What kind of local critter diggs small (1.5'') in the yard?? The seem quite deep.

They are just Tarantulas

Here is a link to a nice website.
http://www.desertusa.com/july96/du_taran.html

Another opinion

They are not likely tarantulas unless you can see silk lining the hole. We have a grasshopper mouse that lives in our front yard. The entrance to his burrow is about 1.5'' in diameter and goes almost straight down. I've seen round tailed ground squirrels enter similar holes in the arroyo behind our house. Check out ''A Field Guide to Desert Holes'' by Pinau Merlin for more info. It is sold at Boyce Thompson Aboretum.

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