Mammals dig for a variety of reasons, but essentially these reasons echo those of other animals: to dig up food, either floral or faunal; to cache provisions; and to excavate habitations, whether temporary, seasonal, or permanent. This chapter examines the geomorphic effects of mammals as related to the obtainment and caching of food. Excavations associated with habitation are examined in Chapter 7.

Many mammals engage in geomorphically significant digging activities while searching for food. Once a food supply is acquired, a number of mammals subsequently produce geomorphically important effects by caching it. The following sections examine these dual roles of digging, in search and in storage of food.

Digging for food

Excavation of food by mammals occurs in pursuit of both plant and animal sources. Large herbivores such as ungulates paw at the surface to reveal succulent roots and forbs, whereas small herbivores may dig and/or tunnel extensively in pursuit of plant–food sources beneath the surface (Andersen 1987). Carnivores dig vigorously in pursuit of prey in burrows, and omnivores dig extensively for a wide variety of food.