Burrowing Animals

Burrowing Animals: Adapting to Life Underground

From Birds to Mammals, Exploring the Behaviors and Resourcefulness of 24 Burrowing Species

What is a Burrow?

A burrow is a shelter built by an animal, usually by digging a hole or tunnel in the ground. Burrowing animals range from small insects to large mammals, and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

Why Do Animals Burrow?

Burrows serve various purposes, including protection from predators, shelter from extreme weather, and storage of food and water. Some animals, such as badgers and foxes, use burrows as dens for raising their young.

Burrowing Birds

• Kingfishers and bee-eaters create burrows in riverbanks to nest in.
• Puffins excavate burrows in the ground or in cliffs for breeding.
• Sand martins build colonies of burrows in sandy banks or cliffs.

Burrowing Sea Creatures

• Sea turtles dig nests in the sand to lay their eggs.
• Burrowing crabs create burrows in sand or mud to hide from predators and store food.
• Razor clams burrow into the sand to avoid being washed away by waves.

Burrowing Mammals

• Badgers dig extensive burrows called setts, which can house multiple families.
• Prairie dogs create vast underground colonies with complex tunnel systems.
• African naked mole-rats live in elaborate underground colonies with a queen and multiple workers.

Burrowing Amphibians and Reptiles

• Salamanders and burrowing frogs dig burrows to escape dehydration and overwinter.
• Lizards and snakes often use burrows to hide from predators or thermoregulate.
• Caecilians, a type of amphibian, spend most of their lives underground, digging burrows in soil or leaf litter.

Burrowing Insects

• Ants and termites build complex underground colonies with intricate tunnel systems.
• Bees and wasps create burrows in the ground or in trees to nest in.
• Cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, burrowing through the soil to feed on plant roots.

Conclusion

Burrowing animals exhibit remarkable behaviors and adaptations for surviving underground. From birds that nest in burrows to insects that spend their entire lives below the surface, the diversity of burrowing species highlights the adaptability and resourcefulness of the animal kingdom.