Mystery holes in lawn

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/4108#Comment_4108

Hey @Prof,

Would you be able to share a photo? It might help the gardeners in the community help identify the problem.

Also, not sure if you saw this recent discussion kicked off by @bergs. The culprit was curl grubs/black beetles.

Jason

bergs

Hi @Prof do you have Echidnas about your place?

I notice there have been heaps of ants about this season, so maybe an Echidna!

I notice when I go bush that the Echidnas get into the ant's nest and and they are only small uneven holes about the area.

The other thing they could be grubs in the soil and the birds are scratching them out!

Dig one of the holes out to see if there is anything in it.

Maybe check it out at night to see if there is anything active.

Grubs chew on the lawn roots and the grass will slowly die off.

Maybe Bandicoot??

Good luck in your efforts to find the culprit

Cheers bergs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/64205#Comment_64205

Here are a couple of shots of the holes..
There has been a lot of bark that has blown off the gumtree out the front..

lawn holes 1.jpg

lawn holes 2.jpg

Bergs...Interesting that you should suggest an Echidna!

When I first moved into this place I saw an Echidna coming up the driveway..

It disappeared under the fence and I haven't seen it since..

Maybe it's come back..

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/94696#Comment_94696

@Prof

Thanks for the photos. Hopefully someone in the community will be able to help identify the culprit!

You might also be interested in this previous discussion about bandicoots kicked off by @Flo54 last year - https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Gardening/Bandicoots/m-p/13314

You are lucky to live in an area with echidnas!

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113800#Comment_113800

Yes indeed Jason..I'm amazed at the number of different animals I've seen on my front lawn!

It's like a wild life reserve here.!! 😀

MartyH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124544#Comment_124544

Any poo around that will give you another clue @Prof?

This article might help if its a bandicoot - https://laurarittenhouse.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/is-there-a-bandicoot-in-my-garden/

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131750#Comment_131750

No MartyH..I can't see any poos anywhere near the holes, which probably rules out Bandicoots..

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136144#Comment_136144

Hey @Prof,

How are you going with this mystery. Any other clues?

Jason

BIM_Engineer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139134#Comment_139134

Google is trying to tell me it's one of these things

Hmmm

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139134#Comment_139134

According to my gardener (who lives down the road from me ) it's an Echidna that digs those sorts of holes..He's seen the same holes at other places..

It evidently only happens around the same time each year..

The local Ghost Gums shed their bark and bring down ants in the bark..and that's what brings Echidna's around..

Mystery solved..

bergs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141158#Comment_141158

hi @Prof, it's good to work out what's causing a problem because then you can take action if required to rectify the problem. I think an Echidna would be great, the grand kids would love it.
Cheers bergs

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141158#Comment_141158

How wonderful to have an Echidna share your property @Prof. I hope you get to meet him one day!

Thanks for the update.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142679#Comment_142679

Jason I have actually seen the Echidna..
As I mentioned previously, one walked up the driveway when I first moved in..and I never saw it again..
bergs..your grand kids would have loved it because it walked past me by only a few feet and didn't take any notice of me! It was almost like a pet..

rickyB

this is most likely wolf **** i have these holes all over my lawn as well and i was watering my grass one night and seen a rather large **** come out of one of the many holes so the next day i went to each hole with bug spray and a wolf **** came from each one but i still get them now and again but spray them and its no problem

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7645#Comment_7645

Many thanks for sharing your experience with the Workshop community @rickyB. We are pleased to have you join us. Let me extend a very warm welcome.

Feel free to post anytime you need a hand with a project around the house and garden or have something to share.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/7645#Comment_7645

Well oddly enough, since I last wrote..all the holes have gone !! 😕 It's like they were never there !! There's not even a slight depression like you might see if they had been filled in..Weird !!!

Aussie-Garden

Just saw this old discussion pop up and it instantly reminded me of when we had mysterious holes in our new back yard.

It freaked the younger kids out and I didn't help things when I showed them video from the "Tremors" movies on YouTube. 😀

Cobra

We have a shack on the Murrray at Morgan and have had over 200 holes dug in the river side lawn in the last 3 months. Almost positive it's Echidnas but how do we deter them.They only come out at night . HELP !!

Cobra

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141158#Comment_141158

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142748#Comment_142748

Welcome to the Workshop community @Cobra. I'm sorry to hear about your issue.

Echidnas are most active in the lead-up to their winter mating period which is why you might be seeing more activity recently. The use of blood and bone products have been successful in deterring a range of native wildlife from gardens in the past, so it might be worthwhile spreading some over the area.

I note you are calling the area a "lawn" if that is the desired purpose consideration should be made as to whether the echidnas are actually damaging it. They look like they are doing a wonderful job of aerating the soil for you and this can be used to your advantage. If you spread a generous coating of Hortico 25l Lawn Top Dress Mix over the holes it will provide a great growing medium for the lawn and infill the holes at the same time. You can then apply an organic fertiliser like Yates 7kg Dynamic Lifter Concentrated Lawn Food (which contains blood and bone) to see some really substantial growth and potentially discourage them enough to find another area to dig in.

If you were interested I would encourage you to start your own discussion so more community members are aware of your question.

If you need further assistance or have other questions, please let me know.

Mitchell

I have same problem. I live in murtoa and have so many holes in my lawn. Its weird.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/48450#Comment_48450

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/86295#Comment_86295

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @witchipoo. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about unusual holes.

Those holes look like they could be from bandicoots, which are known for digging up lawns while searching for grubs and insects. There appear to be some populations near Multoa. The size and shape also suggest they could be from bush turkeys scratching around or even rabbits burrowing. Given that the holes look like they’ve been dug rather than just appearing, it’s likely something has been looking for a meal—possibly lawn grubs.

Unless the holes are causing major problems, I’d fill them in as needed. It can be a bit frustrating, but it’s also a reminder of how lucky we are to have such unique wildlife in our backyards

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/108491#Comment_108491

Thank u for this. I did see a nawty little Bandicoot afew months ago after a storm here in murtoa. People were saying this could be a sink hole & it was freaking me out. A Bandicoot makes sense. I don’t know much about them at all so I’ll do some research. I don’t mind filling the holes in, I have loam in a huge area I purchased for some reason.
thank u kindly for this assessment.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/121529#Comment_121529

witchypoo..From what I learnt about Bandicoots just recently they like to dig burrows.!

Either one is testing the ground with little digs or it's something else.!

Prof...