Top response to – how do I know if I have moles or voles?

Moles create raised ridges in the ground and leave mounds of dirt on the surface while voles create runways in the grass and garden and do not leave dirt mounds.

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To determine if you have moles or voles in your yard, there are several key differences to look for. Moles are burrowing animals that create raised ridges in the ground, while voles are small rodents that create runways in the grass and garden. Moles also leave behind mounds of dirt on the surface as they dig tunnels, while voles do not.

According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, “Moles have long claws and feet adapted for digging and pushing dirt backwards as they create tunnels. In addition, their eyes are small and poorly developed, as they do not typically need to rely on vision to navigate underground. Voles, on the other hand, have smaller feet and shorter tunnels and use their runways to forage for food above ground.”

It’s important to identify which animal is causing damage to your yard as their control methods differ. Moles are insectivores and can help control insect populations, while voles can cause damage to vegetation and should be deterred.

Here are some additional interesting facts about moles and voles:

  • Moles are carnivores that mainly feed on earthworms, grubs, and insects.
  • Moles have a high metabolism and can consume their body weight in food each day.
  • Voles are herbivores that feed on grasses, seeds, and roots.
  • A group of moles is called a labor, while a group of voles is called a colony.
  • Moles are found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, while voles are found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
  • Moles are adapted to living underground and have many unique physical characteristics, such as a hairless, cylindrical body and paddle-like feet.
  • Voles can reproduce rapidly, with females giving birth to several litters of 3-6 young each year.
  • Both moles and voles can be beneficial to the environment in certain ways, but can also cause damage to crops and gardens if their populations become too high.
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Here is a table summarizing the key differences between moles and voles:

Moles Voles
Appearance Long claws and feet, hairless cylindrical body Smaller feet, furry body
Diet Insects and grubs Grasses and vegetation
Behaviors Create raised ridges, leave dirt mounds Create runways, do not leave dirt mounds
Reproduction Produce small litters of 2-4 young Produce several litters of 3-6 young
Geographic Range Found in North America, Europe, and Asia Found in North America, Europe, and Asia

Video response to “How do I know if I have moles or voles?”

The video introduces a series on different traps for subterranean pests in the yard and explains how to identify which type of pest is causing damage by their physical characteristics and types of dirt they leave behind. The YouTuber provides information on the habits and behaviors of moles, pocket gophers, and voles, detailing the damage they can cause and stressing the importance of identifying the specific type of pest to select the appropriate trap for removal.

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You probably have moles if you see long dirt tunnels across your yard with piles at either end. Moles create shallow tunnels on the surface and mounds of soil from deeper tunnels. When you walk in your yard, the surface will feel squishy. “Voles also dig dime-sized entrances to their burrows around the roots of plants,” Pearson says.

For voles, look for tunnels that are visible along the surface of the lawn that look like snakes or winding rivers. Another sign of voles is chewed up plants, tubular veggies, or bark on trees. Moles dig their tunnels deeper underground but will leave small mounds of dirt near their tunnel entrances.

How to Tell the Difference Between Moles & Voles

  • Description of a Mole A mole is 4 to 7 inches long with paddle-shaped feet and prominent digging claws. It has an elongated head and snout, small eyes, and no external ears.

While voles have those open entranceways and make tunnels that aren’t raised, moles dig visibly raised tunnel ridges, leave mini volcano-shaped soil mounds, and create more of a closed tunnel system without visible entrance holes. If you’re seeing tunneling in your lawn that looks like this description, you likely have moles.

More interesting questions on the topic

How do I know if I have moles voles or gophers in my yard?
So if you see a bunch of dirt pop up in your yard. That’s round dome shape almost like a little volcano you have a problem with moles. Here’s. The third kind of damage that I’ve seen in my yard it’s a
How do you tell if you have voles in your yard?
Here are some signs you may have voles in yard:

  1. Tiny Trails in Your Yard. Voles travel on the same paths, by creating 1- to 2-inch-wide ruts or runways in the ground.
  2. Collapsed Plants. Voles are herbivores and like to feast on bulbs, tubers, or roots.
  3. Spongy Soil.
  4. Holes in the Soil.
  5. Damaged Harvest.
  6. Cats.
  7. Visual Sighting.
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Is it mole or vole tunnels?
Moles have deep below-ground tunnels as well as surface tunnels. Entrances to mole tunnels may have mounds of excavated soil, often called molehills, near them. Voles – Where voles are present, the grass is usually eaten to the soil line, leaving the crown of the grass plant intact and healthy.
How can you tell the difference between mole and vole damage?
Response will be: While voles have those open entranceways and make tunnels that aren’t raised, moles dig visibly raised tunnel ridges, leave mini volcano-shaped soil mounds, and create more of a closed tunnel system without visible entrance holes.
How do you know if a vole is a mole?
As a response to this: Voles (Cricetidae) and moles (Talpidae) look different, eat different diets, and have little else in common other than their rhyming names. So, how do you know if it’s a vole or a mole? Both are furry little creatures that both burrow underground and can damage landscaping. Here are some of their key characteristics:
Are moles & voles the same thing?
Both voles and moles can cause a lot of damage in your yard as they make their way to the buffet of plants or bugs. Both voles and moles will tunnel through your yard, but their tunneling patterns are different. For voles, look for tunnels that are visible along the surface of the lawn that look like snakes or winding rivers.
Do moles & voles tunnel through your yard?
Response: Both voles and moles will tunnel through your yard, but their tunneling patterns are different. For voles, look for tunnels that are visible along the surface of the lawn that look like snakes or winding rivers. Another sign of voles is chewed up plants, tubular veggies, or bark on trees.
How do you know if a mole is in your yard?
As a response to this: Mounds of soil, raised tunnels and soft spots in your yard are common signs of moles. In general, only two or three of these solitary animals will inhabit an acre of land. You’re strolling across your beautiful lawn when you notice something isn’t right.
How do you know if a vole is a mole?
Answer to this: Voles (Cricetidae) and moles (Talpidae) look different, eat different diets, and have little else in common other than their rhyming names. So, how do you know if it’s a vole or a mole? Both are furry little creatures that both burrow underground and can damage landscaping. Here are some of their key characteristics:
Do voles tunnel like moles?
The reply will be: Voles do not tunnel like moles. While voles occasionally tunnel underground, searching for food, they more commonly create runways on the surface that make for an unsightly lawn. Moles form big volcano-looking molehill mounds. Voles don’t make mounds, but they make underground burrows in the form of a small hole, usually at the base of a tree.
What does a mole look like?
A mole is 4 to 7 inches long with paddle-shaped feet and prominent digging claws. It has an elongated head and snout, small eyes, and no external ears. The short black-to-brownish-gray fur has no grain, which allows the mole to move easily forward and backward in the tunnels. It digs characteristic volcano-shaped hills in the lawn.
How do you know if a mole is in your yard?
Response: Mounds of soil, raised tunnels and soft spots in your yard are common signs of moles. In general, only two or three of these solitary animals will inhabit an acre of land. You’re strolling across your beautiful lawn when you notice something isn’t right.

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