Is this a rat?

I have something that has made tunnels under my chicken and goose pens. I'm sure it's eating the chicken and goose feed. I'm not losing any eggs or chicks. I filled the tunnels in and the next day it chewed through the frelonic mats to get back in. All I can think of is rats. Can't catch the buggers to save my life though. Poison is out of the question, and I can't set rat traps around my livestock. I set a live trap baited with peanut butter but no luck. I set some rat traps on the roof of the pen where none of my animals can get to but didn't catch anything there either. Finally I've resorted to locking the chickens out of their coop and putting the rat traps inside. Two days and still nothing. Poor chickens want back in. I don't understand why I can't catch it. I'm about to take my Jack Russell out and let him dig the hell out my barn just so I can get whatever it is. Any suggestions?



Isn't it weird how the dirt is all balled up?

Here's a great info page:

http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/10/not-creature-was-stirring-got-mice-in.html

Well my dog couldn't get to it. He went nuts (like jack russells do) and dug in but I had to pull him out or he would have tore up the whole barn. There's just too much tunnel. I'm moving up to conibear traps. This is really frustrating.

Maybe the dog getting in there and spreading his scent will scare it off? Know anyone with pet snakes?

That's a mighty big hole for a rat?
Can you get something for scale next to it?
Couldn't have picked a better breed of dog for the job, that's for sure!

I am not sure what made those holes but I can say that whatever it is the dog may be your best bet at getting rid of it. Especially if you can't use traps or poisons. I have three Jack Russell Terriers and they are THE BEST form of vermin control. I know jacks can be like a tornado once they get on the scent of something but if its an animal that could harm your birds then maybe its worth giving your dog another try. Doing a little rapair/cleanup work will be easier in the long run then loosing your flock.

This is a picture of two of my jacks digging out a groundhog hole

Look at those fuzzy little white butts!

We've had groundhogs make holes like that under a shed. Haven't had it happen since we had chickens, but I recall in Ohio having one living under our shed. Drove our dog nuts trying to get it.

My husband looked at the hole and said it was big for a rat too. He said muskrat. I'm like: why on earth would there be a muskrat living under my barn? Then the neighbor said groundhog. Every time we talk about it it gets bigger! I don't think it's a groundhog, I can pull the mats up and see the tunnels and they aren't that big around, maybe 4 inches in depth. I think its a rat because I've never seen it. I would think anything else would have come out in the pasture at some time for me to spot (pasture is surrounded by 5 ft fencing). Could be a rabbit too, but I would have seen it.

Another thing that's kept me guessing is there are two eggs in a nestbox that I left in there. Untouched. Wouldn't a rat eat them, or no?

I hope that snake comment was a joke! I have a very large snake living in my front yard and I actually considered catching it and putting it in the barn for a second there. I kill the rat with the snake, then how do I get rid of the snake? Isn't there a nursery rhyme about how that snowballs?

I will try to get better pics today. Would be nice if they're pics of a body.

Looks like a ground squirrel hole, you might have better luck if you set a live trap the squirrel sized one. Put a little scratch for bait. I've caught over 20 of them this way. Get him quick before they multiply. I decided to go back to having a cat never seen any when we had a cat. When you set the trap put a few good sized rock on the sides of the trap and one on top when they get caught they bounce around so much it can knock the trap on is side and set them loose. Best of luck.
My future mighty white hunter

A cat won't tear up the place they have all the patience in the world