Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Erosion problem

First post here.
My pond has what looks like burrows going into the bank that have caved in. They are about 5" in diameter and are about 5 or so feet long.
I am realling wondering what caused them.
I dont have muskrats. I do have painted turtles.
The other side of my bank has a large dead elm tree. I thought that these cave ins might be dead and rotting roots from the tree or maybe turtle dens. at any rate i am having some leakage to the other side of the bank.
Has anyone else had this problem?

mecatfish,

Is there a reason you say you don't have Muskrats?

What you have described is a perfect Muskrat den. I've never seen a turtle burrow into the bank but I've got dozens of 'Rat dens around my pond, some above water line, some below depending on the water level at the time.

In the fall the turtles will burrow down into the mud bottom a few inches in sort of a hibernation.

Dan

I dont believe that i have muskrats because my pond is like 1/4 acre and it is about 30 feet from my front door. I dont think that they would have escaped detection. Would dead roots from a tree on the other side of the dam cause my problem.
I have a better description of the problem.
The dam is mostly mowed grass. Near the water on my side of the dam there is a trail that is very similar to a mole trail that has caved in.
There is no raised area like a mole trail.
The dead tree opposite the dam is about 2 feet in diameter, elm (no mushrooms under it, dang).
It died 3 years ago and the problem was minor last year. This year I have a caved in trail that is 5 or 6 feet long. I have about 8 feet of dam left.
So,
It could be a unseen muskrat.
Roots?
There are a lot of chipmunks in that area. The neighbors cats used to keep them in check. They have become more numerous since my dog killed all the neighbors cats.

Turf wars in NE Indiana have escalated dramatically...tough 'hood.

Wanta sell or rent out the dog?

mecatfish,

Like Dan stated, I too have muskrats. What you describe above is a perfect description of what the rats have done around the banks of my one ponds. I would look for other signs such as root/grass clippings, bank trails or turds. I doubt the distance of your pond from your front door would deter them from taking up residency.

Thanks for the info.
Guess Ill get a trap and find out.
BTW:
My neighbor came over with a dead cat last week.
It had my dogs collar around its front leg.
Talk about incriminating evidence at the crime scene.