what kind of critter is this?

[blueheaven]

does anyone know:
after a long winter...i was trimming up my bramble (black raspberry) bushes and noticed a lof of holes - they did not go straight down but were slanted. i also noticed trenches to my grape vines. i have about 10 holes in the matter of 16 feet or so. the holes are 3 inches in diameter roughly!!!

it does not look like moles though.

they have killed (i guess by means of chewing the roots to the plants) most of my bramble bushes...

then today - as i was going to check on my chicks - i noticed another hole in my perinnal bed. it is behind on of my flowers that is only 8" high. it looked like fresh dirt so i put the dirt back on top and when i went back to check the chicks again - it was re-dug.

any ideas???
ps...i live in indiana.

 

[FrenchHen]

ground squirrels?

 

[debilorrah]

Gophers.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Could be a pocket gopher maybe?

http://icwdm.org/handbook/rodents/PocketGophers.asp

 

[HarlansHollowFarms]

Gophers......we have plenty of them little buggers!

 

[sparkles2307]

skunks. They dig holes 3-6 inches wide and about the same depth when they are after grubs and roots in the fall and spring. One skunk can make a yard look like an abused golf course in the space of one night.

 

[wateboe]

I suspect voles. Lots of ingress/egress holes that lead to tunnels just below the surface of the soil, usually concentrated in garden beds. They can really do a number on flowering bulbs and other tasty roots!

 

[Chicks R Friends NOT Food]

What time is this happening? If it's during the day that should rule out skunks.

 

[EricShane]

i say skunks or Gophers!

 

[gabrielle1976]

Something beutifull that God made

See youre backyard could use some airation right