Animals which burrow

From meerkat pictured to aardvark, here is a look at animals and birds who live in burrows. The rodent species is endemic to the alpine and subalpine areas in Canada and northwestern U. They live in large colonies and hibernate in their burrows for more than half a year nearly seven months , and are therefore also called seven sleepers. Also known as common mole or northern mole, this mammal is found in meadows, pastures and parks across Europe minus the southern part of the continent and Britain.

They spend most of their lives within the underground tunnel systems which they constantly build and extend. These burrows are mainly used for nesting and food storage. Native to North America, the rodent species dig extensive burrows to rest, store food and defecate. During autumn they begin to stock food for winter and stay in their burrows until spring.

Found mainly in North America, gophers dig up large networks of tunnels and chambers for food storage and hibernation. These tunnels are called gopher towns, which mostly cause damage to agriculture and landscapes.

Found in North America, these rodents live in large colonies. Their well-defined burrows are used for breeding, bringing up young ones and hiding from predators. The underground space is sometimes shared by other animals such as snakes, burrowing owls and black-footed ferrets. The burrowing rodents range from southwestern Canada to the western U. They usually dig burrows under rocky areas, and their hibernation time lasts about eight months between September and May.

Found in the hot and dry deserts of North America, the mammal lives in burrows to survive the extreme environment. They mainly feed on seeds, including mesquite beans. The playful animal is comfortable on land as much as in water. It makes burrows near the water's edge for an easy to and fro from the water. There dens are also meant for female otters to deliver litters. The mole-like mammal occupies burrows built by other animals. They often leave their abodes in search of food such as insects, spiders, worms and tiny rodents.

The nocturnal mammal prefer dry and open grasslands but are also found in woods, quarries, sea cliffs and moorland. With the help of their sharp claws, they build burrows called setts, which consists of a network of tunnels.

The omnivorous mammal creates underground shelter to sleep, store food and secure their babies. These dens can accommodate an entire family, and features nesting chambers and several exits to escape from predators. This species of pikas live mainly in grasslands, steppes and semi-deserts of Mongolia, Russia, and China. Featuring complex tunnels, their burrows include spaces for storing food and nesting. Also known as Australia's Easter Bunny, the nocturnal animal creates spiral-shaped burrows.

With several exits, the burrows protect these animals from predators and provide a resting place. The fast diggers take just three minutes to create deep burrows and disappear in them in no time. This species of tortoise can be found slowly moving across the desert landscapes in the southwestern U. They build burrows for resting purposes and protection from harsh temperatures.

Desert tortoises often share their burrows with other reptiles, mammals and birds. Now that the vegetation has died back, holes and burrows are easier to spot. It is by no means unusual, though, to find badgers, foxes, rabbits and rats all sharing the same badger sett, often emerging from the same holes. Small predators, such as stoats and weasels, often live in holes stolen from their prey, and even pine martens have been recorded living in badger setts. Droppings or scats can tell us a lot about which animals have been visiting our gardens, parks and countryside, including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers.

Read our expert guide to animal droppings. Some animals even take advantage of burrows that other animals have made without having to do the digging themselves. Others only use their burrows as an opportunity to ambush unsuspecting prey.

Burrowing animals are represented in all of the classes of the animal kingdom. Many mammals live in burrows. Some of the most common burrowing animals found in North America include various types of mice, moles, prairie dogs, badgers and ground squirrels. Burrows not only serve as a home for these creatures, but also benefit the environment by aerating the soil.

These creatures also fertilize the soil by leaving their droppings and nesting materials below ground, and encourage plant growth by depositing seeds throughout their underground tunnels. Since many of these animals are prey animals, these burrows offer some measure of protection from non-burrowing predators.

Reptiles are ectothermic, or cold-blooded. Because of this, they rely on their environment to provide the heat necessary to maintain body functions such as digestion, circulation, respiration and reproduction. The temperature underground is much more consistent than on the surface, making reptiles a common entry in the animals that live underground. Many snakes and lizards spend considerable time underground, either to keep warm or to avoid being eaten.

Amphibians require moisture so that their smooth, scaleless skin does not dry out.