A common puzzle for every hobby gardener is the question: vole or mole – which is behind the mounds in your beloved garden? These little creatures can be confusing, but there are differences that can help you identify who's causing trouble in your garden and how to effectively get rid of them.
Mole vs. Vole: A Look Under the Ground
Let's take a look at the two diggers that undermine gardens to better understand them:
The Mole: The Tunnel Builder
Moles are true masters of the underground. With their powerful front paws, they dig complex tunnel systems that can be up to 200 m long and cover an area of approximately 2000 m². Excess soil is shoveled to the surface by the mole, which then becomes visible as mounds. These mounds typically have a conical shape and a central opening through which the mole removes the disturbed soil. There are many interesting facts to learn about moles.
The vole: The rodent
In contrast, voles are rodents that dig burrows and tunnels to search for roots, tubers, and other underground plant matter. Like moles, voles create unsightly mounds of earth in gardens and often leave behind chewed-up plants. Their mounds are usually flatter and more irregularly spaced than those of moles. Vole mounds can have multiple entrances and exits and are often surrounded by feeding marks. Learn more facts about voles.
What is the difference between a vole and a mole?
There are some clues on how to distinguish them:
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The mounds: Mole mounds are larger and often have a smooth, conical shape with a round opening at the top. Vole mounds are smaller and have a more irregular shape with multiple entrances.
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The tunnels: Mole tunnels run deep underground and can cover larger areas of the garden. Vole tunnels are shallower and more focused on hunting for food.
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Activity times: Moles are mainly active at night and early in the morning, while voles dig during the day.
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The leftovers: Moles often leave larger mounds of dirt that make the ground appear loose and perforated. Voles leave smaller, less noticeable mounds, but their feeding marks on plants are more noticeable.
What can be done about it?
Once you have found out who is undermining the garden, the question arises how to deal with them:
1. Moles: They are beneficial animals because they aerate the soil and eat pests like grubs. If the mounds are a nuisance, there are animal-friendly methods to get rid of the moles . Special plants that moles avoid are available. Another option is mole grids or mole nets , which can be installed over certain areas to prevent digging without harming the animals.
2. Voles: These rodents can cause more serious damage by damaging roots. Traps or special barriers like vole screens around plants can help control their spread. Vole screens are specially designed metal meshes that are buried in the soil to prevent burrowing and repel voles .
Conclusion:
Whether vole or mole, both animals have their role in nature. A better understanding of their habits can help determine how best to deal with them. Remember that prevention is often the best strategy, whether through targeted barriers or choosing plants that are less susceptible to their activities.
