[rhett]

:questionmark:

Was out clipping some fields and ran across this pictured below. Can anyone tell what creature built it? It is about Six foot in diameter at the base and three feet in height.

Also, the third picture is of some rooting / digging that started happening within the last 18 months. It is about five feet across and one foot deep with dirt pilled all around the edges. There are at least four dozen or more of these diggings within 100 feet of the above nest.

I believe this is Feral Hog sign, am I right?
Armadillo have been a problem as long as I can remember, this larger scale digging is new to me.

:questionmark:

 

[Leverforever]

Chupacabra:questionmark::ahhhhh:

 

[rhett]

Should have mentioned this is in Louisiana.

Chupacabra, lawdy-lawdy i need to be on the lookout for one of these?

 

[BFPGW]

Hard to tell from the pics but the rooting/digging might be hogs. The pile of dead grass wouldn't likely be from hogs though.

Get a ten foot pole and flip it over. And have a buddy with a gun waiting in case it is a chupacabra. LOL.

 

[BloodGroove4570]

Is it close to any water?....?.......... I was thinkin Muskrat, but need more info of area...

 

[.35Remington]

Time to buy a game cam

 

[Papalote]

I have seen my pigs (domestic) sense a weather change and root out a hole to fit them. Then the pig would scratch up grass with the front feet, balling it up under himself. The grass was pushed over the hole and the pig inserted himself in the hole with the grass over his back..............Nice and warm.........As it is not winter time, I cant imagine what or why. Maybe to get away from bugs?

Papalote

 

[JIC]

It looks like a beaver mound to me, although beaver's usually build there's in a pond.

 

[rhett]

Is it close to any water?....?.......... I was thinkin Muskrat, but need more info of area...

Yes water is nearby, 50 to 100 yards in almost any direction. In the second picture the tree line is the ditch / mini-bayou. They hold water around 7 to 8 months of the year
The property is on the Northern edge of the Atchafalaya swamp in Louisiana.

 

[horseshoe]

Only thing that comes to mind is a alligator nest and the scratching is the gathering or tearing the weeds up to build a next.

 

[MJAJohnson]

Looks a little big for any muskrats I've seen, as for the beavers and gators wouldn't they want it a little closer to the water? Seems a little more pig like to I. Any tracks?

 

[pricedo]

Muskrat

 

[rhett]

Looks a little big for any muskrats I've seen, as for the beavers and gators wouldn't they want it a little closer to the water? Seems a little more pig like to I. Any tracks?

It is supposed to rain for a couple of days, I will go out and check for fresh tracks. After running the brush clipper it was hard to see any tracks from the tractor. I've got hundreds of the rooting / diggings so I'm sure I'll find some tracks. I've seen deer, bear, bobcat, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, coyote, etc, just not Feral Hawgs yet. Honestly I do not want them.

 

[MudMan]

I've never seen a hog do that. Looks like an alligator nest to me.

 

[JIC]

Only thing that comes to mind is a alligator nest and the scratching is the gathering or tearing the weeds up to build a next.[/QUOTE

That very well could be it, since it is close to water and being in La. swamp land.

 

[rhett]

Thanks for all the responses.

Well, researched Muskrat, that lead to Nutria and by chance this photo showed up. Just might be the architect.

I guess after I get some fresh tracks from around some fresh rooting I can confirm that.
Thanks again

 

[HIKayaker]

Are there a lot of European Storks in Louisiana?

 

[Cajun]

Rougarou....:biggrin::tee:

 

[rhett]

Are there a lot of European Storks in Louisiana?

No, however there are Cranes. The above picture was labeled "Kranich auf dem Nest", I thought it best represented the nest size. I do remember seeing a very large white bird flying while I was clipping the next field over. I will pay more attention my next time out.

Sheesh, first the "Chupacabra" and now a "Rougarou". Muskrat was the best response except the nest has no entry opening.

 

[SC Reb]

Try your local DNR (Dept of Natural Resources) or whatever they call themselves in La. They usually have a wildlife biologist familiar with the local wildlife and I bet the can answer your question lickety-split.

Also your local agricultural extension agents are pretty knowledgeable about wildlife in their areas too.