Moles and voles are two common backyard pests that can damage lawns and gardens. At first glance, they appear quite similar – small, furry rodents that burrow underground. However, there are some key differences between these two critters that homeowners should understand.

Introduction

Moles and voles may look alike, but they are actually distinct species with unique behaviors, diets, and burrowing habits. Knowing how to identify signs of moles versus voles can help you determine which one is invading your yard. Implementing targeted control methods for each pest is also important.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the differences between moles and voles, including:

• Physical characteristics and identification
• Habits and behaviors
• Diet and feeding patterns
• Damage caused
• Prevention and control methods

Understanding the distinctions between these two common pests will help you protect your lawn, garden, and landscaping from damage.

Identifying Moles vs Voles

Moles

Moles are solitary, nearly blind mammals that spend most of their lives underground. There are several mole species, but the eastern mole is most common in North America.

Some key features that distinguish moles:

• Body: Moles have a thick, furry body and short legs. They have large front paws designed for digging. Their body length ranges from 4.4 to 7 inches.
• Snout: Moles have a distinctive long, hairless snout. Their snout is pointed and extends well beyond the mouth.
• Fur: Mole fur is dense and velvety. Their fur is typically gray to blackish in color.
• Eyes: Moles have tiny eyes that are not visible through their fur. They rely mostly on their senses of smell and touch due to very poor vision.
• Habitat: Moles create complex underground burrow systems and spend nearly their entire lives below ground. They prefer areas with moist, fertile, loose soil.

Voles

Voles, also called meadow mice or field mice, are rodents that belong to the Arvicolinae subfamily. There are over 150 vole species worldwide. Some common vole species in North America include:

• Meadow vole
• Prairie vole
• Pine vole
• Montane vole
• California vole

Identifying features of voles include:

• Body: Voles have round, stocky bodies with short legs and tails. Their body length ranges from 3 to 9 inches.
• Snout: Voles have a blunt, rounded snout. The snout does not extend beyond the front of the mouth.
• Fur: Vole fur is brown to grayish in color with some lighter coloring on the underside. The fur is not as velvety or dense as moles.
• Eyes: Voles have small protruding eyes with some vision. They rely heavily on a keen sense of smell.
• Habitat: Voles create burrow systems, but they do not tunnel as extensively as moles. They often utilize existing hollows or burrows in fields, lawns, and gardens.

In summary, moles have an extended snout, large digging feet, and velvety gray to black fur. Voles have a stubby snout, smaller rounded bodies, and brown fur. These physical differences can help identify which pest is disturbing your yard.

Habits and Behaviors

Moles and voles also differ in their daily activities, food sources, and patterns of destruction. Understanding their unique habits is useful for implementing control methods.

Moles

• Solitary creatures: Moles tunnel and forage alone. They are territorial and intolerant of other moles in their range.
• Underground tunnels: Moles spend their lives burrowing extensive underground tunnels and surface runways in search of food. Their tunnels provide protection and allow them to easily travel through their territory.
• Foraging habits: Moles use their long snout and paws to locate and consume soil-dwelling insects, grubs, worms, and larvae. They may tunnel through lawns or gardens in search of these invertebrates.
• Surface mounds: As moles dig tunnels, they push excess soil to the surface, creating molehills or mounds. The molehills are often indicative of their subsurface burrow system.
• Flower bulbs: Moles do sometimes feed on flower bulbs, seeds, and plant roots in their path, but they primarily consume insects and worms.

Voles

• Social creatures: Voles live in colonies and large family groups. They share an elaborate burrow system and network of surface runways.
• Burrows and runways: Voles dig burrows less extensively compared to moles. They prefer to reuse old burrows and maintain surface runways through vegetation.
• Herbivores: Voles primarily consume vegetation above ground. They feed on grasses, bark, roots, tubers, seeds, and crops.
• Lawn damage: Voles cause visible lawn damage as they clip and feast on grass blades and plants. This results in dead, brown patches across the yard.
• Flower bulbs: Voles readily feed on flower bulbs and roots, sometimes even girdling young trees up to the base. This can kill plants.

In short, solitary moles cause indirect lawn damage from their tunneling as they hunt for insects underground. Voles directly damage lawns and plants as they forage above ground in groups.

Diet and Feeding Patterns

The eating habits and food sources of moles versus voles also differ in key ways:

Moles

• Primary diet – soil-dwelling insects, grubs, worms, insect larvae
• Food source – tunnels underground searching for invertebrates
• Eats – beneficial garden insects, beetle grubs, earthworms, fly and moth larvae
• Occasionally eats – flower bulbs, seeds, roots in burrowing pathway
• Damage caused – indirect only; tunneling disturbs lawn surface

Voles

• Primary diet – vegetation including grass, buds, bark, roots
• Food source – forages above ground and in shallow burrows
• Eats – lawns, grassy weeds, succulent root vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals
• Favorite foods – flower bulbs, tree roots and bark, some seeds
• Damage caused – direct consumption and destruction of desired plants

These feeding differences are important when implementing control measures. For moles, insect reduction may discourage tunneling. For voles, plant protection and repellents are key.

Damage Caused by Moles vs Voles

Moles and voles can both be detrimental to lawns and gardens, but in different ways:

Mole Damage

• Creates raised tunnels across lawn surface
• Pushes up low soil mounds/molehills as it digs
• Causes uneven, bumpy lawn
• Damages lawn roots and foliage from tunneling
• Abandoned tunnels allow weeds to take hold
• May eat some bulbs and roots but not primary food source

Vole Damage

• Causes visible brown patches and dying grass
• Chews bark and girdles the base of trees and shrubs
• Eats flower bulbs and destroys roots of plants
• Leaves small burrow holes and surface runways in lawn
• Attacks garden vegetables, eating tomatoes, beans, carrots, etc
• Spreads diseases in droppings left around plants

As you can see, moles destroy lawns indirectly through the soil displacement from tunneling. Voles directly consume desired grass and plants above ground or just below the surface.

Prevention and Control Methods

The habits and damage differences mean that ideal control methods for moles versus voles will also differ:

Deterring Moles

• Use castor oil, garlic, or capsaicin to make soil less attractive. Can sprinkle around lawn.
• Introduce predator urine like coyote or fox urine to perceived tunnels.
• Introduce a natural predator like cats to keep moles away.
• Use mole repellent spikes that produce vibrations to deter digging.
• Set snap traps in active surface tunnels to kill and remove moles.
• Use smoke bombs or gassers to smoke out moles from tunnels.

Deterring Voles

• Eliminate hiding spots like tall grass, brush, and mulch near plants.
• Encourage natural predators like owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes, and snakes.
• Protect garden plants with hardware cloth below ground level.
• Apply castor oil, garlic, and capsaicin sprays onto plants to repel.
• Use rodent baits near burrows and runways to poison and kill voles.
• Set lethal snap traps along pathways, under trees, or near vole holes.
• Use vibration or sonic spikes to deter voles from taking up residence in lawns.

Summary of Prevention and Control

For moles, focus on making the soil less attractive, utilizing predators, or forcing moles away from their tunnels. For voles, concentrate on eliminating food sources, protecting key plants, and strategic trapping. Target the specific pest based on evidence of activity and damage seen.

FAQs About Moles vs Voles

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about differentiating moles from voles:

Are moles and voles rodents?

Moles are not rodents. They belong to a different order of mammals called Soricomorpha. Voles are true rodents that belong to the Cricetidae family along with hamsters and lemmings.

Which causes more damage to lawns?

Voles cause more direct lawn damage from consuming grasses and ornamentals. Moles primarily damage lawns indirectly by displacing soil through their tunneling.

Do moles and voles get along?

Moles and voles do not actively interact much since moles stay underground while voles remain above ground mostly. Since moles are solitary while voles are social, they would not cohabitate together.

Do moles eat voles?

Moles do not typically prey on voles. The mole diet consists mainly of soil insects like grubs and worms. Voles eat vegetation.

What time of day are moles and voles active?

Moles are most active underground during the morning and evening hours. Voles are active day and night, foraging above ground most when it is dark outside.

How can you tell if you have voles or moles?

Signs of voles include visible lawn damage, small burrow openings, and surface runways. Signs of moles include raised tunnels, molehill mounds, and zig-zagging ridges across the surface.

Why do moles and voles dig tunnels and burrows?

Tunnels provide protection from predators and avenues for finding food. Voles reuse old tunnels while moles dig new, complex tunnel systems searching for subterranean insects.

Conclusion

In summary, moles and voles may appear similar but have very different behaviors, diets, and impacts on your yard. Moles create tunnels searching for grubs and worms underground. Voles forage above ground, feeding on vegetation. Damage from voles is direct, while mole damage is indirect from burrowing activity. The best control methods are tailored strategies that target the specific pest based on the evidence left behind. Protect your lawn and garden from destruction using selective mole and vole deterrents.

Voles vs. Moles: What’s the Difference?

Moles and voles are common backyard pests that can wreak havoc on lawns and gardens. At first glance, they appear quite similar. However, there are some key differences between these two critters that homeowners should be aware of. Understanding how to identify moles versus voles and their habits can help you control them more effectively.

Identifying Physical Differences

Moles and voles vary in several physical features:

Moles

• Have a long, protruding snout
• Front feet are very large with long claws for digging
• Body fur is thick, velvety, and typically gray to black
• Grow up to 7 inches long
• Have small eyes and ears not visible through fur
• Spend nearly entire life underground in tunnels

Voles

• Have a short, blunt nose
• Body fur is brown or gray, less dense than moles
• Average 3-9 inches in length
• Have small protruding eyes and ears
• Live in burrows but forage above ground
• Create surface runways through vegetation

These differences in appearance can help identify which pest is invading your yard. Moles have an extended snout and feet for digging dirt. Voles have stubby noses and smaller bodies.

Behavioral and Habitat Differences

In addition to physical features, moles and voles differ in their habits:

Moles

• Solitary creatures that tunnel alone
• Create complex underground burrow systems
• Push up molehills or mounds while digging
• Mainly consume earthworms, grubs, and other insects underground
• Cause lawn damage indirectly through extensive tunneling

Voles

• Live in colonies and family groups in burrows
• Maintain system of surface runways through grass
• Herbivores that feed on plant roots, tree bark, and lawn grasses
• Cause visible dead patches and direct damage to lawns and gardens
• Do not dig as extensively as moles

Moles dig complex tunnels nonstop in search of worms and bugs. Voles reuse old burrows and runways, targeting vegetation.

Prevention and Control

Their different habits mean ideal deterrents also differ:

Deterring Moles

• Introduce castor oil, garlic, or capsaicin to soil through tunnels
• Place predator urine or vibrating stakes into tunnels
• Trap or smoke out moles in active tunnels

Deterring Voles

• Remove brush and mulch around gardens
• Protect plants with hardware cloth and repellent sprays
• Use lethal snap traps along vole pathways and burrows
• Encourage predators like hawks and snakes

In summary, identifying whether the varmint is a vole or a mole based on appearance, habitat, and damage can help you implement the most effective control plan. Target the specific pest to rid your yard of these annoying pests.

Voles vs. Moles: What’s the Difference?

When dealing with an infestation of small burrowing pests in your yard, it’s important to know whether you have voles or moles. Although they may seem similar at first glance, voles and moles have distinct differences when it comes to their physical characteristics, destructive behavior, and ideal prevention and control methods.

Key Differences Between Voles and Moles

Voles and moles have a number of distinguishing features:

• Appearance – Voles have round, stubby bodies with small eyes and short tails. Moles have velvety fur, protruding snouts, and large front feet.
• Behavior – Voles are active during the day and night, living in colonies in shallow burrows. Moles are solitary and more active at dawn and dusk, digging extensive tunnel systems.
• Destructive Habits – Voles eat plants above ground, damaging lawns, vegetable gardens, and tree roots. Moles dig tunnels searching for grubs, indirectly harming lawns with mounds and ridges.
• Prevention – Voles can be deterred with bulbs protectors, plant barriers, and eliminating cover. Moles can be repelled with castor oil and predator urine in tunnels.
• Population Control – Voles are best trapped along runways or poisoned. Moles can be killed with traps in tunnels or smoked out with gassers.

Identifying Voles vs Moles in Your Yard

Here are signs that can help determine whether voles or moles are invading your yard:

Signs You Have Voles

• Visible above-ground damage to plants, vegetables, and lawn in patches
• Small 1-2 inch wide burrow openings with defined runways
• Network of surface trails through grass and under mulch or debris
• Small cylindrical droppings around plants and burrows

Signs You Have Moles

• Raised ridges and tunnel patterns visible on lawn surface
• Conical soil mounds pushed up from deep tunnels below
• No visible damage, just uneven bumpy lawn surface
• Zigzagging surface trails in lawn without defined burrow openings

Prevention and Removal Methods

Use these techniques to deter voles and moles in your yard:

For Voles:

• Clear heavy vegetation and mulch around gardens
• Protect bulbs and roots with wire mesh barriers
• Apply castor oil or capsaicin repellents to plants
• Use lethal snap traps at burrow openings
• Kill voles with rodenticide baits along runways

For Moles:

• Apply castor oil, garlic, or capsaicin in tunnels to repel
• Introduce predator urine or vibration stakes to deter tunneling
• Use humane traps that catch moles alive for relocation
• Drive and smoke out moles by placing smoke bombs in tunnels
• Set lethal snap traps in main surface runway areas

Knowing the difference between voles versus moles will allow you to take the best approach to protect your lawn and garden from damage. Identify the pest, then deploy targeted deterrents and control measures suitable for that particular critter. Acting fast when you spot signs of activity is key to getting rid of voles and moles.

Voles vs. Moles: What’s the Difference?

Voles and moles – they may look similar, but in reality they are quite different creatures. Learning to tell voles and moles apart, along with understanding their habits, is key for effective control and minimizing lawn and garden damage.

Physical Differences