Basil is digging

Basil's mom here.

We noticed a hole next to the gate of our fence at the front of the house. Basil is smart for sure. He knows now that the gate leads to the outside world. He used to be satisfied being let out into the back yard. Although we do let him out often and take him almost everywhere, we think he's finally put two and two together. Beyond that gate is car rides, the neighbor's, the neighbor's dogs, and kids who drop lots of foodables. The hole is getting a little bigger each day. He's only doing that when we let him out to potty or when I garden. I wonder if he's making the hole to "get out" if it's the vole we had in that spot that he smells. Frenchies aren't known to be diggers, so I'm curious as to why he's doing this.

Any insight? Part of me feels guilty - as though he's missing something in his life that he wants to get out to go to.