A mole has a pointed snout, enlarged front feet, and eyes and ears so tiny that they are not visible. A vole, also called a meadow mouse, has rounded ears and body and is reddish or brown and black in color with a gray underside.

How do you tell if you have moles or voles?

One way to distinguish the difference is by the diet of each animal. Moles “M” are meat-eaters, and their diet consists of insects, grubs, and earthworms. Voles “V”, on the other hand, are vegetarians and eat the roots and stems of plants.

How do I get rid of moles and voles in my yard?

Here are a few quick tips:

1. Give the entire lawn surface a gentle rake to break up debris and excrement in vole runways and promote lawn growth.
2. Fill in vole pathways with topsoil.
3. Fertilize and overseed any areas of thin or chewed-down grass.
4. Prune and fertilize trees or shrubs that have been gnawed on by voles.

Do voles tunnel like moles?

Like moles, voles also tunnel and create runways through your lawn. ... Voles typically tunnel on the surface and eat their way through the grass to get to their burrows. They can also make small runways underneath the surface that are about two inches in diameter.

What attracts moles and voles?

Moles prefer soil that is shaded, cool, and moist because of plentiful worms and grubs and easy digging. Moles typically make their home burrows in high, dry spots often under large trees, buildings or sidewalks. Voles are attracted to landscaping with long grass, lots of ground cover and heavily mulched planting beds.

How To Identify If You Have Gophers, Moles, Or Voles Digging Up Your Yard.

34 related questions found

How do you tell if you have voles?

Identification

1. If you have partially eaten carrots, potatoes, or other root vegetables, you probably have a vole problem. ...
2. Voles also eat flower bulbs from below the ground as they're near the surface.
3. If you see chewed-up bark near the base of trees and shrubs, look closely.

How do you know if you have voles in your lawn?

Here are a few sure-fire signs of voles in your yard:

1. Paths 1”-2” wide in the turf surface.
2. Vole burrows, which look like holes in the lawn or around the bases of trees. ...
3. Spaces where the grass of the lawn is suddenly very short.
4. Noticeable gnaw marks on the stems of woody plants and young trees.

What attracts voles to your yard?

Meadows, weeds, dense, heavy vegetative covers in your yard attract voles as they serve as an area to breed and protect them. Excess brush and mulch on your lawn. Woodpiles and corners around trees, shrubs, and gardens can serve as hiding areas for them.

Will voles come in your house?

Voles generally like to stay outside. ... Voles prefer eating plant materials and generally don't do well indoors. As such, they rarely enter the house. When they do enter your house, you have several options for getting rid of them.

What time of day are voles most active?

Voles may be active day or night, but most activity occurs at dawn and dusk. Their activity is comprised of short, quick visits from the burrow through their runways and back.

Do voles damage lawns?

Chewing by voles at the base of unprotected stems can cause girdling and result in significant dieback and even plant death. ... As turf pests are concerned, voles are among the vertebrate pests most likely to cause turf damage. Notable damage to turf most commonly occurs during the winter season under snow.

Do coffee grounds repel voles?

Although it is a debated subject, coffee grounds do appear to repel voles in the lawn. Sprinkle some around vole holes in the yard, and watch for any results.

What is the best vole killer?

Top 5 Best Vole Poison

• JT Eaton 709PN Bait Block Rodenticide (our top pick)
• VoleX Vole Killer Pellets (a close second)
• Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx.
• Ramik Green.
• JT Eaton 750 Top Gun Rodenticide.

Which is bigger a vole or a mole?

Voles are rodents and are about the same size as moles (4 to 6 inches in body length) with relatively large black eyes, small ears, a blunt face, and prominent orange front teeth for gnawing.

How do you know you have moles in your yard?

Signs of Moles in Your Yard

1. Raised ridges crisscrossing your yard.
2. Areas of discolored or dead grass that follow a specific path.
3. Raised mounds of dirt. These are usually the entrance/exit to mole tunnels.
4. Areas of your lawn feeling “squishy” or like the soil is very loose.

Will moles leave on their own?

Unless your yard is really showing damage, the best approach is to leave moles alone. They'll usually move on once they've eliminated their food source. You can keep your lawn in shape by flattening the runways with your feet or a lawn roller, or by raking out the tunnels.

How many voles live in a colony?

How many voles are in a colony and what makes up a colony? There may be two adults, several juveniles, and a nest with up to 5 babies in a family colony. Adults are thought to defend their home habitat or territory from invasion by other voles.

Where do voles go in the winter?

During the winter, voles move about under the protection of snow cover and create unique surface runway systems with numerous burrow openings. Runways are 1 to 2 inches in width, and vegetation near well-traveled runways is often clipped near the ground.

What does vole poop look like?

The rodent's excrement looks similar to rice and is either brown or green in color.

What does vole lawn damage look like?

If it's voles, you'll see patches of gnaw marks with irregular patterns about 1/16th to 1/8th inches wide. Gnawed stems may have a pointed tip, and the roots or tubers may also show the same wear. But voles don't need snow for cover, explains the University of Maryland Extension.

Do voles leave after winter?

Voles generally prefer the outdoors, where they burrow beneath the ground making tunnels to store their food, breed, and take care of their young in. ... Voles are active during the winter since they do not hibernate in the cold winter months. Their activity underground is masked by the fallen snow.

What sound does a vole make?

What Does a Vole Sound Like? For these social rodents, vole noises are a primary means of communication. When frightened or in danger, the pests emit chirps similar to those made by mice.

What animals eat voles?

Owls, hawks, snakes, weasels and red foxes feed on voles, who hide from predators in burrows and tunnels. They can become aggressive when trapped.

How deep do voles dig?

Vole tunnels have openings 1.5 to 2 inches across and are typically hidden beneath mulch, shrubs, or spreading plants. Look for fresh grass clippings or seeds near tunnel entrances. Spongy soil. Some voles burrow and create many shallow tunnels, while other types dig down to a depth of 12 inches.