teacup poodle might protest to that.... someone else said orange or lemon peel?does that work?
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) March 14, 2008 11:18 AM	Boy, I wish I had regular cats. Mine are huge. One is 26lbs. and the other is 19lbs. The one is just a very big cat and the other is just fat. lol ☺
lenawest Houston, TX March 14, 2008 11:29 AM	not a garden response, but if you really like cats and have a funny bone, check out [HYPERLINK@www.mycathatesyou.com.] it's crazy cat people talking about everything
rednyr Newberry, SC (Zone 8a) March 18, 2008 11:02 PM	I use the pinecones my trees drop and put them in my beds...I know it sounds mean but the first time they jump/walk on one will be the last - with 9 cats I have to disway them from certain areas ( I live on two acres -you would think they would have tons of room to use...but noooooo....they like the red mulch LOL)
siobjuan Dexter, ME March 19, 2008 6:34 PM	As I am from Maine, and the frost heaves are what keeps the DPW busy from April to November, I can state UNEQUIVOCALLY that it is not frost heaves. So, have we all agreed that it is alien bird bug worms? lol!
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) March 19, 2008 7:35 PM	hmmm, alien bird bug worms? YES! It must be!
azrobin Scottsdale, AZ (Zone 9b) March 19, 2008 7:58 PM	I'm going to take a leap here and suggest writing to the people of What's That Bug. Maybe they know of an insect or something that does that? Worth a shot. Curious minds want to know what the HECK is doing that!!! [HYPERLINK@www.whatsthatbug.com]
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) March 19, 2008 8:16 PM	Isn't there a 'identify this alien?' thread? LOL!
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) March 20, 2008 12:31 AM	There should be! LOL
1AnjL (AnjL) Fremont, CA (Zone 9b) March 20, 2008 12:33 AM	I'd have to post all my relatives pitures on it ! LOL!
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) March 20, 2008 12:34 AM	We'd love to see them! Maybe we could ID them for you? LOL ☺
vickijackson55 Vancouver, WA (Zone 8a) July 15, 2008 1:20 AM	Hi all, Love all the answers, all the possibilities. I keep looking, no new little mounds but it was January last year. I will be paying close attention. I have planted some things there, and they always stayed away from weeds and grass and plants. They preferred the dirt and I still have plenty of that so I will be watching. I have never heard of ant lions. Amazing the things we don't know. Vicki
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) July 15, 2008 7:29 PM	Again, I'm still betting on the scrub jays. Description on line about their activities checks with your mystery, and they are native to your area. Karen
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) August 16, 2008 7:32 PM	Well I've missed all you guys, I have been on my vacation, sorted out my garden only to have it flattened by heavy storms/rain, wind etc, had trees down due to this, been unwell for a spell, now recovered, been inundated with family visitors (humans) baby sat the grand-kids for a week, had the outside of the house painted, reversed the pickup truck into the side corner of the house and smashed the rear lights, (who in their right mind builds houses where I want to reverse) been searching my garden for tiny piles of small stones set out in any form of pattern or order with little piles of earth, but found none, had a set to with an estate agent (realtor) who is selling a house about 2 miles away from me, BUT keeps giving viewers directions to my door for the past month, NOT FUNNY any more, was given a plant as a gift and now have a severe infestation of Red Spider Mite and they have spread throughout my greenhouse, so have had constant work trying to get on top of that, now have to send away for a parasitic mite that will kill the Red Spider Mites. Now returned to this thread for the mystery to be solved, Nope, just still at the Jays, Aliens, Worms, now Lion Ants, gee's where does it end eh, So Vickijackson, your next on my list, I'm comming for you, ha, ha, ha, are we any closer to solving this mystery, have we managed to kidnap a kid to stay up all night, have we clubbed together to buy a spy camcorder, or do I need to return to my doctor for some stronger medication to get me through the winter months while we await the return of the creatures of the night, answers please. Kwanjin, Mamajack, and Len123, I have missed all your humour and fun, hope all is well with you guys and everyone else. glad to be back among friends again. Stay with it and all may be revealed by next winter. happy gardening to you all. WeeNel.
tcinmb Myrtle Beach, SC (Zone 8b) August 16, 2008 8:21 PM	Hi WeeNel- I have missed your advise. Sorry that your house got into the trucks way!!! LOL
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) August 16, 2008 8:56 PM	Thanks tcinmb, you would think a house being there for all those years would know better eh, but hey, not to much damage done to the truck, a new rear light fitting is on it's way. Never a dull moment at my place you can tell. Hope you have had a good gardening season and enjoyed it all. best wishes. Weenel.
tcinmb Myrtle Beach, SC (Zone 8b) August 16, 2008 9:11 PM	I did pretty good with all of great advise I got while trying to figure out what needed to go where.
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) August 16, 2008 9:28 PM	Now you know why so many folks just love this site, no matter how much experience we gardeners have, we always learn some new things as we go along, let it continue always. best wishes. WeeNel.
philotea Philadelphia, PA August 22, 2008 10:53 AM	I'm very sorry to give you the bad news. The Blair Witch has moved into your neighborhood. Drop the videocamera and run! :)
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) August 22, 2008 11:49 AM	Make sure you go screaming! LOL
youngman Beverly Hills, CA August 24, 2008 6:54 AM	those pics look creepy. whatever they are, they are destroying that particular area.
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) August 24, 2008 8:58 PM	Ok so now have we moved on from tiny little holes maybe the size of a cocktail stick puncture marks/holes, to bomb craters that are ruining the whole area, this story is growing like all the gossip that flows through the small town I live close to, in this small town, if a feather blows through at one end, by the time it reaches the other end, the feather has turned into a chicken, Paleeeeeeese, we started looking for aliens, fairies, bees, etc in Feb, now we are almost at the end of August, waken me up next Feb if you dont mind, unless this (whatever it is) is coming to a place near me, WOOOOOOOOH, Got the emergency supplies at the ready and ordered the wood to board up the house, Geeeeewhizzzzz, what was that, I heard a scraping noise out the back yard, in the pitch black of the night, no sorry, panic over, it was the cat scratching the door to get in. Keep me posted and if it is aliens, let me know if they are carrying any garden tools, that would be neat eh. one of the new shows on TV, garden makeovers from out of space, could put a new slant on reality TV shows, love all this. good luck. WeeNel.
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) August 24, 2008 9:57 PM	WeeNel, Thanks for the laugh!! You made my evening!! Karen
azrobin Scottsdale, AZ (Zone 9b) August 24, 2008 10:18 PM	I know that Cicada Killers burrow when they think the time is coming. But I don't think they cover their burrow that much unless they're waiting for that 17th year when the Cidada's emerge. Just a thought. Still, spooooooky. LOL
glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL (Zone 7b) August 24, 2008 10:37 PM	I don't think they have cicadas in WA. I know we didn't have them when I lived in Portland, OR. Karen
mgh Willamette Valley, OR (Zone 8a) August 25, 2008 12:47 AM	First time I ever heard a cicada was when I went to PA a few years ago. First time I ever saw a firefly too. So, no, I don't think we have them on this side of the country. Great story, WeeNel!
Ladybeetle zone 7, TX August 30, 2008 12:27 PM	The pics where you have rocks and sticks the ground looks like water has washed over it. THe piles could be just heavier ones that didn't move. THe other pics look like they were created by earthworms. At least thats what I've always thought they were. Perhaps you had rain and they all came up for air?Maybe those are castings?
paraduck Columbus, GA September 1, 2008 9:58 AM	Hi Everybody, I am now another poor fly stuck in this insane web of WHAT ARE THESE MOUNDS. I have finished reading all the informational and witty answers from around the globe. My input to the puzzle is that it looks like something(s) has scratched a fairly superficial hole, and the mound is what came from said hole, I think birds and worms are a pretty good guess. The birds sensed the worms, scratched and got their breakfast. Early bird style. Maybe even not worms, but some other bug just getting ready to come to the surface. Anyway that is my theory. One of the funniest comments I read in this thread is the person who asked in capitals (shouted) about the cold seeds. The question was so out of the blue and obscure, and then some sweet person answered just as normally. I had a good LOL with that one. All of you gardeners are great, I love you all.
cando1 Ozone, AR (Zone 6a) September 5, 2008 2:11 AM	What a wonderful thread. So many great theorys. I've got one too. Know you've heard of BIGFOOT. Well this is little foot. A very heavy little micro monster from the Alaskian Tundra. They were flooded out because of ice melting and are heading for the antarctica. Not many people have heard of them because they are so small. They have been migrating for 3 years, and simply stopped overnight. There are other people who have not been on DG and were afraid to admit seeing these strange mounds. The mounds were built for ceremonial purposes. Probably marital ceremonys,but could have been a picnic area. At any rate they're probably half way through Mexico by now. Or than again they may have run into fire ants and turned around and gone back to Alaska. So everyone look out for the lttle mounds. But don't step on them. We don't want to destroy intelligent life. DD tells me i have a very wild imigination. Need i say more!!! Really hope the mystery is solved. Vickie
Rocco Tulsa, OK (Zone 7a) September 5, 2008 9:44 AM	The holes/mounds were caused by a small burrowing critter that recently arrived at the west coast from Lower Slobovia, the Ratfink. They are now moving eastward. I will attempt to obtain and post photos when they arrive in my area.
cathy4 St. Louis County, MO (Zone 5a) September 5, 2008 9:46 AM	I'm sure I saw thousands of the ratfinks last week and last night on TV, they were having a convention. (This is a joke.) This message was edited Sep 5, 2008 10:37 PM
PeaFowlAnjL Gate (Rochester), WA (Zone 7b) September 6, 2008 1:03 AM	roflmbo!!! Certain I've seen them too, then
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) September 6, 2008 6:01 PM	It has finally clicked now I remember you said Feb was when you noticed these mounds, these are from our Scottish Haggis, come out at this time (well Jan / Feb actually) for Robert Burns day, that's the Scottish poet. these creatures run about the Heather clad hills all year round, they are fat and squat, 2 legs, one shorter than the other due to running on hills and the shot leg stops them falling over, they are shot and stuffed ready for there annual Burns Supers where everyone recites Scottish poetry all over the world, guess a few must have escaped their fate and ran for cover, maybe they are hiding out in your yard, why not try singing them a Scottish Lulaby for them, they will come over to you for a petting and rub against your feet, let me know if the singing works, good luck. WeeNel.
kwanjin West Valley City, UT (Zone 5a) September 6, 2008 8:27 PM	ROTFLOL at BOTH of you! Priceless!!!
cando1 Ozone, AR (Zone 6a) September 7, 2008 8:27 PM	Is For Auld Lang Syne (Should Old acquantence be forgot) Scottish or Irish?
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) September 8, 2008 9:18 PM	Scottish, but it is sometimes sang in Irish pubs, I guess we are both Gaels as in Celtic. WeeNel.
cando1 Ozone, AR (Zone 6a) September 8, 2008 10:07 PM	Good!! Thats my Scottish folk song to sing,If need be. Vickie

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