What's the Difference Between an Gopher, Mole, and a Vole?

When it comes to damage in your lawn or garden it is easy to conclude that you have some type of subterranean pest. If you are seeing holes, plants wilting, and fresh mounds of dirt in your lawn then it is most likely a gopher, mole, or a vole. These creatures are commonly known for destroying lawns within residential and commercial properties.

It is easy to confuse these pests with one another, but they are in fact very different. Treatment methods and products will depend on the pest present within your yard.

By identifying which pest you have in your yard, the type of tunnels, or signs they leave, will lead you to a faster treatment plan, and a healthier lawn.

Gophers vs. Moles vs. Voles

Identifying a Gopher

Gophers are typically between 4 to 12 inches in length. When compared to a mole or vole, gophers are physically more larger and cause more damage.

They are also known as pocket gophers and are named as such because of their large cheek pouches they have to hold food and materials for creating nests. Gophers have two large incisor teeth on the top and bottom of their mouth.

A gopher body has a round and broad head, small yet noticeable eyes, short neck, and round ears.

On their paws they have sharp claws that help them burrow underground and whiskers that help guide them in the darkness of their tunnels. Unlike moles, gophers have a small thick tail, lined with an unnoticeable amount of hair.

Most gopher species have fur that may match the color of the soil they reside in. However, the standard color of a gopher can range from yellowish-brown to black with their underside being a lighter shade to white.

Identifying a Mole

A mole is slighly larger than a vole, measuring between 4 to 11 inches in length. The color of their fur is between a black, brown, and gray variation.

It is less common to see a mole above ground. Due to their small eyes, they are not able to withstand much sunlight. When compared to a vole or gopher, moles have eyes and ears that are not easily seen. Moles also have smaller tails than gophers and vole.

Their long hairless snouts and large claws help them to hunt insects underground. As a result of their underground activity, the roots of plants become damaged and cause the flowers or turf to die.

Identifying a Vole

Voles are commonly known as meadow mice, like field mice they have a small eyes, black-to-gray-brown fur, compact bodies, and a tail with non-visible fur. The only visible difference between a vole and mouse is that it will have a smaller tail than a field mouse.

To differentiate voles from moles, their eyes will be more easy to see than a moles, but a shorter tail and longer fur in comparison. They will also be smaller than a gopher and mole, measuring between 5 to 8 inches long

Tunnel & Mound Inspection

Gopher

The size of a gopher mound can be up to a foot tall and a foot to two feet in diameter. They will also not have surface tunnels. Instead, they will have lateral tunnels that are plugged with soils to keep intruders out. Tunnels can be a couple of inches to several feet under the turf.

Mole

Molehills are different from gopher tunnels in that gopher tunnels are dug underneath the soil and create kidney shape mounds, whereas molehills are oval in shape and create surface tunnels that elevate the earth and create small hills (or ridges) that connect them.

Vole

Voles, like moles, do have a tunnel system, although not as deep. These shallow surface tunnels, or “runways” have the appearance of trails of dead grass about 1-2 inches wide, or ditches of bare soil about 1/2 inch deep. They are a result of voles consuming blades and stems of grass, as well as numerous traveling back and forth over the same path.

Signs of Damage

Gopher

Unlike moles whose diets consist on insects, gophers are herbivores and will eat the surface of plants as well as the roots and tubes.

Their feeding patterns cause indirect, but noticeable damage to your turf such as discoloration, plants wilting or torn from the the roots. You will also notice scatters of dirt throughout your property as these creatures like to dig new tunnels called "feed holes" to store or eat their food in sometimes.

Mole

Moles feed on insects underground your home, garden, and ornamental landscape causing immediate and considerable damage.

During their pursuit for worms and grubs, they will tear the dirt away from your grass and plant roots causing them to become more susceptible to diseases and loss of nutrients. As a result, your turf will begin to wither and die.

Not only is the soil within your lawn susceptible from damage, but so is the the foundation underneath your home. A mole will only go underneath your home If the homes foundation is shallow or easy enough to dig. You may consider applying an insecticide with a barrier treatment to eliminate this food source from moles. Our go to insecticide product is Supreme I/T which will last in your property up to 90 days.

Vole

Like most rodents, once voles find an available food source they will consistently revisit this area leaving a pattern of runway and tunnel systems through the grass.

Unlike gophers, voles can live in large groups like most rodents and will cause extensive damage within a short time period.

Damages such as turf, ornamental plants, crops and trees having gnaw marks on the leaves or stems, tree bark, and plant being uprooted.

Key Takeaways

How to Tell Gophers, Moles and Voles Physically Apart

• Voles are the smallest when compared to a gopher and mole. Moles eyes and ears are hard to see and will have a long snout. Gophers will have large visible teeth and sandy colored fur.

What is the Difference Between Tunnels or Mounds?

• Gophers will create a large mound of dirt that measures between 1 to 2 feet in diameter, and will be lateral meaning they will appear as holes in your turf. Moles hills will appear above the surface as round oval shaped mounds of dirt whereas gophers are kidney shaped. Voles will create holes that do not have dirt surrounding the entry point like most rodent holes and will also create bend the grass into the shape of tunnels.

What Kind of Damage Can Gophers, Moles, and Voles Do?

• Gophers, moles, and voles can all tunnel underground and uproot plants from their roots and stems. Gophers and Voles can eat on the stems of plants above ground whereas moles will primarily feed on insects surrounding plant roots underground. Moles may cause damage underneath a homes foundation by digging away the dirt underneath in search for food.