Had a puzzling thing happen today. Any thoughts?

[wheatymike]

I got permission to hunt an old house in the old part of town that is now a buisness. Last friday I went by after work and dug about 15 targets and made real sure to cover my holes well and replace the plug like I alway do. I pressed it down with my foot and made sure it looked real nice, because the owner had concerns about me digging up the yard.

I went back today after work(one week later) and to my dismay most all of the plugs were out of the hole laying beside the hole? It was only in the back yard. The ones in the front yard looked fine. Does any one have any ideas how this may have happened? My only clue was the fact that it rained pretty good over the weekend. Most of the back yard is on a very slight decline away from the house.This was a huge disapointment. I don't want to make the owner angry. any ideas? I did refill the holes.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Ghosts?

Never heard of such a thing happening. Possibly curious kids? Skunks checking for grubs? Can't think of a non-organic natural cause.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Squirrels, skunks, opossums will all dig out the plugs looking for food buried by another animal.

 

[gleaner1]

Squirrels, skunks, opossums will all dig out the plugs looking for food buried by another animal.

The skunks and squirrels and possums have secret meetings in the evening to go out and pull all the carefully smoothed over plugs left behind by the unwitting tectorist, just to piss him off.

 

[dale68]

Back yard only. Bet he's got a dog, and a fenced back yard.

 

[wheatymike]

The squirrel thing makes scence. My first thought was the heavy rain may have some how floated the plug out.

 

[wheatymike]

The back yard is fenced but the gate is never shut and I have never seen a dog.

 

[Chug And Red]

I say check the Hole For Nuts!!! If None the Damn Squirrls Got them!!! I Have Actually Seen them Uncover a Plug that I just Dug thinking the One Of His Freinds Just Planted A Big Nut There!!! HH Chug

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Jason is correct: Other critters sense there is a freshly dug hole, so they dig it out to see if there's a goodie left hidden there by other critters. I've actually seen them doing this (racoons, etc...) RIGHT while I was working a site. Looked back across the field, and saw the little feller scampering around from plug to plug wondering if their companions had buried something, apparently. But this was only in the case of loose cow-pasture type dirt. I suppose it could happen in manicured turf too (squirrels, who also bury their nuts). The solution may be to stomp down your divots much better. And also be sure to go when the ground is moist, so that when you pack it back down (stomping on it with your foot), that it's a firm, hardpacked spot.

 

[gleaner1]

Mystery solved.

 

[goldentruth]

My silly guess is a 2 legged skunk.
Might a person who is jealous of you & trying to get you on bad terms with the owner as a cruel trick? Ya never know sometimes. Sounds Fishy, Hummmm
Good luck bud.

 

[BosnMate]

We don't have a dog, but we have a number of squirrels that dig up potted plants, flower beds and the lawn. I detected the back yard lawn, and they dug up my plugs. So I'd for sure say squirrels are what got you. I live in the country so I could solve the problem with squirrel stew, but I don't have the heart to kill the little buggers.

 

[gleaner1]

What a puzzling topic indeed. The responsible metal detectorist takes care to properly fill his hole in and then the squirbos and Pepe LePue and Mr. Possum comes along and rips the plug out leaving a mess like hapless newbies do, or like sucking lawnmowers do. Bummer. Very puzzling indeed. So when we see a big ugly hole in the turf with a sod plug laying next to it, we can never be sure who the real culprit is, and we wont waste any time thinking about it. It's either the tectorist did not fill the hole properly, or a critter pulled the plug out, or a lawnmower sucked the plug out. No other plausible explanations exist. Yet.