[PennyQuilts]

Good morning and Merry Christmas Eve. I'm new here - hope you don't mind my asking you to look at this photo. I wondered if someone knew what created this burrow.

There was a colony of these in Canadian County. It looked like gopher holes only MUCH bigger and they were open with the dirt thrown out. They went straight down for 4 - 5 feet that I could tell. Most of them had openings about 8 - 10 inches in diameter. They were in an open field covered with tall grasses.

Thanks, for looking at this!

[EarthBound?]

Looks like a Prairie dog hole. Look around and see if there are a few other holes. If not, may be looking at (if they have them in Oklahoma) a fox den.

[PennyQuilts]

Originally Posted by EarthBound?

Looks like a Prairie dog hole. Look around and see if there are a few other holes. If not, may be looking at (if they have them in Oklahoma) a fox den.

Yes, it was in a colony. I was wondering if that was what it was but it was hidden in tall grasses - not like the ones I've seen out on a flat, dirt area. Thanks!

[EarthBound?]

Originally Posted by PennyQuilts

Yes, it was in a colony. I was wondering if that was what it was but it was hidden in tall grasses - not like the ones I've seen out on a flat, dirt area. Thanks!

I'm not sure if in that area if you guys have ground hog/woodchucks/whistle pigs as we sometimes call them. But like prairie dogs, they also live the communitive life style. And unlike prairie dogs, they would rather keep their holes as concealed as much as possible.

[PennyQuilts]

I haven't seen ground hogs around here but I will look for photos of both prairie dogs and ground hogs/wood chucks - thanks!

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by PennyQuilts

Good morning and Merry Christmas Eve. I'm new here - hope you don't mind my asking you to look at this photo. I wondered if someone knew what created this burrow.

There was a colony of these in Canadian County. It looked like gopher holes only MUCH bigger and they were open with the dirt thrown out. They went straight down for 4 - 5 feet that I could tell. Most of them had openings about 8 - 10 inches in diameter. They were in an open field covered with tall grasses.

Thanks, for looking at this!

Armadillo hole, probably. Have you seen evidence that they've been rooting around?

[karibear]

I don't know about Canadian, but there are plenty of armadillos in Hughes County. Just one can and will make a lot of holes, fairly close together, too. It's harder to tell when there's a lot of brush around, but dillos will make tunnels that are just under the surface, and sink when you step on them. They'll also throw a lot of dirt out around a hole. It's a PITA finding the mounds with a lawn mower, too.

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Armadillo hole, probably. Have you seen evidence that they've been rooting around?

Yes, my gsd tracked a varmint to a hole just like that. It was an armadillo. I don't know what part of the state penny took that picture, who knows.

There are ground hogs from Lawton right up to along hwy 9 by Blanchard.

[rogerofzonka]

Lots of (ok circa 1980 when I last lived there) fox around northern OK. E.W. Marland and his cronies used to hunt them around the Ponca City area back in their day (1920s).

[Rickers]

I've never seen an armadillo den but I've seen many fox dens and it looks like a fox hole to me. If you look closely in and around the opening you may find some debris or tracks that will give you some clues.
Best to just leave it alone as some animals will abandon their homes if they don't feel safe and foot prints and poking about may cause this animal unintended harm.