Guide to Repairing Vole Damage

What are those trails in my lawn?

In early spring, when the snow finally melts and people get back out into their yards, some may be surprised to find trails and burrows in the lawn.

Many will see these above ground trails and mistakenly assume moles have invaded their yard. These trails were created by a different rodent known as a vole. Foraging voles tirelessly feeding on the crowns of healthy grass plants creating small tunnels under the snow pack or fallen tree leaves. Hidden from predators, under snow cover or piles of leaves, these trails become a vole super highway leading to their underground burrow. Once the snow has melted or the leaves removed, the trails are easy to see.

Moles can do the heavy lifting. While moles have had millions of years of evolution in honing their excavation skills, they are not the only creatures that instinctively dig or that will occupy mole tunnels. In fact, a variety of rodents (unrelated to moles) including voles, will gladly take advantage of abandoned mole tunnels as safe passageways from area to area.

Voles are rodents and generally are 4-7 inches in body length with small eyes, ears, and stubby tail. They look like a mouse with very small ears and virtually no tail. When seen, many people will call them field mice. They eat a variety; of plants, grasses, crops and bark. Best control for voles are traps. See video below.