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I've fixed two holes 1 1 /2 inches in diameter that were bored clean through two dikes on my smaller production ponds. Originally I thought they were muskrats as they seemed to originate in muskrat size holes. But the holes are too small in diameter to be muskrats.
I have another to repair in my main pond that originates in my emergency overflow that up until this year the water flowed continuously due to my trout pond dumping into the pond.
This I know about them.
1.) They prefer to be around water or running water.
2.) They are definitely not muskrat and are smaller than muskrats.
3.) They can swim and dive when pursued if they are the same rats or mice I've observed in the pond when my dog chased them out of the edge.
3.) My dad seems to remember they have a short tail.
4.) They can bore a long ways as far as 25 feet so far.
I was able to determine one went quite a ways by dropping dye in a hole and watching it shoot out the base of my dike.
I'm trying to catch a specimen but no luck yet.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 06/03/09 09:30 PM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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I'll be the first to take a stab at it (them?). I'd say baby muskrats getting kicked out of the nest to make way for another batch. Moles would be my 2nd guess, but I can't remember ever seeing them in the water. I know that chipmunks and 13 lined ground squirrels can dig for quite a distance!
That exhausts my wag's.
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Lunker
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Hey Moe, I'm trying to think but nuthin's happening!
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Words have the power to both destroy and heal, when words are both true and kind they can change our world...
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JHAP
~~~~~~~~~~
"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."
...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Weasely Snipes?
Good one JHAP!!!
Words have the power to both destroy and heal, when words are both true and kind they can change our world...
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Ambassador
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Moles or Voles. That's my Wag!
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I subscribe Some days you get the dog,and some days he gets you.Every dog has his day,and sometimes he has two! 
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That sounds like what you described to me Cecil-----Water Vole!
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Lunker
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It could be one of the nine subspecies of water shrews. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Water_Shrew The American Water Shrew (Sorex palustris) or Northern Water Shrew, is a large North American shrew found in aquatic habitats. Some sources include the Glacier Bay Water Shrew, S. alaskanus, within this species.
This animal is dark grey in colour with lighter underparts with a long tail. Air bubbles are trapped in the thick fur when the animal dives underwater. Its feet have a fringe of hairs, more visible on the larger hind feet, which allow this animal to run on the water's surface. Its body is about 15 cm in length including an 8 cm long tail and it weighs about 13 g.
This animal is found near streams and lakes along the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains and across Canada and the midwestern United States.
It swims well and makes short dives in search of food. Its diet includes aquatic insects, small fish, tadpoles, slugs and snails. It is thought to use echolocation to help find prey. Predators include hawks, owls, snakes, mustelids and large fish.
This animal is active during the day but are more active at night. It is generally solitary and territorial except during mating. The female has 2 to 3 litters of 5 to 7 young in a nest in a tunnel or under a log. Water shrews typically live about 18 months.
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Nope his tail isn't skinny. 
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish. Mark Twain
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I don't think I like the direction this thread is heading.
JHAP
~~~~~~~~~~
"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."
...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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JHAP, are you a shrew? 
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JHAP, are you a shrew? He's definitely not a toad. 
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling ![[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ed/b5/e7/edb5e7f935843b996cf52be593c9ebd2--smoothie-smooth-collie.jpg)
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Update:
I've dug down about 3 feet or more to investigate and initiate repairs. The smaller holes terminated into a larger hole which is big enough for a muskrat.
Perhaps Essup is right in that the smaller holes are baby muskrats? Or perhaps I am dealing with both muskrats and crayfish? Maybe the muskrats are going after the crayfish or the crayfish are utilizing the abandoned muskrat holes? Smaller holes are air holes?
Regardless they will have to get through a concrete barrier in two places soon, which will be at least a foot deeper than their tunnels. I am also declaring war on their food sources especially the cattails. Got some Avocet and cide kick in today.
At least they didn't bore from the shoreline to the base of the dike! All holes begin at least 15 feet away from the shoreline and originate in the emergency overflow which was flowing steadily due trout pond running into this pond. This will not happen this year I am bypassing the trout water after the receiving pond refills.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Cecil:
Are the larger holes filled with water? I've never seen a 'rat run with another hole dug into it by them, something else, yes. Do the small holes have fresh dirt on the ground as if they were dug from top down? If dug from bottom up, they could be crayfish holes, but don't they normally have pellets of dirt built up around them like a chimney?
Interesting!
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Cecil:
Are the larger holes filled with water? No but they probably were continuously when the overflow was running 24/7 from May to September when I overflowed the trout pond into this bigger pond. Do the small holes have fresh dirt on the ground as if they were dug from top down? No, no chimmneys or anything. However these may be months old which would make it hard to tell.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Come 'on, catch one already! The suspense is killing me!
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Come 'on, catch one already! The suspense is killing me! My now deceased pooch would have one by now. She hated them!
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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