What would come out of a hole like this?

[LadyCluck77]

Tonight while putting my birds away I saw a hole. About four feet away from a corner of my chicken run, I found a strange hole in the ground, near a slight grassy hill. It is about the width of a telephone pole, and appears very deep. I did not put my hand inside to see how deep it goes. I was afraid there might be some kind of critter inside.
Would a fox hole look similar to this? Is it probably something harmless like a rabbit hole?
I haven't lost any birds, but I don't remember this hole being there a week ago.

Should I fill the hole in with rocks or cement? What kind of animals would make a hole like that?

 

[iwiw60]

Sounds to me like a badger...they love to dig burrows into slight inclines. Irregardless of what predator is digging that hole I'm in hopes that your chicken coop is imprenitable. What type of floor is in your coop and/or run? If it were me I'd be sitting out there tonight with my .22 and get whatever it is before it gets my hens! Best of luck, hope all turns out well.

CAN YOU POST A PIC OF THE HOLE?

 

[LadyCluck77]

It's getting dark, but this is what it looks like

Thanks for any thoughts or help!

 

[iwiw60]

It's getting dark, but this is what it looks like



Thanks for any thoughts or help!

Too small for a badger...more likely a weasel...

 

[farnorth]

I would pack it full of rocks

 

[blucoondawg]

take your hose and turn it on full blast and stick it down the hole, let it run for awhile, whatever is in there will come out once the hole starts to fill with water most likely, be standing at the ready with a shotgun. Do not stick your hand in there.

 

[LadyCluck77]

DH and I just used some qwik-set cement in there. As soon as I showed it to him , and how close it is to the chickens, he said let's fill it in. It took two full bags it was so deep. The grasses around it have grown very long so he's going to weed whack the area tomorrow. There was definitely some kind of critter around there because it smelled like urine.

Thanks everyone, I'll update if anything new happens!