How to Identify Voles vs. Moles | Rodent Control

Voles and moles are often mistaken for each other, but they are quite different in appearance, behavior, and the kind of damage they cause.

Voles are small rodents that look like mice with shorter tails, rounder bodies, and smaller eyes and ears. They feed on grass, roots, bark, and garden plants. If you notice surface runways or shallow tunnels in your yard, especially with small openings and chewed grass, you’re likely dealing with voles. They are herbivores and often leave behind clipped vegetation and gnawed stems at ground level.

Moles, on the other hand, are insectivores and rarely eat plants. They have long, pointed snouts, large front paws with strong claws for digging, and very small eyes and ears. Moles create raised ridges or mounds of soil (molehills) as they tunnel underground in search of earthworms and insects. Their tunnels are usually deeper and not visible from above, except for the soil they push to the surface.

To control voles, focus on habitat modification—trim grass short, remove dense vegetation, and use barriers or traps around plants. For moles, reduce their food sources by controlling grubs and soil insects, and use mole traps in active tunnels.

Identifying whether you have voles or moles helps you choose the right control method—voles damage plants, while moles disrupt lawns with their tunneling.