Noticed this tower of mud balls in the middle of my lawn this morning. It’s about 4 inches high with a hole in the center. What made this?

5. Key Clues to Identify a Crayfish Burrow

Crayfish burrows are distinctive. Unlike insect nests, which are often located in drier, sunnier spots, crayfish towers are found in wetter areas. The mud balls are large and distinctly stacked, and the central hole leads to a deep underground network of tunnels.

6. When These Mud Towers Appear and How Long They Last

Mud towers typically form during wetter months (spring and fall), when the soil is moist and easier to dig. The towers may last weeks or even months, depending on the weather and lawn maintenance. Rain can erode them quickly, while careful lawn care may allow them to persist.

7. What’s Going On Underground Beneath That Central Hole

Underneath the tower lies a series of tunnels and chambers that make up the crayfish’s burrow. These burrows are essential for escaping predators, finding food, and staying cool. The chimney helps ensure proper airflow and humidity within the burrow.

8. Are Crayfish Burrows Bad for Your Lawn or Garden?

In general, crayfish burrows are not harmful to your lawn or garden. In fact, their burrowing can aerate the soil, improving water infiltration and promoting root growth. However, too many burrows could cause uneven ground or minor damage to lawn equipment.

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My 9-year-old daughter baked 300 Easter cookies for the homeless — the next morning, a stranger showed up at our door with a briefcase full of cash. My daughter, Ashley, has always had a heart too big for her chest. Since my wife died, we’ve barely been making ends meet. We spent everything we had trying to save her from cancer. But when Easter came this year, Ashley told me she’d been saving up her own money to buy ingredients. “For the homeless,” she said. Her mom used to be one of them. She was thrown out by her parents when they found out she was pregnant with Ashley. When I met her, she had nothing — but she had the brightest smile and the sharpest mind I had ever seen. I fell in love with her. I took her and Ashley in. And from that moment on, Ashley became my daughter in every way that matters. So when Ashley said she wanted to help people like her mom once was… I didn’t stop her. For three nights straight, after school and homework, she baked. Her little hands worked nonstop. She found her mom’s old cookie recipe. She rolled every piece of dough herself. She decorated every cookie. She made three hundred cookies. On Easter, she handed them out one by one. She looked people in the eyes. She wished them a Happy Easter. Some of them smiled. Some of them cried. I stood there thinking it was the proudest moment of my life. I thought that was the end of it. The next morning, I was washing a mountain of dishes when the doorbell rang. I opened the door. An older man stood there in a worn-out suit, holding a scratched aluminum briefcase. His eyes were locked on Ashley. Before I could ask anything, he set the case down and opened it. I froze. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills — more money than I had ever seen in my life. “I saw what your daughter did yesterday,” he said, his voice shaking. “I want to give all of this to her.” My heart skipped. Then he added: “But you have to agree to ONE CONDITION.” My chest tightened. “What condition?” I asked. He stepped closer. He lowered his voice. And what he asked for in return made my blood run cold.