Moles Control and Removal MN
Moles, Gophers and Voles are sometimes grouped into the same category, but in fact, there are distinct differences between moles, gophers and voles. Sometimes it’s difficult to identify burrowing animals that have been damaging yards or gardens. They may be nocturnal or so elusive that we never see them. Nevertheless, identifying the animal is an essential step toward controlling or managing the damage.
This is a gopher burrow
Often the presence of a burrow or other signs of digging are the only available clue to the animal’s identity. And the burrows themselves may be the damage, creating unsightly mounds or depressions that interfere with lawn maintenance and disturb or uproot valuable plants.
Mole Mound-Pocket Gopher Mound - Mound Compare Side view
Determine whether you have moles, voles or gophers. You may not see them but you’ll see their work in your yard.
Mole Mound-Pocket Gopher Mound - Mound Compare Top view
Gophers are often mistaken for moles. It is true that both create tunnels with dirt mounds around the opening. However, they are quite different from a biological perspective.
What’s Digging Holes In My Yard?
Characteristics of their work that can be used to help identify the mystery animal. Please note that some animals that dig do not eat plants. For instance, moles eat soil insects and the plant and root damage caused by their digging is usually incidental.
Moles and Voles are hands down the biggest problem some gardeners are confronting early this season. So first, let’s discuss the important differences between these underground pests.
For starters, gophers and voles are rodents, belonging to the zoological order Rodentia, whereas moles are not rodents, but are rather members of the order Soricomorpha, which also includes the Shrew.
Gophers do not have the huge spade-like feet, but can certainly do as much, if not more lawn damage. Moles and gophers may be in the same lawn at the same time, and may actually share the same tunnels in places.
Get Rid Moles and Voles from Your Yard
Moles are mostly blind, strange looking little guys with BIG front claws that eat grubs and earthworms in lawns. They NEVER eat plants; but their raised tunnels can make your lawn look really bumpy.
Moles have large claws for digging tunnels. Moles eat grubs and bugs. They can dig up your yard, but they don’t eat your plants or bulbs. If you have moles, you’ll see your yard dug up in paths. If you have moles, you can try trapping them yourself or seek the services of a professional animal management expert.
Moles don’t eat the grass as many people suspect. Instead, they burrow tunnels just below the soil surface as they forage for grubs worms, earth worms and insects. These tunnels essentially destroy the root system of the lawn, killing it.
You mostly see them in established neighborhoods (not new construction) and near woods and forest preserves.
Voles make lots of little holes in the ground; they look more like mice, but with really long weaseley snouts. Voles are a HUGE garden threat; they eat plants, and lots of ‘em. Their favorite foods are tulip bulbs and the roots of plants like hostas.
Voles eat plants and bulbs. They also dig tunnels but you’ll likely only see the holes where they enter their tunnels. You may also notice that some of your bulbs or plants have been eaten and that there is a tunnel from under the plant from which they came. Voles can do some serious damage to a flower, bulb, or vegetable garden.
Is Your Yard Suffering From Tunnels or Holes From Moles Or Voles?
Shrews use mole and vole tunnels, and voles can also use mole tunnels, so it is possible that you have more than one kind of critter living in your yard.
So, which do YOU have: Moles, Voles or Gophers?
Check for current activity by stepping down on a section of the tunnel to see if it gets rebuild by the next day. If you have a hole, lightly close an entrance and see if it gets cleared out by the next day. This will tell you if you have current activity in your mole and/or vole tunnels.
Other Potential Burrowing Culprits
It is possible that those holes or dirt mounds in your yard may have been produced by something other than voles, moles or gophers. Depending upon your environment and what part of the country you live in, potential culprits may also include prairie dogs, woodchucks, groundhogs, or chipmunks.
Mole Removal Experts Minneapolis and St Paul Minnesota
If you have moles, you can try trapping them yourself or seek the services of a Minnesota Wild Animal Management Expert. These pests can be hard to remove, and even harder to discourage from coming back. They have been dealing with these animals for years, and know the tricks of the trade in removing moles. They can ensure the moles, voles or gophers will be removed or deterred from coming back on your property.
