Shawn week , Wildlife Management Specialist , believes that moles and field mouse are indeed a lawn and garden pest . However , he also tell that gaga animals are part of what makes nature so magic . While it ’s important to coexist with creature in relative peace of mind , they can cause many problems when they live in our lawns and gardens with their tunnel .
It seems every meter I plant something unexampled , within a day I see a raised tunnel head straight to it ; but many clip there is no harm . In fact , a part of my yard near our pasture has grass that is not well manicure . When I feel clump in it that I can not see , that lump is actually a tunnel , and I do nothing . My garden , however , seems to invariably have these “ runs ” — especially in mulched areas . Most of the time they make no damage , but in some mulched beds , the tunnels actually stir up the soil under a plant as the blighter passes through , making an unsightly bed . That is this year . However , in the past tense I have seen several young edamame plants literally disappear below the soil surface . It prompt me of a cartoon where the gardener endeavor to hold onto the veggie and the pest judge to force it under .
Other than having similar names , voles and moles have piddling in uncouth . They are two entirely different pests , yet they ’re often confused . Moles are well known , but it may actually be a vole causing terms especially in gardens and flower bed .
Identify the culprit
Moles are 5 to 7 inches in length , gray to glum brown in colour , and are mammals . They are NOT rodents . They have a long , naked snout , no external ears ( who wants shit in your ear ? ) and can tunnel 1 groundwork per minute . Their centre are swallow up in their pelt . They are seldom seen because they dwell and course underground , preferring moist , wanton soil . Since they do n’t consume plant , their landscape painting butchery is really the incidental damage of shallow tunnels and runway dug in lawns searching for intellectual nourishment . However , tunnels may stimulate damage to plants when their rails create itinerary around radical . Another objection from gardeners and those mowing the lawn is dirt that is mounded up in a rounded volcanic shape — better be intimate as a molehill .
vole are rodents — looking much like mouse with shorter tails . field mouse are normally 5 to 7 inch long and may be black , gray or brownish . They have eyes and ear that can be easily seen . vole can either burrow , or more likely , use quondam mole tunnels . Between tunnel openings , they bring forth characteristic surface runway about the size of it of a broom handle that you could see . They stay in nest above ground , coming out to eat day and dark at short intervals .
Different diets
The mole ’s diet is almost alone earthworms and eats , with a few insects for appetizers .
Voles , on the other hired hand , are plant life - eater or herbivores . They feed in the main on grasses , flowers , vegetables , bulbs and seeds . In the winter when food is scarce , they may eat bark off of trees and bush .
replication
mole are anti - social mammal , seeking each other out only at mating time . This mean that commonly you should only have 1 or 2 seawall in your yard . There are generally 4 to 7 per bedding material . Their animation span is 2 to 3 years .
Voles are prolific reproducer that can quick colonize your thou . Their animation span is only about 16 month or less , so they have to make up for it by having 3 to 6 unseasoned at a metre with only a 21 - sidereal day maternity period ! Because they procreate quickly , eat so many affair , and are in force at hiding , they can do a lot of harm before the nurseryman figures out the problem .
snub or combat the job ?
First , let me say that moles can be beneficial because they use up large numbers of grubs . Their tunneling can also aerate the lawn and mix deep filth with surface constitutional cloth . Other than that….they are a pain in the neck !
I aboveboard ca n’t think of any welfare to having field mouse in your garden and lawn . The ascendance methods for both jetty and voles is quite similar , but there is no one - and - done answer . In fact , we have few honest approaches that will provide long lasting relievo . I would encourage the use of only scientific inquiry — not the many gadgets and homemade recipes that you may find .
So the authoritative matter is to asses the level of damage and the level of demand for control . Is having a few holes in your yard or perhaps some limited industrial plant damage sufficient grounds for action ?
Only springy hole
pin , although successful in catching moles , should be consider as a temporary repair . If the area continues to have the intellectual nourishment supply they are looking for , more than likely others will come in to replace the one you murder .
To live - trap jetty , utilise a can about 10 inches in length and 6 inch wide and position it vertically beneath the burrow . The top of the can is level with the bottom of the tunnel . As the mole comes along the runway it drops in ineffective to get out and can then be relocate .
Due to the big population of voles , maw are NOT very in force and are likely only a irregular control .
Repellents & Barriers
The most commonrepellent for molescontains beaver oil and is record for enjoyment in Virginia . It comes in the form of pellets or can be shuffle and sprayed on the lawn , live on as longsighted as 6 - 8 weeks .
A roadblock can be used around planting bed to deter the voles and groin by mix something penetrating into the land . This could be sand , crushed rock or a mathematical product that are interchangeable to cat litter . These materials , once they are unify into the grease , make it more difficult for the pests to navigate .
Another roadblock is the use of mainsheet metal or hardware cloth placed around the touched area . To put in this roadblock , grok a trench 12 - 15 inches mystifying and 10 column inch wide . Place 8 - 10 column inch of the barrier in the trench and then fold the remainder upright to create an “ L ” . It should carry about 5 inches above the ground for double-dyed security . Backfill the trench with soil .
specify food supply
Since grubs are the main source of intellectual nourishment for gram molecule , treating for chow is an choice . See last month ’s clause on grub treatment . However , the Virginia Tech Extension Office believe it really should be viewed as a chuck treatment rather than mole restraint . Of course , moles love nightwalker — as do gardeners — so we do not want to do anything to discourage wiggler .
ethnical
field mouse make their hide nest in vegetation and brush , so avoid having brush heap and the like near the areas you want to protect . in conclusion , mulch is also a great place for voles to hide , especially if applied too thick . Use a minimum of mulch around area you require to protect .
No fumigants or toxicants
As with all wildlife , non - lethal control measure should be exhausted before lethal measures are used . Poisons are not recommended and may not only drink down these pest but could even harm other animals if theycatch and exhaust the groin or vole after it has consume the poison but before it is utter . Fumigants and toxicants are restricted in Virginia to certified pesticide applicators .
In Virginia it is illegal to :
PESTICIDE WARNING :
Pesticides ( which include weedkiller , insecticides , rotenticides , etc . ) are poisonous . Always read and cautiously follow all precautions and safety recommendation given on the container label . salt away all chemicals in the original tag containers in a locked cabinet or shed , away from food for thought or feeds , and out of the reach of children , unauthorized persons , pets , and farm animal . confer with the pesticide label to shape fighting ingredients , sign words , and proper protective equipment .
pesticide employ in your home and landscape painting can move and pollute creeks , lakes , and rivers . Confine chemicals to the property being treat and never allow them to get into drains or creeks . Avoid heading onto neighboring place and untargeted domain .
rootage :
Parkhurst , Jim , “ Moles and Voles , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication , http://www.ext.vt.edu / topics / lawn - garden / turfgrass / turfandgardentips / tips / counterspy - vole.html
“ Identifying Moles , Voles and Shrews , ” Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences , http://extension.psu.edu / natural - resources / wildlife / FAQ / nuisance - damage / identifying - jetty - vole - and - shrew
Pokomy , Kim , “ Moles , Voles and Gophers cut into the Garden , ” Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Publication , http://extension.oregonstate.edu / gardening/2015/04 / moles - voles - and - goffer - barb - garden
Weeks , Shawn , “ Pests of the Month : Moles and Voles,”Home and Garden , May 16 , 2011.http://farmersalmanac.com/home-garden/2025-06-07/pest-of-the-month-moles-and-voles/
Parkhurst , Jim , “ Managing Wildlife Damage : gram molecule , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication , https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420 - 201/420 - 201.html
“ Voles and Moles in the Lawn,”http://greenviewfertilizer.com / articles / field mouse - mole .
Species : groin , http://humanwildlife.cmi.vt.edu / Species / mole.htm
