Anyone know what this is?

[Zingmo]

It's a neat clump of vegetation about 8 inches across. My first thought was some sort of failed bird's nest but it was under a low thorn tree with no sign of anything in the tree.

This was the second one of these I found. The first was almost identical in construction and again not under a suitable nesting tree. These were about half a mile apart and not near paths frequented by people, although they were on animal trails.

At the top of the picture you can see an area where something has scraped away the leaves and there was lots of muntjac sign around.

Z

 

[Joe tahkahikew]

Many small animals do this when they are gathering soft material for their winter shelters underground. This ball often happens when they are walking backwards and pulling the material with their front feet as they go.

 

[Zingmo]

Thanks Joe
That explanation fits.
I need to look for other small animals in the area.

Z

 

[Robson Valley]

Mouse-house. We see them mostly when the snow melts in the spring.
The snow cover is a measure of safety. Only some owls and foxes can hear them under the snow.
Maybe coyotes and wolves but I've never seen that.
My back lawn might have 5 or 6 of them every spring.
Giant hamburger buns (20 x 10 cm) of dry grasses with cleared trails though the grass in all directions.
Must be the small birds that use the grass = in the space of less than a week, they are gone.

>> watch these and see if you can tell where they are moved to.
Can you make an "offering" of grasses that will get used when you're not looking?
I see no grass in your picture. Where might it have come from?