Moles, Gophers, and Voles: Know the Difference to Win Back Your Yard
Noticing strang patches in your yard or plants suddenly dying off? It might seem random, but chances are, something's going on underground. Before you start guessing or throwing down treatments, it's worth taking a closer look at what might be digging around beneath the ground.
If your lawn is being torn up and plants are mysteriously dying, you’re likely dealing with underground pests. But identifying the culprit is key—moles, gophers, and voles may all dig in your yard, but their habits, diets, and damage are very different. Here's a breakdown to help you understand what's under your feet—and what to do next.
Below, we've laid out clear info to help you spot the difference and take back control of your yard.
Moles
Nature's Insect Control
(With a side of Lawn Damage)
Overview:
Moles are solitary insectivores that spend nearly their entire lives underground. With powerful forelimbs and velvety fur, they are built for tunneling. Their primary goal? Finding bugs and worms to eat—not your plants.
What They Eat:
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Earthworms (their favorite!)
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Grubs
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Beetles and other soil-dwelling insects
Damage They Cause:
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Surface tunnels create spongy, raised lines across your lawn.
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Molehills are cone- or volcano-shaped and made as moles push soil upward from deeper tunnels.
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While they don’t feed on plants, their tunnels can uproot grass and disturb roots, making lawns unsightly and uneven.
Seasonal Behavior:
Moles are most active in the spring and fall, especially after rain when the soil is easy to dig and worms are close to the surface.
Control Tip:
Since moles are attracted to insects, reducing grub populations in your yard may discourage them. However, if they’ve already moved in, trapping is often the most effective method.
Gophers
The Garden Destroyers
Overview:
Pocket gophers are herbivorous rodents that live alone in complex underground tunnel systems. They are highly territorial and can cause serious damage to lawns, gardens, and even irrigation systems.
What They Eat:
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Plant roots
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Grass and shrubs
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Bulbs and tubers
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Occasionally above-ground vegetation, which they pull into tunnels from below
Damage They Cause:
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Fan- or crescent-shaped mounds with a plugged hole (a gopher’s "doorway")
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Disappearance of entire plants seemingly overnight
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Erosion around garden beds and lawn collapse from tunnel networks
Tunneling Behavior:
Gophers dig extensive burrow systems up to several hundred feet long, usually 6–12 inches below the surface. They rarely emerge above ground, making identification by mound shape especially important.
Control Tip:
Barriers (like underground fencing) may help protect garden beds, but professional trapping or baiting is often required to stop an infestation.
Voles
Plant/Meat Eater
Overview:
Voles look like short-tailed mice and live in colonies, which makes them especially destructive. They're not diggers like moles or gophers, but they’ll use abandoned mole tunnels and create shallow surface runways to travel and feed.
What They Eat:
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Grasses and herbaceous plants
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Bulbs and roots
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Bark from young trees and shrubs (especially in winter)
Damage They Cause:
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Surface trails (about 1–2 inches wide) through turf and mulch
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Small entry holes to burrows near plant bases
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Girdling of trees—chewing around the base of trunks can kill saplings and shrubs
Seasonal Behavior:
Voles are active year-round and don’t hibernate. Winter snow cover can protect them from predators, allowing them to cause damage unseen until spring.
Breeding Facts:
Voles breed rapidly—up to 30–50 offspring per year per female—so infestations can spiral out of control quickly if not addressed early.
Control Tip:
Clearing tall grass, mulch, and dense ground cover can reduce shelter for voles. Trapping and habitat management are the most effective methods of control.
How to Tell Them Apart at a Glance
