Voles, Moles or Gophers

How Can I Tell the Difference?

It is possible that you may have voles, moles and gophers all on the same property! Sometimes there is confusion figuring out what type of pest(s) you have because all three of these pests live the majority of their lives underground and are seldom seen.

Determine what pest you have by looking for the signs of their activity.

Vole signs

Different types of voles exhibit different signs.

Below Ground Foraging Vole Types have a network of tunnels underground and under the mulch, and they damage plants from below the ground. They are rarely seen above ground and only have a few burrow openings. Below ground foraging voles such as the pine vole like to make tunnels or runs along house foundations, stone walls, and among perennials and groundcovers. Look for their presence by locating their circular burrow entrances not more than 1" -1 ½" in size and by lifting mulch to reveal long narrow trenches or runways that are serpentine and wind around obstructions. Their tunnel system makes the soil feel soft and spongy under foot. Many times moles are blamed for this damage because voles can use mole tunnels to reach plant roots and bulbs.

Shrub that is dying due to voles eating the roots

Above Ground Foraging Vole Types create above ground grassy runways in the turf areas that connect to multiple burrow openings grouped in the same area. They damage lawns by eating the grass to make their clipped runways in lawns, as well as gnawing on the bark of trees and shrubs.

Sometimes the Above Ground Foraging Vole Type can exhibit characteristics of voles that forage below ground as well.

Picture provided by T Bacchus of WA

Picture provided by Scimetrics Ltd. Corp.

The Vole Control Bait Station System can be used for all vole types.

If you have vole signs Follow the 4 Steps to Vole Control:

Step 1 - Learn Even More About Voles

Step 2 - Learn About the System

Step 3 - Locate "Hot Spots" of Vole Activity

Step 4 - Shop Here

Mole signs

Mole mounds are sometimes mistaken for gopher mounds (Comparison of Gopher and Mole Mounds). Mole mounds, however, appear circular and have a plug in the middle that may or not be easily seen. Mole mounds are volcano-shaped. Unlike gophers, moles commonly burrow just beneath the surface, creating a raised ridge along their path.

Moles and voles cause different types of damage. Moles make raised burrows in your lawn, ground cover, and shrub areas and their tunneling activity raises the soil into ridges. They are searching for worms and grubs to eat - not roots. When voles make their tunnels searching for roots to eat, they do not create raised ridges.


This picture shows signs of mole activity. Moles feed on earthworms and grubs in the lawn and their tunneling activity raises the soil into ridges. Their most active tunnels occur along a permanent structure such as a driveway or walkway. Below you can see the hills or mounds around their exit holes.

If you have the signs of moles, then click here to discover how to control them.

Bypass Details - order Mole Control Now!

Gopher signs (also called Pocket Gophers)

Click here to see a side view of a gopher mound compared to a mole mound.

Mounds are formed as the gopher digs its tunnel and pushes the loose dirt to the surface. The mounds they create are usually fan shaped and clustered in an area which is characteristic evidence of their presence. Mounds of fresh soil are a sign of pocket gopher presence within a tunnel system. The hole, which is off to one side of the mound is usually plugged, keeping intruders out of burrows.

Picture provided by Scimetrics Ltd. Corp.

Picture provided by Scimetrics Ltd. Corp.

Picture provided by T Bacchus of WA

How to determine if a pocket gopher occupies a tunnel system:
An easy method to determine if a pocket gopher occupies a tunnel system is to simply dig open the tunnel. If a gopher lives in the tunnel, the hole will be plugged within a day or two.