I have rented excavators twice rather than buying one. These have been in the 60 to 70 hp range. I try to rent the largest one in can get that has a dozer type blade attached. I also make sure the bucket has a thumb. Total cost has run me between $4 to 5,000 per rental for a couple of weeks work. I am pretty sure you can find a rental but you may need to form a company to rent one. Hire a lawyer, form an LLC for around 4 to 500 bucks.
Before you go this route, look into you tube searching excavators/dozers stuck in ponds
