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Many animals create soil surface disturbances (biopedturbation) while constructing habitat, foraging for food or excavating resting sites. We studied the effects of foraging pits of the Short-Beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) on soil biota and biogeochemistry. Echidna foraging pits trapped more litter, were moister and cooler. Pit soils were more porous, and had greater levels of sorptivity and steady-state infiltration. Pit soils had greater levels of electrical conductivity but lower concentrations of C, N and S. Soil micro -arthropods were more abundant in the pits, and had a different composition to those on the surface. Pits had greater rates of microbial respiration. Our results indicate that echidnas are important ecosystem engineers, and contribute to the maintenance of small-scale patchiness in semi-arid woodlands.