Rodents digging in the pile or bed

01Symptom

Holes in the side of a heap or in a mulched bed, and food waste visible on the surface.

3 published logs ran into this — linked in section 04.

02Why it happens

03What to do

1. 01 Bury all food waste at least 20-25 cm deep in the core, immediately.
2. 02 Move food waste to a sealed bokashi bucket or a worm tray indoors.
3. 03 Do not put kitchen waste in a sheet-mulched bed at all — it is an open surface.
4. 04 Trap or remove the animals before rebuilding; they will return to the same spot.

04Where this has come up in the logs

• referenceNitrogen greens: the materials that start the pile and cause the smells16 Sep 2026 · 11 feedstocks tabulated
• referenceKitchen and home waste: what goes in, what stays out01 Oct 2026 · 19 feedstocks tabulated
• methodSheet mulching: composting in place instead of in a bin22 Oct 2026 · in-situ bed · 40:1 · 23 °C

05Related logs

• batch logHorse manure and straw bedding, two pallet bins07 Sep 2026 · pallet bin · 26:1 · 64 °C