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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: Tail Feathers on May 20, 2021, 11:04:22 AM

Title: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Tail Feathers on May 20, 2021, 11:04:22 AM
Saw lots of these dirt mounds in the Pine Ridge area of Nebraska.  They range from 10" wide to sometimes 2' across.  It looks like some type eruption but there's no hole in in like a critter did it, and not an anthill.  What causes them?  (http://i.imgur.com/XYMjS9i.jpg) (https://imgur.com/XYMjS9i)
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Chad on May 20, 2021, 11:18:29 AM
Pocket gopher
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: stinkpickle on May 20, 2021, 11:18:39 AM
It's obviously Big Foot poop.
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: silvestris on May 20, 2021, 12:05:08 PM
Injuns.
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Howie g on May 20, 2021, 12:56:01 PM
That's where the gobblers are hiding !!
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: jhoward11 on May 20, 2021, 01:11:43 PM
Them be the "Giant Crawdads"
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Hobbes on May 20, 2021, 02:13:33 PM
I've seen those there and other places.  I think it's probably a result of freeze thaw.
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: TRG3 on May 20, 2021, 03:05:39 PM
Those are obviously 17 year cicadids about to emerge.
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Tail Feathers on May 20, 2021, 05:44:41 PM
Quote from: Hobbes on May 20, 2021, 02:13:33 PM
I've seen those there and other places.  I think it's probably a result of freeze thaw.
. This may be it.  Your post sent me to Google and it is likely frost heave or something similar.  Can't find photos just like I saw but that would explain it. 
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Chad on May 20, 2021, 06:59:06 PM
Im telling ya, its a plains pocket gopher mound
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Southerngobbler on May 20, 2021, 08:08:54 PM
Quote from: Chad on May 20, 2021, 06:59:06 PM
Im telling ya, its a plains pocket gopher mound
Agreed, those mounds are everywhere in Florida and I'm pretty sure it doesn't have anything to do with the ground freezing.
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Tail Feathers on May 20, 2021, 09:19:26 PM
Quote from: Chad on May 20, 2021, 06:59:06 PM
Im telling ya, its a plains pocket gopher mound
Would a pocket gopher have one 2 feet in diameter?  I never saw a hole in them like you would think a gopher would make to stick his head out.
I dunno. :help:
I've been hunting in FL a few times, never saw anything like this there, nor here in TX.
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Chad on May 20, 2021, 09:22:42 PM
Absolutely, they can get even bigger. It's where they are kicking dirt up out of their underground burrow/tunnel systems
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Yoteduster on May 20, 2021, 09:55:32 PM
Looks like pocket gopher to me!
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Tail Feathers on May 20, 2021, 11:40:51 PM
Quote from: Chad on May 20, 2021, 09:22:42 PM
Absolutely, they can get even bigger. It's where they are kicking dirt up out of their underground burrow/tunnel systems
. I didn't see any burrow near any of them but the prairie grass was fairly thick there.  They were all over in NE.
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Hobbes on May 21, 2021, 12:07:50 AM
Looks like pocket gopher is correct.  I've never looked into what was making them.  Here's an illustration that I found.

Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Tail Feathers on May 21, 2021, 05:25:53 PM
Well if they use a plug to hide their tunnel that would explain it all.  Thanks chad and Hobbes.  :icon_thumright: I never saw a gopher but that place must have a lot of 'em.
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Hobbes on May 21, 2021, 06:37:35 PM
I've probably been told that's what it was once before but frost heave sounded good.  :)
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Chad on May 21, 2021, 08:06:56 PM
 :icon_thumright: Learning new critters and their sign is a big part of the fun when hunting new country
Title: Re: What is this? Saw it in Nebraska
Post by: Tail Feathers on May 21, 2021, 11:01:50 PM
This one sure puzzled me Chad.  I looked at several and never found a hole (but I was mostly looking for one in the center) and that stumped me.