{"id":43575,"date":"2026-01-29T23:55:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T23:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=43575"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:44:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:44:54","slug":"signs-voles-damaging-lawn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Signs Voles are Damaging Your Lawn"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-medium-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2022 <strong>Vole runways are the #1 identifier:<\/strong> Look for 1\u00bd to 2-inch wide surface paths that appear as shallow ditches through your grass.<br>\u2022 <strong>Don&#8217;t confuse them with moles:<\/strong> Voles create surface runways and small holes, while moles make volcano-shaped dirt mounds.<br>\u2022 <strong>Damage happens fast:<\/strong> Vole populations can explode in a single season, spreading across your yard in weeks.<br>\u2022 <strong>Check after snowmelt:<\/strong> Early spring reveals the runway networks voles created under winter snow cover.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Noticing mysterious runways crisscrossing your lawn or small holes near plant roots? You likely have voles\u2014small rodents often mistaken for moles or mice that can devastate lawns in weeks. Below are 7 signs of vole damage in your yard, from their distinctive 1-2 inch surface tunnels to gnawed tree bark and collapsed plants.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-865c29c9-5faf-4de4-81d0-9e30e9ff0029\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">In this article:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#0-vole-vs-mole-vs-mouse-quick-comparison\" style=\"\">Vole vs. mole vs. mouse<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#1-sign-1-surface-runway-systems\" style=\"\">Runway systems<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#2-sign-2-holes-and-bumps\" style=\"\">Holes and bumps<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#3-sign-3-gnaw-marks-on-trees-and-shrubs\" style=\"\">Gnaw marks<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#4-sign-4-distinctive-droppings\" style=\"\">Droppings<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#5-sign-5-damaged-bulbs-plants-and-root-systems\" style=\"\">Damaged bulbs, plants, and grass<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#6-sign-6-nesting-materials\" style=\"\">Nesting material<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#7-sign-7-creatures-in-your-yard\" style=\"\">Sightings<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-voles-damaging-lawn\/#8-faqs\" style=\"\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-vole-vs-mole-vs-mouse-quick-comparison\"><span id=\"vole-vs-mole-vs-mouse-quick-comparison\">Vole vs. mole vs. mouse: Quick comparison<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Pest<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Tunnels\/Runways<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Holes<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Key Identifier<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Voles<\/strong><\/td><td>Surface runways, 1\u00bd-2&#8243; wide<\/td><td>Golf ball-sized, flush with ground<\/td><td>Gnaw marks on bark near ground<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Moles<\/strong><\/td><td>Raised ridges underground<\/td><td>Volcano-shaped dirt mounds<\/td><td>No plant\/bark damage<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mice<\/strong><\/td><td>No lawn runways<\/td><td>Nests in structures, not lawns<\/td><td>Rarely damage lawns or plants<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-sign-1-surface-runway-systems\"><span id=\"sign-1-surface-runway-systems\">Sign #1: Surface runway systems<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-holes.jpg\" alt=\"Long, narrow vole runway cuts through dry lawn grass, exposing dark soil as it winds into the distance.\" class=\"wp-image-43578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-holes.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-holes-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-holes-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-holes-610x406.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vole runway in lawn. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/wuhlmausgange-meadow-vole-holes\/415659040\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LitterART<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVoles often leave behind narrow, winding runways through the grass,\u201d says Griffin Dill, extension professional of the <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/about\/staff-directory\/griffin-dill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Maine<\/a>. This is your No. 1 clue that they\u2019re behind the damage in your lawn.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These runways are typically 1 \u00bd to 2 inches wide and about 1 inch below the soil level. They look like ditches or crevices crisscrossing your lawn in irregular, interconnected patterns. You&#8217;ll most likely notice them in early spring, just after snowmelt reveals the network of trails voles created under winter snow cover.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/signs-of-moles-in-yard\/\">mole tunnels<\/a> (which create raised ridges) or rabbit paths (which are wider and less defined), vole runways form distinctive surface grooves through the grass. Parts of your lawn may feel soft, spongy, or uneven when you walk across these areas.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They may also use large patches of dried grass for storing food and materials. You may notice \u00bd an inch (back) or just over \u2153 of an inch (front) long paw marks on the soil or snow near these runways.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-sign-2-holes-and-bumps\"><span id=\"sign-2-holes-and-bumps\">Sign #2: Holes and bumps<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLook for holes in the lawn,\u201d says Dr. Susan Barton, Extension Specialist at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.udel.edu\/academics\/colleges\/canr\/departments\/plant-and-soil-sciences\/faculty-staff\/susan-barton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Delaware<\/a>. Vole holes are roughly golf ball-sized (1-2 inches in diameter) and often appear at the ends of their surface runways. Don&#8217;t mistake them for rats&#8217; burrow holes, which are typically baseball-sized, or squirrels&#8217; holes, which are small and easy to smooth over.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-sign-3-gnaw-marks-on-trees-and-shrubs\"><span id=\"sign-3-gnaw-marks-on-trees-and-shrubs\">Sign #3: Gnaw marks on trees and shrubs<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dill says another sure sign of voles in your yard are gnaw marks at the base of young trees and shrubs. Voles may chew through tree and shrub bark near the ground, leaving behind \u00bc inch etchings. These marks typically appear within a few inches of the soil line, unlike rabbit damage which occurs higher up on plants.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-sign-4-distinctive-droppings\"><span id=\"sign-4-distinctive-droppings\">Sign #4: Distinctive droppings<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voles&#8217; droppings can be likened to green or brown rice grains. You&#8217;re likely to find a number of them in voles&#8217; runways or near their burrow entrances, as these rodents tend to both eat and defecate frequently.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-sign-5-damaged-bulbs-plants-and-root-systems\"><span id=\"sign-5-damaged-bulbs-plants-and-root-systems\">Sign #5: Damaged bulbs, plants, and root systems<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-eating-grass.jpg\" alt=\"Brown vole crouches in sunlit grass, chewing a blade of greenery, showing typical feeding behavior in a lawn or garden.\" class=\"wp-image-43583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-eating-grass.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-eating-grass-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-eating-grass-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-eating-grass-610x406.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vole eating grass. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/vole-eating-from-green-grass\/537261587\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steven Jackson\/Wirestock Creators<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voles chew on grasses, seedlings, roots, and plants. You can notice the damage in anything from your vegetable garden to your flowers to your lawn. Though their bite marks may resemble the work of <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-cutworms\/\">cutworms<\/a>, they&#8217;re distinct for their clean, sharp cut.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may notice healthy-looking plants suddenly collapse or wilt without warning\u2014this often indicates voles have chewed through the root system underground.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-sign-6-nesting-materials\"><span id=\"sign-6-nesting-materials\">Sign #6: Nesting materials<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The nests of these creatures are 6 to 8 inches long, made of grass and leaves, and usually well-hidden in shallow tunnels. They may also be behind other cover, like tall grass, thick mulch, or leaf piles.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-sign-7-creatures-in-your-yard\"><span id=\"sign-7-creatures-in-your-yard\">Sign #7: Creatures in your yard<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voles look like chubby field mice with shorter tails, small ears, and short legs. They are about 5-7 inches long with chestnut brown mixed with black fur. Although they&#8217;re hard to spot, you&#8217;re most likely to see them at dusk and night, in vegetation or under snow.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-faqs\"><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>    <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1766783104067\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What attracts voles to my yard?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Dense ground cover like tall grass, thick mulch layers, and leaf piles provide ideal shelter for voles. Bird feeders that drop seed on the ground, pet food left outside, and vegetable gardens offer ready food sources. Winter snow cover also conceals their activity, making yards particularly attractive during colder months. Maintaining short grass and clearing excess mulch or debris makes your property less appealing to these rodents.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1766783109384\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do I know if I have voles or regular house mice?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Voles have chunky bodies, short tails (1-2 inches), tiny ears, and create distinctive surface runways across lawns. House mice are smaller overall, have longer tails (3-4 inches), larger ears, and nest inside structures rather than creating lawn tunnel systems. If you see runway damage in your grass, you&#8217;re dealing with voles, not mice.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1766783116200\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can beneficial predators help control vole populations naturally?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, natural predators like owls, hawks, foxes, and weasels hunt voles and can help manage populations. However, attracting predators alone may not be enough if voles are actively breeding and causing significant damage. A diverse habitat that supports these predators works best as a long-term prevention strategy rather than a solution for existing infestations.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-when-to-call-a-pro-for-help\"><span id=\"when-to-call-a-pro-for-help\">When to call a pro for help<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Identifying a mole infestation is just the first step, but now you have to deal with it. Read my other guides:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-voles-in-yard\/\">How to Get Rid of Voles in Your Yard<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Follow the steps closely, because if you get it wrong, it could invite the critters right back to your lawn and cause the same or worse damage all over again.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Need professional help identifying or removing voles?<\/strong> Lawn Love&#8217;s lawn care experts can diagnose pest problems and implement targeted treatments. Our pros handle everything from <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/lawn-mowing\">mowing<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/gardener\">weed removal<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/signup-web.lawnlove.com\/cart\/contact-info?intent=fertilization\">post-damage lawn repair.<\/a><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Image: Vole peeking from hole with leaves. Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/vole-in-hole\/142485788\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">georgigerdzhikov<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many things can ruin a lush lawn, but if you notice signs like criss-crossing runway systems, burrow holes, or gnaw marks, it might be the work of voles. Here\u2019s what to watch out for in detail.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":43586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[294],"tags":[161],"class_list":["post-43575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pest-control","tag-pest-control"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vole-in-hole-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Judith van der Weij","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/judith-gallova\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43575"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48193,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43575\/revisions\/48193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}