Up at the top of our 1.3 acres, a long, long way from the dam at the bottom, these holes regularly appear. Many visitors have told me they are freshwater crayfish burrows, but what are the little critters burrowing for? The holes always appear in the same area, which is rather soggy and where I suspect some underground spring activity. But there's plenty of wet clay ground down near the dam. The clay that is piled up neatly around the top of the burrow is renewed regularly. If they're crayfish holes, what are they for? I once found one of the crays floating in my swimming pool not far from this area, so I know they do come up the hill this far. I just don't know why. Must have something to do with having young, I would guess.
looks like snake holes to me!--
ReplyDeleteSister D
Not snakes, D. Our other Sis found website which confirms they're freshwater crayfish holes. The pix on that site (at http://museumvictoria.com.au/forest/ observations/crayfish.html) is so similar to mine, it could be the same one!
ReplyDeleteCrayfish do dig bourrows, usually in the banks underwater but I guess on the east coast with eels making life difficult, producing young away from free water makes sense! How intriguing! By the way D, C is right, snakes don't dig they just sneak into ready made ones.
ReplyDeleteD is American and shares her fellow countrymen's fears about Australian critters. However, on her most recent visit, she was much braver and came quite near a good-sized huntsman (albeit on the OTHER side of a glass door!)
ReplyDeleteWe have hundreds of those type holes around here - ours are some sort of crabs I think (where near the beach).
ReplyDelete