The Anthill

[Doc]

I found an interesting thing the other day. It is a huge anthill that is under attack by some critter. I'm hoping to hear some ideas as to what the animal might be. Check out these photos:

 

 

I threw down my hat just to give an idea of the size of this anthill

 

You can see the damage to the anthill is extensive. Whatever the guy was, he wasn't messing around. He wanted an ant dinner.

 

So what kinds of critters do this kind of thing. Being NYS, Anteaters are out of the question.....lol. I was thinking bear because I know the eat ants and termites from old logs. But then I'm not sure whether the bear's smaller cousin, the raccoon might have the same eating favorites. Actually, I'm not even sure about possums and skunks. Any ideas or thoughts?

[Red]

My.guess would also be a bear might get some neat pics if you out a trail.cam on it for a few days

[philoshop]

Skunks will do that, especially this time of year.

[wooly]

That could be just about any critter this time of year. No tracks?

I've been seeing a lot of ground bee nests dug up already around here.

I saw a mound like yours get destroyed this spring and turned into a dusting bowl by the turkeys.

 

[ants]

Aardvark ??

[GreeneHunter]

Definately a good spot for a trail cam !

[Merlot]

Maybe you need to check with frequent contributor, "Ants" on this one...LOL

[PREDATE]

That's good trapping dirt. That reminds me, I gotta get some jars.

I agree that a host of critters could be digging in there. Maybe some juvenile critters just got curious

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[coonhunter]

I would guess a skunk, but a camera would tell the story for sure.

[Doc]

I do have a camera about 15 yards away, but it is pointed toward a deer trail in a different direction. It might catch the critters on their way over to the anthill. I know there is a family of raccoons that are very active in the area. Perhaps I will have to turn the camera so that it watches the anthill directly, but I have been trying to get a read on when this certain deer trail is being used. The anthill has been visited a few times over the past couple weeks, so the culprit may be making this a regular stop. It wouldn't hurt to turn that camera and check it out. Might be interesting. 

[PREDATE]

It wouldn't hurt to turn that camera and check it out. Might be interesting.

haha! You aint kiddin'

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[Doc]

I went down to swap cards in the camera that I have down there and found out that there is no way of simply turning the camera because of all the goldenrod. And there are no other trees in the area that would have a clear look at the anthill.

 

I turned out that I had 862 pictures on that cam. There was a multiflora rose branch that apparently was waving in the breeze and setting off the camera like crazy. But anyway, there were all kinds of critters wandering around there. Rabbits, squirrels, crows, foxes, deer, and even my unicorn showed up:

The only ones that were moving toward the anthill was a family of coons. They're still my prime suspect.

 

Damn, isn't that unicorn one goofy looking deer?

 

[PREDATE]

yeah probably mama coon teaching her young'uns

[coonhunter]

I honestly don't know if coons will dig up an anthill or not. They will eat about anything, so it is a real possibility. I know that skunks will dig up yellow jacket nests to get the larvae, so I was going with that idea.

[fasteddie]

Looks like the ant hill was attacked by an ugly hat !