Surface level tunnel - what animal?

[David WE Roberts]

The most recently dug strip of ther allotment is having tunnels constructed
just below the surface - you can see the tunnel because of the wiggly hump
meandering through the plot.

Could be a mole, but no mole hills and I thought moles went deeper.

If rat/mouse/other rodent then why the wiggly surface tunnel?
Do things other than moles hunt worms and stuff just under the surface?
It only seems to be in the most recently single dug area so presumably
something which likes loose soil?

I've trodden the tunnels down a couple of times and not heard a muffled
'squeeeeek' but after the first trodding the tunnels appeared again (in a
slightly different arrangement) after a few days.

Not visiting every day because of the generally stormy weather and the plot
being too wet to dig over ATM.

I am reluctant to plant up this strip (especially with seeds) whilst
something is turning the strip over just below the surface.

Any ideas/sugggestions?

Cheers

Dave R

[Dave Hill]

Post by David WE Roberts
The most recently dug strip of ther allotment is having tunnels constructed
just below the surface - you can see the tunnel because of the wiggly hump
meandering through the plot.
Could be a mole, but no mole hills and I thought moles went deeper.
If rat/mouse/other rodent then why the wiggly surface tunnel?
Do things other than moles hunt worms and stuff just under the surface?
It only seems to be in the most recently single dug area so presumably
something which likes loose soil?
I've trodden the tunnels down a couple of times and not heard a muffled
'squeeeeek' but after the first trodding the tunnels appeared again (in a
slightly different arrangement) after a few days.
Not visiting every day because of the generally stormy weather and the plot
being too wet to dig over ATM.
I am reluctant to plant up this strip (especially with seeds) whilst
something is turning the strip over just below the surface.
Any ideas/sugggestions?
Cheers
Dave R
--
No plan survives contact with the enemy.
[Not even bunny]
Helmuth von Moltke the Elder
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

Mole, in soft soil they will stay just below the surface.
I have known them going along a row of newly planted cabbage (Planted
using a tractor mounted planter) and they pushed up around 100 plants
before they changed direction.

[n***@cam.ac.uk]

Post by David WE Roberts
The most recently dug strip of ther allotment is having tunnels constructed
just below the surface - you can see the tunnel because of the wiggly hump
meandering through the plot.
Could be a mole, but no mole hills and I thought moles went deeper.

They dig in that way when hunting worms, and throw up hills only
when they need to get rid of the spoil. If they are digging just
below the surface, they don't need to.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

[Spider]

Post by n***@cam.ac.uk

Post by David WE Roberts
The most recently dug strip of ther allotment is having tunnels constructed
just below the surface - you can see the tunnel because of the wiggly hump
meandering through the plot.
Could be a mole, but no mole hills and I thought moles went deeper.

They dig in that way when hunting worms, and throw up hills only
when they need to get rid of the spoil. If they are digging just
below the surface, they don't need to.
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

They also hunt/live much nearer the surface when the water table is
higher. Perhaps it's been wet where you are?

[Farmer Giles]

Post by David WE Roberts
The most recently dug strip of ther allotment is having tunnels
constructed just below the surface - you can see the tunnel because of
the wiggly hump meandering through the plot.
Could be a mole, but no mole hills and I thought moles went deeper.
If rat/mouse/other rodent then why the wiggly surface tunnel?
Do things other than moles hunt worms and stuff just under the surface?
It only seems to be in the most recently single dug area so presumably
something which likes loose soil?
I've trodden the tunnels down a couple of times and not heard a muffled
'squeeeeek' but after the first trodding the tunnels appeared again (in
a slightly different arrangement) after a few days.
Not visiting every day because of the generally stormy weather and the
plot being too wet to dig over ATM.
I am reluctant to plant up this strip (especially with seeds) whilst
something is turning the strip over just below the surface.
Any ideas/sugggestions?

Almost certainly a mole. If you're especially vigilant you might catch
it moving or digging along its tunnel and you could quite easily
dispatch it with a fork or spade. Otherwise, a tunnel or scissor trap is
the answer - personally I can't get on with scissor traps and find
tunnel traps much more effective.