Skunk Whisperer Media Appearances

Identification – The Differences Between Voles, Moles and Gophers

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Skunk Whisperer does not offer lethal mole or gopher removal, and live trapping methods do not work well. Most people choose to have lethal mole and gopher trapping or poisoning done because it is the most cost effective method.

Our company offers the below two mole and gopher removal methods, but because they are expensive, most people choose to call companies who offer lethal control.

  • Castor oil applications to the lawn every other week all year long as a taste-deterring repellent.
  • Metal barriers to forbid moles and gophers from entering lawn.

When more successful and less expensive non-lethal options are invented, we will use them, but, at this time, we only offer expensive metal barriers and repellent applications.

Voles, moles and gophers are often lumped together in discussions regarding wildlife problems that result in torn up, damaged landscaping. This is because all three utilize tunnel systems and cause damage to plants, roots and beautiful lawns. Outside this similarity, they are actually quite unique from each other.

Voles – Field Mice

Small Vole - AKA Field MouseVoles, also known as meadow mice, are often mistaken for moles because they sometimes utilize and live in the same tunnel system as moles. Vole tunnels and paths will continue on top of the ground and can be very easily seen after snow melts. Meadow mice will attack plant foliage above ground, and also consume roots. Moles are often times mistakenly blamed for vole activity. Often, it takes a true mole expert to tell the difference. If the hole in question has plant matter around and in it, it may actually be a vole hole.

Moles or Voles?

It can be a little difficult sometimes to identify if your wildlife problem and damaged lawn is being caused by moles or voles. Moles primarily eat insects whereas voles and field mice enjoy plant life as well. Many times you can differentiate between a mole entrance and a vole entrance by looking at the blades and different pieces of foliage at the open opening of the hole. This means that if you find an open hole with grass wide ridges on top of the soil, you may be looking at a vole problem, not a mole issue. If you see plants near an open hole that have been chewed on, it may be damage done specifically by a field vole.

A Common Mole Emerging from his HoleIdentifying Moles
A Vole is basically a small field mouse and it looks like just that, a mouse. For the most part a vole actually looks nothing like a mole. Moles have cylindrical bodies with large, clawed, paddle like forefeet with eyes and ears that are difficult to see. They also have slim, flexible and pointy noses, and short tails. The mole physique can be a little creepy to behold for some individuals, especially the star nosed mole which has a very strange, nasty looking appendage on it’s face. Moles will occasionally leave their tunnel in search of food sources or when flooding occurs, but primarily they live underground and can be difficult to catch a glimpse of sometimes.

Zoological Classification Differences: Gophers are often mistaken for moles. It is true that both create tunnels with dirt mounds around the opening. However, they are quite different from a biological perspective. For starters, gophers and voles are rodents, belonging to the zoological order Rodentia, whereas moles are not rodents, but are rather members of the order Soricomorpha, which also includes the Shrew. Gophers do not have the huge spade-like feet, but can certainly do as much, if not more lawn damage. Moles and gophers may be in the same lawn at the same time, and may actually share the same tunnels in places.

Close up of a GopherPocket Gophers
Gophers are burrowing rodents and members of the zoological family Geomyidae. The designation “pocket” before the word gopher refers to the pockets in the gopher’s cheeks which are used by the gopher to carry food, nesting materials and other small supplies into their tunnels. Gophers are famous for their long teeth which rest on the outside of their lips enabling them to utilize their teeth to cut plant roots and shovel dirt without opening their mouths.

Differences between Gopher and Mole HolesGopher or Mole?
It can sometimes be hard to determine if you have a gopher or a mole, especially since it is hard to get a glimpse of them. But you can look for subtle “above ground” clues. Gopher tunnels tend to be a little larger than a mole’s, and gophers produce dirt mounds that wrap just about 3/4 of the way around the hole, whereas a mole’s dirt mound will usually wrap all the way around with a hole in the middle.

Other Potential Burrowing Culprits

It is possible that those holes or dirt mounds in your yard may have been produced by something other than voles, moles or gophers. Depending upon your environment and what part of the country you live in, potential culprits may also include prairie dogs, woodchucks, groundhogs, chipmunks, or even crawdads.

Interesting Facts About Moles And Gophers  Meet The Mole  Trapping & Deterrents  Misconceptions


browse our site

Look For Ned To Guide You

Support Wild Heart Ranch
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation

Tulsa, Grand Lake & Corporate Office

9521 B Riverside Parkway Suite #343
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137-7422

Oklahoma City, Edmond & Norman Office


(All Payments Accepted at the Tulsa Office)

We AcceptAccepted Credit Cards

Use the button below to pay with PayPal
 Search Total Wildlife Control

The Skunk Whisperer - Vehicle Stock