I am guessing this hole was dug by a woodchuck, groundhog, whistle-pig, land beaver. Wikipedia says they are supposed to hibernate for the winter, just for a shorter duration in more temperate climates. Well this is certainly the time to be hibernating. Did it need to get up in the middle of hibernating to go pee and decided to have a snack too?
The meandering line of tracks in the snow leading to and from the scene of destruction were just not distinct enough to really see a good print. They weren't big enough for a bear, the other critter that would be likely to dig up a wasp nest. The drag marks I saw between steps would be less likely for a bear with longer legs as well. Besides a bear should be napping now too.
Wonder what other critter might dig up a wasp nest in frozen ground under a foot of snow when it is really really cold out? I wonder if my daylily will still be there when the snow melts?
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Hi Christopher! The best news is that you are continuing to post which means you have power ~ heat and water!
I have some of those underground wasp nests which I can't seem to get rid of from year to year. Send that critter my way, would you?!
Yes I still have electric power, praise be. That means heat and all those electric indulgences we are so used to. The water is more of a battle though. I have been able to keep it flowing in the house, not necessarily flowing from every spigot or draining from every drain.
My sister in Daytona sent me a picture today of the snow on the screen roof over her pool. There are going to be some major frozen landscapes in Florida.
In my experience, I would suspect a skunk. They are heavy sleepers but do not hibernate. They love to eat bees. If that faint aroma is not around, check for sort of diagonal footprints. Sometimes they dig up bulbs to get at what they want, but your lily is probably still there. I would fill the hole with dirt recover it with snow. It really is warmer under the snow than it is out in the cold air.
Thanks Becky. I knew there had to be some other possibility. We have skunks. Mostly I see the raccoons and possums and just didn't think they were equipped for that amount of digging through frozen ground.
Glad you still have all the necessities. I keep a check on the temp there.
Can't imagine anything digging in that frozen tundra. I don't like the bees underground. They get you before you know they are there.
9º where our place use to be in N.C. Still cold here. 23º when I checked last. I hope it warms up soon.
I bet racoons would also eat bee grubs during winter when other foods aren't available.
I love to be nitpicky, so wouldn't that be a yellowjacket's nest if it is in the ground?
Lola I have been getting a lot of cold reports out of Florida including sleet in Daytona. Supposed to be sunny and 40 here tomorrow, a heat wave.
Lisa I considered racoons and possums. I just don't think they have strong enough digging claws and arms for that kind of hole in frozen ground.
TandT yellow jackets are a good first choice for a ground nesting wasp type bug. These were not near aggressive enough and were more black, without the typical bold stripes of yellow jackets. Some other species. These mountains are a bio resevoir.
What about dirt daubers? They build in the ground and are very agressive.
My first thought was a raccoon, but Becky could be right. Cover the Daylily with snow, and when the snow starts to melt, check on the Daylily. If it is dug up, try to stick it back in the ground and it should be fine. They're pretty root hardy, and the snow is insulating.
All that and now land beavers in the daylilies. Lordy.
Anonymous without a carcass to look at and ID I have no way to be sure what they were. The stinging happened last summer. Aftyer that I just kept my distance.
MMGD when enough snow melts I'll go have a look. At this point a daylily would just be roots. It got covered again last night with another four inches of snow and they are hard to kill. I had one sprout from the remnants of a division I did and just tossed off the debris off to the side.
Not sure which I would prefer Chuck a land beaver or a skunk. I would hate for a groundhog to take up residence any where near the roadside vegetable garden and sure would not want to surprise a skunk. Thing is I have no choice.
I think it could be a possum too, mine wandered out to eat birdseed from near the feeders and dig up some spots that look just like that. It's still very cold here, but I thought possums hibernated too. Varmints!
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