Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Animals build dens or burrows for a plethora of reasons. Some species use dens for shelter, while others use them for reproduction. Animals also build dens for hibernation, food storage, and protection. Although “burrowing” is a characteristic mostly ascribed to small mammals, it might surprise you to discover that some larger animals also build burrows. Here are 6 massive animals that build huge underground dens.
Bears
Bears are the largest den builders. Although not all bears build dens, some that do are grizzly bears, black bears, and even polar bears. Bears use a lot of “bear-power” when building their dens and actually claw or dig out holes that are large enough for them.
Snakes
Snakes build dens for various reasons, which is surprising considering that they do not have strong arms to dig. Despite this, snakes such as king cobras, copperheads, garter snakes, and rattlesnakes use dens for various reasons. King cobras are the only snakes that build dens or nests for their eggs and fiercely guard them
Crocodiles
According to the American Scientist, 14 of the 23 crocodilian species dig and live in burrows for various reasons. They do this with their snouts, forearms, and limbs and mostly pick locations near water bodies. Crocodile dens also serve as a resting or hiding place for them when the water levels are too low to cover or hide them.
Alligators
Alligators are another reptile species known to burrow. Their burrows serve as protection from extreme hot or cold weather. They build these burrows at the river banks that provide them with enough mud to make the walls of their den. Then, they fill their dens with water.
Armadillo
Armadillos use their burrows or dens year-round and spend about 65 percent of their lives underground. These animals are expert diggers that also dig for food and have a great sense of smell. They use their dens to stay safe from predators and harsh weather. They also have their young in their burrows but do not share their burrows with other adult armadillos.
Birds
Although birds are not large animals, they are perhaps the last animals that you would expect to burrow beneath the ground. However, some bird species actually do. Two of these birds are the burrowing owl and the kingfisher.
#denanimals # undergroundden #undergrounddenanimals
Animals build dens or burrows for a plethora of reasons. Some species use dens for shelter, while others use them for reproduction. Animals also build dens for hibernation, food storage, and protection. Although “burrowing” is a characteristic mostly ascribed to small mammals, it might surprise you to discover that some larger animals also build burrows. Here are 6 massive animals that build huge underground dens.
Bears
Bears are the largest den builders. Although not all bears build dens, some that do are grizzly bears, black bears, and even polar bears. Bears use a lot of “bear-power” when building their dens and actually claw or dig out holes that are large enough for them.
Snakes
Snakes build dens for various reasons, which is surprising considering that they do not have strong arms to dig. Despite this, snakes such as king cobras, copperheads, garter snakes, and rattlesnakes use dens for various reasons. King cobras are the only snakes that build dens or nests for their eggs and fiercely guard them
Crocodiles
According to the American Scientist, 14 of the 23 crocodilian species dig and live in burrows for various reasons. They do this with their snouts, forearms, and limbs and mostly pick locations near water bodies. Crocodile dens also serve as a resting or hiding place for them when the water levels are too low to cover or hide them.
Alligators
Alligators are another reptile species known to burrow. Their burrows serve as protection from extreme hot or cold weather. They build these burrows at the river banks that provide them with enough mud to make the walls of their den. Then, they fill their dens with water.
Armadillo
Armadillos use their burrows or dens year-round and spend about 65 percent of their lives underground. These animals are expert diggers that also dig for food and have a great sense of smell. They use their dens to stay safe from predators and harsh weather. They also have their young in their burrows but do not share their burrows with other adult armadillos.
Birds
Although birds are not large animals, they are perhaps the last animals that you would expect to burrow beneath the ground. However, some bird species actually do. Two of these birds are the burrowing owl and the kingfisher.
#denanimals # undergroundden #undergrounddenanimals
