Thursday, April 8, 2010

A new enemy in my yard!!!

This is NOT the work of the Evil Squirrel Army! A new enemy has infiltrated my yard - Burrows have been popping up all over our flower beds! They're 2 - 3 inches across, with what looks to be escape holes nearby. Does anyone know what they are??? Mom's pretty sure they aren't moles, because we've had mole tunnels and hills before and know what they look like.

I stick my nose in and sniff, but the critters are always hiding from me...


Another look:

I know they're NOT Prairie Dogs. I know they're NOT Meerkats (BOL!)

Are they some sort of ground squirrel? Some sort of gopher..?

But what perplexes me the most is.......

Why in the world would these critters build a city in MY YARD???
Me??? A RAT TERRIER!!!!

I'm just going to hide here and pretend I'm a tree. Maybe they'll show themselves...


Does anyone know what these things are??? We live in the Midwest. (Iowa)

Luv,
Cloud

25 comments:

My Mind's Eye said...

Hi Thor God of Thunder & Altamira,
Dip-C and Esmarillda here!!
Thanks for participating in the change your name for a day game!!!

Oh my stars Thor I haven't the foggiest what is tunneling through your yard. I've heard of voles..I don't know how close they are to moles. I just hope and pray you don't have an infestation of cave dwelling vermin. I think it is time to call Dory, Jazzi and Tank
in for a consultation. Be careful sweet Cloud!!!
Dip-C and Esmarillda

Anonymous said...

They're ground squirrels Cloud. When my peeps lived in Omaha, their yard was full of them. They can be very destructive and chewed threw the sprinkler system. The OG used to go out at night and throw some kind of ammo into their holes. Eventually the surviving squirrels decided to go bother somebody else... maybe they all went to Council Bluffs. BOL

Anonymous said...

Hey Cloud - it's me Tank again. I just checked with the OG's assistant in ground squirrel control...
he said these bombs gassed the squirrels as in chemical warfare. You'd light it on fire and put it in the hole(s) and then cover the hole. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

http://squirrel-x.com/smokebomb.htm

Cloud the Wonder Dog said...

Wow Tank, thanks fur the help dude! OMD, my mom's not sure she can do the smoke bomb thing... she thinks those little stripy ground squirrels are "cute." Bah!!! We need to figure out something though, cuz they're really tearing the place up! Even the lawn... it's like walking on a wet sponge! Grrrrrrrr....

Luv,
Cloud

Anonymous said...

Hello Cloud. This is Ranger, Mayzie's brother. We also had ground squirrels living in our yard. Well, at least one. I think it must have decided to leave once it heard a mighty rat terrier owned the yard. But you must be ever vigilant or they'll think you're soft and take over the yard.

Best of luck to you, my brother!

Ranger

Bijou said...

Yep, it looks like you got some ground dwelling squirrels invading your yard. The quickest, easiest and safest(for Cloud) way to get rid of them critters is, FUMIGATION. Good luck!

Waggles,
Bijou

Emma Rose said...

I think you will either have to be on patrol 24 hours a day, or use the smoke bombs! We have moles at our castle and I dig them up. One time the Duchess caught me playing with one (I didn't hurt it) and she almost had a heart attack. The Duke wasn't home so she called the neighbor for help! BOL!!! She's such a sissy :)

Good luck getting things under control. Be vigilant!

Kisses,
Emma Rose

PS Please thank your Mom for the kind words about our pictures!

houndstooth said...

I'm betting on ground squirrels or chipmunks. You'd better watch those holes carefully! The little devils will try to take over!

Bunny

kissa-bull said...

oh my dogness!!
twee rat aliens!!
we've been fighting them off here in our yard but they may have spread. those things are full of sneakinesws and evil. please to be careful. if you need help fromt he PTO society please to let ush now
we's to take care of the problem
ASAP
good luck friend and be on guard at all times
pibble sugars
the pittie pack

Martine said...

Those critters sure are brave... building a city as you say in your yard... especially since you ARE a RAT TERRIER! We think you need to do something about it cloud... put on your thurdershirt and attack!

xo martine & the kiddlets

Josie said...

Awwww Cloud...what about chipmunks...???

We have them here...the holes look the same...!!!

But my mom can't stop LOL'ing at the look on your face!! So sorry, she says, but you look so perplexed....

Do you have chipmunks there??? We have them and they burrow just like that, chambers all over the damn place and they chirp really loud to signal danger...we need a Rat Terrier like you to help flush them out...

http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Vertebrata/Mammalia/Sciuridae/Tamias/striatus/

Good luck,
Much love, Woof! Josie and Mr. Blues

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

Oh my Cloud....maybe you need to have us all over to investigate...Bet we could chase them away!!

or....they have "trap and release" rodent services here in Austin...maybe you can try them???

Let me know if you need me to pack my bags!

Smileys!
Dory

Unknown said...

Maybe they're bunnies?
Can't wait to see.
Cloud you gotta be on 24hour patrol, or these things will infiltrate your home!!!

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NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

If I lived khloser, I'd khome help!

I'm sure woo will work some magikh and show 'em!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

JacksDad said...

Those holes look awfully big for ground squirrels!!

Cassie said...

They do look like ground squirrel holes according to the hooman daddy heer, Cloud. Wish Hunter n mee wibbed closer to yu, we'd come hep yu rid yur yard ob de ebil creetures....being corn terrors, we're natural born critter hunters!

Wubz,
Cassie

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Sure sounds like ground squirrels. We can never figure out why some animals like rabbits are so dumb as to try to find a home in our yard. One time they even made a nest for there wee ones right in the middle of the lawn - silly bunnies.

Guess Mom will have to get those bombs or let someone else do it for her.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

Cheryl, Indiana, Shingo and Molly said...

No clue, Cloud! Do you all have groundhogs in Iowa??

Have a pawsome weekend!

Woofs and Kisses!
The Fiesty Three

Maxmom said...

Hey there Cloudy-buddy!
No! No! No!...you have it all wrong!!!
Those are "Cloud-snout-holes!". Geesh...how stupid can people be???
Tammy makes holes like that!...has she been visiting you by any chance!?!
:) :) :)

GO CLOUD!
Lotsalicks from your buddy
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA
(...and lotsaluv to your momma too!)

Thor and Jack said...

I don't know about those critters, Cloud. But you better keep the patrol in your yard!
Thor

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! Mmmm have those in my backyard n I have a chipmuck friend, Fred (I have not seen him lately). Keep up a good job in your yard patrol. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

Scout and Freyja said...

Could they be evil little critters that are digging their way to China and your yard is the best and closest route!

The Oceanside Animals said...

hello cloud its dennis the vizsla dog oh hay i no wot they ar!!! they ar ninja hedjhogs i bet!!! see if they ar kerrying littel numchucks and katanas!!! ok bye

Olive said...

Well Cloud.. I to have a similar thing happening in my yard.. I smell down the holes.. I even spent a good part of my day watching this critter take grass to it! Can you believe..eating my grass and digging a hole??? Here in my yard.. it's .. a Bunny. I think it was the same bunny that brought me a basket of treats on Easter.. not sure.

Good luck to you.... I never get close enough.. they hop off under the shed ..shaking that white puffball in my face!

Licks from me!!

Olive