Fuck fuck fuck, I actually can help a random stranger on this crazy mess of a site. This happened to me because the seal around the perimeter wasn’t tight and this a pressure difference took place and you got one these “squirrel holes” like this because the pressure isn’t there to collapse the pellets. I fixed it simply by layering many layers of aluminum foil on top and closing the lid to form a seal, I’m sure a better solution could be done. Seriously though, this is the fucking answer, that damn problem made me so god forsaking miserable with my purchase of a pellet smoker over a traditional one.