Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Muskrats? Old crawfish holes?

I have holes all around the levy of my 1 acre pond. Some are small as a golf ball, some as big around as a softball. I considered muskrats, however the pond is in full view of my house and we are around the pond all the time. We have never seen a muskrat swimming in the year we have lived here. Also considered old crawfish holes that have just deteriorated over time? Some definitely look too big to be crawfish. Maybe combination of both? They are not concentrated in one area either. Pretty evenly spread around the pond. Pond is also full of turtles and frogs but not sure if either of those dig.

Crawfish, turtles, and frogs all (may) dig holes - depending upon the species and the habitat.

I suspect your different size holes are different critters. The softball-size holes may be turtles? Some turtle species hibernate in the pond, and some in the ground.

Further, some reptiles and amphibians utilize brumation instead of hibernation.

The best answer I can give - nature is amazing!

It sounds like muskrats.

I have them now in my neighborhood retention pond. I would say they moved in about 3 years ago on the pond which is maybe 9 years old. Their holes are only on the damn side of the pond. Our water level fluctuates a lot so you can see the holes at so many levels. I don't think any of them drain the pond.

It took a long time to first see one, so just maybe you haven't seen it yet? Or them yet?

I'd say both. Golf ball size could be crawfish. Slightly bigger ones could be coons trying to dig out the crawfish. If the holes are below the water line or have a furrow going to them and are 5"-6" dia going back into the bank horizontally, those are muskrats.

I cannot see any holes down in the water or on the water line.

Were these holes under the water at some point? Do the bigger holes go horizontal or vertical into the bank?

No never underwater. Its a spring fed pond and has a levy on all sides. The bigger holes go straight down, some are high up on top of the levy and some are down closer to the water.

Then the bigger ones are coons trying to dig out the crawfish. The small ones are from crawfish.