Secrets of the fall

This is a post I began last year in the fall. I kept hanging on to it, thinking I could get the little things on trail camera. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. In the meantime, we've had knee-deep snow. Yesterday, we were at 16˚ C. and have lost a great deal of snow. I haven't set a camera up there, as the walking is too difficult for me right now. We had 9 mm rain on top of the snow.  

These little holes intrigued me. I think they've been here at least a few years! They have to be a rodent of some sort. I could tell they are active, and while there used to be two, now there are four holes under this tree. 

I set up the trail camera on the tripod, which has been capturing many critters. The two trees on the right, the camera on a tripod.

The one hole on the left was the first one. I am so curious! You'll see the middle hole was either filled in, or was being excavated. 

Then it was opened.

I've been watching the hole:  Oct. 13.

I tried to see what came out of the holes. I may have given up!

We had a ton of rain, so I wasn't confident. I don't know if they like the rain or not! Most rodents have multiple entrances. So, they may just fool me. 

They keep working on this hole!

Oct 23

Oct. 28 – all covered up. Maybe they knew it was going to rain heavily?

Oct. 29 – one hole is opened up!

Nov. 1st – still nothing on the trailcams.

Nov. 2

Nov. 29

Dec. 4th – a little circle of frost!

 

Eventually, the knee-deep snow covered them up, and there are zero tell-tale signs of them. I hope they sleep and dream of spring. I can see no signs of activity.