What has made this hole?

[banana]

We have a large garden . About 3/4 of the way down there has appeared a large ,deep hole. The top is about the size of a dinner plate-possibly a bit bigger. The sides slope down and seem to go into a tunnel. When we first noticed it,it was a depression and we put a large stone on top of it so as to prevent an accident.
Because of the weather and work committments we havent been down the garden that far until this weekend. The hole is much bigger and the stone ( obviously) has gone. We dont have kids/dogs or neighbours kids/dogs that would dig .like this.
Could this be a fox hole? We do have a lot of urban foxes in the area but havent really seen them in our garden . We also are plagued by squirells -but surely they only do surface digging?
Or what else could it be?

ps the hole isnt under anything -its just in the middle of a grassed area

[logman]

Hard to tell without seeing it but it could be a fox earth, badger sett, or maybe a rabbit warren. Look around for clues like hair and droppings etc, badgers usualy dig out their own latreens near by. Is it possible to observe from a bedroom window, around dusk and dawn are good times to look out. Good luck..

[Lonnie]

It could be any of the ones logman has mentioned, but i'd go for the Fox, reason being, I had something similar a couple of years ago, when they were breeding, as I didn't want to hurt them, they're only doing what comes naturally, I poured Creosote into the hole, had to do it a couple of times, but they did go, previously, i'd filled the hole with bricks, but they just tunnelled round them.

[Hard@it]

you don't say if the earth that was in the hole is lying about,if it's not it could be a subsidence problem.

[funkymoped]

sounds like you got underground sky rabbits ! they are notorious for digging big holes in the middle of lawns. the way to get rid of them is to buy a boeing 737 and park the aeroplane in your neighbours front garden. (make the tyre pressure a constant 75degrees C ) and check the windscreen wash bottle is FULL.. when the said, underground sky rabbits, come out to admire your new aeroplane you must run to the hole and put a "NO TRESPASSING" sign infront of the hole.

its very important that you get to the hole before the guard rabbit does. just stand infront of him with your index finger of your left hand in your right ear and say in a loud voice...

BEGONE, BEGONE. CUZ I AM THE ONE. THE RULER, THE KEEPER, THE OWNER, THE SLEEPER.

ps. dont allow them acces for personal belongings... they will abuse your good nature....

they can be tough old critters, so GOOD LUCK !

[banana]

What an excellent suggestion FM -why didnt I think of that?

I'll just go and see what I can get from East Midlans Airport- theyll not notice one little 737 missing. Meanwhile I can paint the sign so its all ready.
Cheers - made my day.:-)

[funkymoped]

:-)

[funkymoped]

i got three stars.....

you just get reported !!

[ermintrude35]

...tabathazig... a tad harsh there don't you think?... it bought a smile to my face on an otherwise cr@ppy day... keep up the good work FM...

[ermintrude35]

..oh and banana can you keep us posted..?

[funkymoped]

just another one of the pub crawlers got home after one wine gum too many.

not my fault they have to call their big sister "MOM"....