Moles & Voles: What Works, What Doesn’t. One of the most common calls homeowners make concerning lawn damage is, “I have moles tearing up my yard.” While that may be true, many homeowners are surprised to learn that not all lawn damage is caused by moles. In fact, a completely different animal known as a vole may be responsible.
Although moles and voles are often mentioned together, they are very different animals with different behaviors, diets, and control methods.
Understanding the difference is the first step toward protecting your lawn and landscape.
What Is a Mole?
Moles are small insect-eating mammals that spend most of their lives underground. They are highly specialized diggers with large paddle-shaped front feet designed for tunneling through soil.
Unlike rodents, moles do not feed on roots, bulbs, or turf grass. Instead, they primarily consume:
- Earthworms
- Grubs
- Beetle larvae
- Insects
- Other soil-dwelling invertebrates
Moles create extensive tunnel systems as they search for food. These tunnels often appear as raised ridges running across lawns, flower beds, and landscaped areas.
Mole Biology
- Average length: 4 to 8 inches
- Weight: 2 to 6 ounces
- Active year-round
- Solitary animals
- Excellent sense of touch
- Poor eyesight
A single mole may create hundreds of feet of tunnels while searching for food.
What Is a Vole?
Voles are rodents often mistaken for mice. Unlike moles, voles feed on plant material and can cause extensive damage to turf grass, ornamental plants, shrubs, and young trees.
Voles consume:
- Grass roots
- Plant roots
- Bulbs
- Bark
- Seeds
- Garden vegetation
Voles create shallow runways through lawns and mulch beds that resemble miniature trails.
Unlike moles, voles spend a significant amount of time above ground.
Vole Biology
- Average length: 4 to 7 inches
- Weight: 1 to 3 ounces
- Rodent species
- Reproduce rapidly
- Multiple litters per year
- Active year-round
Vole populations can increase dramatically when conditions are favorable.
How Moles Damage Turf Grass
Moles typically do not eat turf grass.
The damage occurs when their tunneling activity:
- Separates roots from soil
- Creates raised ridges
- Causes uneven ground
- Damages landscaping
- Creates trip hazards
The result is often a lawn that feels soft, uneven, and unstable underfoot.
How Voles Damage Turf Grass
Voles can be far more destructive than moles because they directly consume vegetation.
Common vole damage includes:
- Dead patches of turf
- Root damage
- Girdled shrubs
- Damaged ornamental plants
- Destroyed flower beds
- Bark removal from young trees
Many homeowners do not notice vole activity until significant damage has already occurred.
Repellents: What Works and What Doesn’t?
There are numerous mole and vole repellents sold online and in stores.
These products often contain:
- Castor oil
- Predator urine
- Garlic oils
- Pepper extracts
- Various scent compounds
While some homeowners report temporary results, Cardinal Pest Management does not guarantee repellents for mole or vole control.
Why?
Because results are inconsistent.
Repellents may temporarily encourage activity to move elsewhere, but they rarely eliminate the problem and often fail during periods of heavy feeding pressure or high population levels.
Simply put, we believe in being honest if you want a treatment we do offer a repellent treatment for them but, we cannot confidently stand behind it with any kind of a warranty or guarantee.
Mole Control Methods
What Usually Doesn’t Work
Many homeowners try:
- Chewing gum
- Broken glass
- Flooding tunnels
- Ultrasonic devices
- Wind-powered noise makers
- Mothballs
- Homemade remedies
Most of these methods have little or no scientific support and generally provide disappointing results.
What Does Work
Properly placed lethal traps remain one of the most effective methods of mole control.
Professional mole trappers locate active tunnels and place traps directly within travel routes used by the mole. This service requires trap inspections every 24 hours.
Success depends on:
- Identifying active tunnels
- Proper trap placement
- Frequent monitoring
- Patience and persistence
Vole Control Methods
Unlike moles, voles are rodents and can often be controlled through a combination of:
- Habitat modification
- Exclusion
- Population reduction
- Trapping
Reducing dense ground cover, excessive mulch, tall grass, and heavy vegetation can make an area less attractive to voles.
Lethal Trapping
Both mole and vole populations can be reduced through lethal trapping when properly performed.
Many homeowners choose to perform trapping themselves.
A variety of traps are available online and through agricultural suppliers.
Success depends heavily on:
- Correct trap selection
- Proper placement
- Monitoring activity
- Checking traps regularly
- Relocating traps when necessary
The biggest mistake homeowners make is placing traps in inactive areas.
A trap can be perfectly functional and still never catch anything if it is not located where the animal is actively traveling.
Grubs, Insects, and Food Sources
One common misconception is that eliminating grubs will automatically eliminate moles.
While grubs are a food source for moles, they are not the only food source.
Moles also consume:
- Earthworms
- Beetles
- Various soil insects
As a result, eliminating grubs does not always eliminate mole activity.
The Hidden Risk of Broad Insect Control
Some lawn treatment programs focus heavily on reducing grubs and other soil insects.
While these treatments can be beneficial under the right circumstances, homeowners should understand that nature often maintains a balance among insect populations.
In some situations, removing one insect pest through pesticide applications can create an opportunity for another, potentially more destructive turf pest to emerge and dominate the area.
For this reason, turf management should focus on proper monitoring and treatment decisions rather than simply applying insecticides on a routine schedule without understanding what pests are actually present.
Habitat Modification
One of the most effective long-term strategies for vole management is habitat reduction.
Consider:
- Keeping grass mowed
- Removing excessive mulch
- Eliminating brush piles
- Removing debris
- Reducing dense vegetation
- Trimming overgrown areas
These practices make properties less attractive to voles and reduce available cover.
When Should You Call a Professional?
If your lawn is developing tunnels, raised ridges, dead patches, or unexplained damage, a professional inspection can help determine whether moles, voles, or another issue is responsible.
Correct identification is critical because mole and vole control strategies differ significantly.
Mole and Vole Control Services in Metro Atlanta and Northwest Georgia
Cardinal Pest Management provides professional pest and wildlife control services throughout Metro Atlanta and Northwest Georgia.
Learn more about our services:
Residential Pest Control:
https://pestcontrolservice.now/residential-pest-control/
Nuisance Wildlife Control:
https://pestcontrolservice.now/nuisance-wildlife-control/
Commercial Pest Control:
https://pestcontrolservice.now/commercial-pest-control/
Contact Cardinal Pest Management:
https://pestcontrolservice.now/contact/
Additional information about our company can be found at:
https://cardinalpestmanagement.com
Whether you’re dealing with moles, voles, rodents, nuisance wildlife, or other pest concerns, Cardinal Pest Management can help identify the problem and recommend appropriate solutions based on your property’s specific needs.