Mysterious piles of dirt in my yard

[CVORNurse]

As some of you know, we moved into my husband's parents house this summer. I have noticed that fairly large piles of dirt will appear overnight in various places around the yard. Hubby was thinking probably moles but my dad was over and pointed out to us that there were no tunnels on the surface. He thinks they are salamanders. I did find a pile of dirt yesterday that had a small tunnel entrance, probably about 4-6 inches in diameter.


I know salamanders eat bugs so would like to keep them, but is there any way to discourage them from making these piles in my garden and flower beds? Some of these piles are probably a foot high and could devastate a small planting if they pile it on it.

[dilligaf]

unless you live in a swamp, it aint salamanders..lol seriously, they need VERY WET muck to survive.. if your ground is wet enough for salamanders to survive, you may as well not worry about gettin rid of them, because you aint growing nothin but rice there no way..lol

[CVORNurse]

unless you live in a swamp, it aint salamanders..lol seriously, they need VERY WET muck to survive.. if your ground is wet enough for salamanders to survive, you may as well not worry about gettin rid of them, because you aint growing nothin but rice there no way..lol

Nope, not a swamp. In fact the house in on higher land with the back and sides sloping down to the woods, which are also dry.
Any idea what leaves piles of dirt but no tunnels visible on top of the ground?

[Liberty]

It's moles. Tunnels don't always run across the surface of the ground. Treat your property well for grubs and the moles will look elsewhere for food.

Don't waste time on poison peanuts, or try chewing gum in the hole, or any other goofy wives' tale. Just treat the yard. Or shoot them and train your dog to dig 'em up. But that's a whole new skillset.

[dilligaf]

yeah i go with moles or voles as well..

[willowlady]

it may actually be the dreaded gopher. They don't always leave tunnels. I read someplace that you can tell the difference between mole and gopher holes by the way the dirt is placed, but I've long since forgotten exact details. I do know that both moles and gophers will open a hole overnight and close it over in the morning.