Who do I call for hole next to foundation?
 

I bought my new construction house 15 months ago, so just out of warranty. Gutters were placed about 3 weeks ago. This is right next to the A/C, a sprinkler, and termite bait.

Second try at adding a pic

3rd an last try at pic

Make sure you "Browse..." to select a file and then hit the "Upload" button. That has worked for me in the past.

A default answer to questions about the Villages is to call Customer Service who should be able to point you in the right direction.

EDIT:
1. I see you figured out the attachment
2. If anything, that looks like a hole dug by an animal. If you see any other sign of it being used by an animal or if you fill it in and it comes back then you might try county animal control or a pest control company.

It looks like a fox den. But definitely get in touch with customer service first. Don't mention that someone said it might be a fox den. Let THEM tell YOU what THEY think it is. (a fox den wouldn't be their headache - don't give them an excuse to extract themselves from the situation, just in case it's a construction/installation problem).

Thanks for the replies. The attachment wouldn't attach as a pdf, but it would as a jpeg file. Animal was my first thought, but then I started to freak . My house backs onto a preserve, so animal makes sense. I'll contact warranty customer service.

Best to try and remove whatever is in there before filling up with soil.

Foxes usually have multiple entrances / exits.

Might be best to call a “pest removal” expert when you get to that point in this adventure.

A few weeks ago there was a question about whom to call. Florida Pest Control was one of them if I remember correctly.

Good luck !

///

Foxes usually don't make their own holes (at least, not big ones), and they aren't dumb enough to set up shop so close to your house. But armadillos are and do. For some unknown reason, they just love to dig their burrows under your foundation. They're a big problem for foundations back where I come from. But they're real easy to catch. You just buy a trap at the hardware store and stick it in front of the entrance. They're so dumb, they'll just walk right in. Of course, then you've got to figure out what to do with him. They're too cute to shoot, but that's better than turning him loose to become someone else's problem. Back home, I had to drive 45 minutes to find a wilderness to dump them.

But once you get rid of the critter, then comes the real problem -- filling in a 20' hole under your foundation.

Looks like a hole to run that irrigation line under the walkway. If you never see water there just fill it in. If you do see water that line may have a leak.

"deleted" my reply since I found out mothballs are illegal to use outdoors.

I am chasing a similar issue. I been filling the holes with bags of rock from Lowes. They sell various kinds of rock for around 5-6 dollars. They cannot redig that.

That appears to be from a critter. Frogs like to dig and live there or other animals.

Mothballs
 

I believe using mothballs in this way to eliminate critters is against the law in FL.

Mothballs illegal use
 

Mothballs are illegal to use outdoors. I know someone who used them outside. They smell really bad forever. And make being outside near them noxious. They also can be harmful to dogs.

I did not research FL law, I will delete my post.

All the moths flying around without any balls must be very happy about that.

Could be a gopher, call Carl the greens keeper.

Rat or snake!

Definitely a critter, probably an Armadillo. We had them in our yard but nothing that deep. Call the county, they should be able to help. I don't agree with some that want to fill in the hole whether the pest is in there or not, no need to kill an animal when you can get it to just move along.

You must be very relieved it’s not Wile E Coyote!

Thank you for a Monday morning laugh!

Many warranty items are covered more than a year - foundation is one of them. Is there damage the armadillo hole brought to your attention or is the hole the issue? The fact there is a hole should not excuse Home Warranty from a repair.

I thought the warranty on new construction in The Villages was five years. Confirm?

My guess is it's an armadillo burrow.

I would call the FD and report the start of a sinkhole at the foundation. Let them take it from there. Then document it with a paper trail for your insurance company. Take lots of pictures.

I think you should get a copy of the new house warranty booklet that you should have received at the closing. There are 1-year, 2-year, and 10-year warranty items, based on the components in your house. I don't think the hole under the foundation is covered by the new house warranty after one year, if at all. Personally, I think the warranty department will reject any claim for warranty work in this case because it does not reveal any house construction defect.

I agree. I had one at my house last summer. Run water down there and then get some repellent in Lowe’s or Home Depot. Follow the directions and refill the hole with soil. Mine never returned.

You are correct that the foundation is covered for 10 years. But if the hole was caused by an animal, that is not a construction defect. Typically, it would not be covered by your warranty.

I would say it's very likely an Armadillo. We are on a preserve as well and have the same issue every few years. We've tried most everything and the only thing that has worked has been to take a big ceramic floor tile and lay it over the hole and leave it for a couple of weeks. You'll periodically see scratch marks around it where they try to get back in but when that fails they move on. Unfortunately, they usually move on to another part of your yard but do it again. Eventually, they will move on.

We get the same type holes in our yard. It’s an armadillo. They make holes through out our neighborhood in yards as quick escape from predators. I fill them up and lay a heavy paver tile over it. They move on elsewhere.

IMO Don’t want to open up differ can of worms by calling someone. See how far back it going and just fill it in. Looks like animal, rodent, something dug it. Buy some bags of dirt and fill it in and be done. Dirt bags going to be cheaper and anyone you call IMO.

armadillo
 

fill it in and cover the area with cayenne pepper. They travel by sense of smell...

We have lived here for eighteen years and the first folks I would call is the Warranty Department................BUT do not go there in a huff EVER and don't start being critical of the place or the developer, because I have found that they have ALWAYS been helpful and there may be a charge, but problems are solved.

And don't forget, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Not that you sound like an angry person at all.........just giving advice to all. I am a huge fan of the helpers who answer the phone at WARRANTY.

HAHA, I tried recovering a hole with the dirt a half a dozen times all while spraying the smelly repellant from Lowes and it did not phase the critter. I been buying bags of rock from Lowes to fill in and so far it works great.

100% agree with cayenne pepper recommendation above. We had an armadillo issue a year or so ago, dug some pretty large holes and rooted around the yard as well, we liberally sprinkled cayenne pepper in the holes themselves and in the rest of the islands so they wouldn't move there. Did it twice using less than two shakers worth and voila, no more armadillo problems.

Who does your pest control. That would be the first call.

Picture shows obvious animal digging. Sinkhole (aka ground collapse) would be depression not tunnel under the foundation.

Here are some pest trapper contacts for future use:
1) Dr. Critter: 800-932-7287 (Has a branch in Lady Lake)
2) Critter Control: 352-697-7187
3) Above and Beyond Wildlife Control: 352-568-1355 (Bushnell)
4) Blakes Wildlife Pest Control Removal: 352-299-0248 (Ocala)

Thanks everyone. I did send an email to warranty and they took 5 business days to get back to me whereupon they said, nope, it's not our responsibility. I'll contact my pest people next.