Fact Sheet on Moles and Voles

mole emerging

vole tunnel

MOLES

VOLES

IDENTIFICATION

Talpidae sp.

Eastern Mole

Insectivore

Woodland Vole

Rodent

APPEARANCE

6 to 8 inches in length, weight 3 to 6 ounces. Grey fur with white patches. Claw feet and pointed nose.

4 to 6 inches in length, dense brown fur. Small eyes with partially hidden ears. Short legs and short tail.

HABITAT

Underground tunnels of two types, deep and surface. Deep for runs, surface for gathering.

Prefer heavy ground cover, including grasses, grass-like plants and litter. Will make underground tunnels.

FOOD

Main food is earthworms, but eat grubs and other soil insects.

Vegetation, such as tree bark, grains, tubers, clover, alfalfa.

DAMAGE

Damage the root systems of plants by digging for worms or insects.

Girdling trees or seedlings by chewing away bark, eating roots or fruits of plants in orchards or yards.

IPM

Remove food source, then use repellent. Control grubs in the turf, then spray a labeled repellent for moles. Trapping with scissor-jaw trap or cinch loop trap is effective.

'Hot sauce' type repellents for short term control, traps for permanent control. Snap traps baited with a peanut butter-oatmeal mixture or apple slices will catch voles.