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Vole and Mole Damage

How to Identify and Manage Lawn Pests

If you’ve noticed unusual damage in your lawn or garden, voles and moles may be the culprits. Though both are small mammals, their habits, diet, and the type of damage they cause are very different. Understanding the distinction is key to protecting your property.

Identifying Vole Damage

Vole damage: small runways across the lawn

Voles, often called “field mice,” are small rodents with stocky bodies, short tails, and small ears. They are primarily herbivores, feeding on grass, roots, bulbs, and bark.

Signs of vole damage include:

  • Shallow, irregular surface tunnels.

  • Chewed plants, bulbs, and tree bark at the base of trees and shrubs.

  • Small runways across the lawn, often visible in the grass.

  • Evidence of gnawing on garden plants, shrubs, or young trees.

Voles are usually most active in the cooler months, but can remain a threat year-round if conditions are right.

Identifying Mole Damage

Mole damage: Mounded soil or “molehills” in the lawn

Moles are insectivores, feeding mainly on grubs, worms, and insects. They have velvety fur, tiny eyes, and strong, spade-like front feet for digging.

Signs of mole damage include:

  • Raised, crescent-shaped, or winding tunnels just below the soil surface.

  • Mounded soil or “molehills” in the lawn.

  • Dead or stressed patches of grass due to root disruption.

Moles are generally solitary creatures that dig extensive underground tunnel systems in search of food.

Can Mole and Voles Be Active at the Same Time?

While moles and voles have different diets and behaviors, they can coexist in the same area. In fact, mole tunnels can make it easier for voles to travel and feed, since voles often use existing tunnels to move undetected. This means it’s possible to see both surface damage (voles) and raised tunnels or molehills (moles) in your yard at the same time.

How Can I Get Rid Of Voles and Moles?

Managing vole and mole activity requires different approaches. At Pure Solutions, we offer natural treatments designed to repel these pests safely and effectively by targeting their senses rather than harming them.

Here’s how our natural repellents work:

  • Scent-based deterrence: Voles and moles have highly sensitive noses. Our repellents use scents they find unpleasant, encouraging them to leave your lawn.

  • Taste-based deterrence: The eco-friendly ingredients make mole and vole food sources taste unappealing, prompting them to move to areas with more appealing food.

  • Environmentally friendly formulation: These solutions are designed to be safe for pets, children, and beneficial wildlife while still protecting your lawn.

By using these eco-friendly repellents, you can reduce damage from voles and moles while keeping your lawn safe, healthy, and chemical-free.

Interested in learning more about our vole and mole solutions? Contact the team!

Sources:

How to Tell the Difference Between Moles and Voles. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center. (2025, July 18). https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-moles-voles/

Johnson, K., & Pease, J. (2019, May 1). Moles: Damage management. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/moles-damage-management

Vole damage issues. Vole Damage Issues | Forestry and Natural Resources. (n.d.). https://forestry.mgcafe.uky.edu/wildlife-damage/vole-damage