This may be obvious, but have you poked at it? Looks like a fire ant mound to me, just going by that one image.

If that's not it, further pictures would be helpful.

If not ants, perhaps a mole.

Al

Mounds are about 4-5 inch higher than the ground level. They are about 12-20 inch wide and the length vary between 15-40" . on the surface, you don't see any opening to the burrow, I have to move the dirt to find it. FYI there are gophers in our neighborhood. But their homes have openings. They follow each other during the day and when they feel a threat they run down their burrow quickly. This guy seems to make all these constructions only during the nights. I have seen a skunk in our complex too, but I have no idea if moles are there as well. We are waking up almost every morning to see fresh hills!!! And I don't want to hurt them at all, I only want to stop them.

Where in Zone 9 do you live?

Bakersfield, CA, our house is in a newly constructed community. There are still untouched lands in neighborhoods.

Take the pictures to your local agricultural center. Hopefully they can help you.

"local agricultural center" as in the University of California Cooperative Extension Service office.

Here is a link that might be useful: UC CES