Learn to tell these critters apart, and handle them safely, with advice from experts.
Voles and moles are very similar animals, and both creatures are kind of a nuisance.
Despite their diminutive statures, they make their presence well-known by wreaking havoc on gardens and lawns.
Photo:Damian Kuzdak/Getty Images
Roger Dickens is the technical services manager of bird and wildlife control atTerminix.
They have a short, stubbed snout, similar to a hamster, and are usually shades of brown.
Dickens confirms that voles eat vegetation and seeds and will also eat the roots of somelandscape plants.
A Mole.
Instead of tunnels, voles create trails or runs across the ground, Dickens says.
Regarding habitat, voles can be found throughout the continental U.S.
They are typicallyfound in meadows, grasslands, and fields.
A Vole.
And Dickens surprised us with this tidbit: Voles are one of the fastest-reproducing animals in North America.
Moles are approximately the same length as the width of someones hand, he says.
Additionally, moles have a longer snout and tend to have darker gray fur.
They’re also a member of the shrew family, not the rodent genus.
Keep in mind that since moles are fairly subterranean, youll rarely see them, Dickens notes.
Moles reproduce one time per year with a litter size of three to five young.
Generally, they are born in March or April.
Moles are carnivorous creatures, while voles are vegetarians.
So if you see plant damage, you are dealing with voles, not moles.
There are different types of damage that these two species can cause.
Tunnels and Runways
Moles can damage the lawn by burrowing as they search for food or mates.
People often notice a raised section of turf that flattens out when stepped on.
Dickens also points out that people sometimes notice a mound of freshly excavated soil where moles have been active.
Voles sometimes burrow underground, but they are more likely to create runways on the surface of your lawn.
While unsightly, the runways don’t do underground damage like tunnels do.
Mounds and Holes
Moles digyou guessed itmolehills, which are volcano-shaped mounds.
These include traps, plants, and natural remedies that work on other animals likedeerand squirrels.
Traps
According to Dickens, moles can be trapped with a specialized contraption.
Voles can also be trapped by placing mouse traps perpendicular to the “run” or trail.
Also, moles and voles are attracted to different types of bait.
Moles dislike the scent of garlic, shallots, allium, marigolds, and daffodils.
Voles can be kept away with allium.
Castor Oil
Another scent that both moles and voles dislike is castor oil.
Pesticides
Capsaicin-based repellents are effective to keep voles out of your landscaping beds.
However, with any pesticide, there are risks.
Some can be harmful to pets and other wildlife.
For this option, you may want to contact a pest control professional.
Pokorny K.Moles, voles and gophers dig the garden.
Voles| university of maryland extension.
Moles/ Home and Landscape / UC Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM).
