We just moved into our new place in Vermont in August, so this is our first spring here. Last summer and fall, I occasionally noticed a small mound of dirt in the yard here and there, but as the HUGE GIGANTIC PILES of snow slowly began to melt, we began to notice small serpentine lines under the surface, which eventually turned out to be…well, I put a bunch of pictures here. I’m guessing we’ve got moles? Gophers? I don’t know. I haven’t had anything like this before.
So, (a) what have we got? (b) is this a normal amount of damage, or is this severe? and (c) if I need to do anything about this, what do I do??
Missed the edit window: The screwdriver is there for scale. If we had an infestation of a race of magical tool-shitting rodent, I’d be less irritated. At least I could sell the tools for profit.
I’m gonna say you’ve got moles. If you’ve got such a large infestation of moles, it’s because there’s food for them there. Moles eat grubs, so you have a grub problem as well. There are lawn insecticides that can be used (carefully) to eliminate the grubs. Moles can be trapped, but without getting rid of the grubs they will come back.
I know exactly what you have, because when the snows first melted around here about 4-6 weeks ago, I had the exact same thing.
You have a vole infestation. Voles are also know as “meadow mice” or “field mice.”
After seeing the extent of the damage, I called a local pest trapper/exterminator. Before he even showed up, I actually caught and killed two of them. There was a nest in one of my downspouts (I beat the rodent to death with the plastic extension), and I found one in my garage (hit it with a snow shovel). They look a lot like mice, but are stockier with smaller ears.
They like to burrow. I have burrows all over my yard. They burrow into gardens and eat the roots. In winter, when food supplies are scarce, they actually eat your lawn in serpentine tracks. They usually only do this under cover of snow to protect them from predators.
Anyway, the exterminator put one type of poison (zinc phosphide, IIRC) down the tunnels, followed by bait stations baited with a warfarin-varient. (Both poisons require a license to purchase and apply.) He told me that I had more damage than he’d ever seen before. My neighbors have since used the same guy.
It’s not worth trying to use humane approaches to these critters. They reproduce every four weeks, and a population can just explode if you don’t take quick steps.
It is absolutely not moles. Moles are carnivores that eat earthworms and grubs. They leave raised tunnels. They don’t eat the grass itself like the voles do. BTW, it is a myth that you can get rid of moles by getting rid of the grubs. Moles can live off earthworms just fine. The only way to get rid of moles is to trap or poison them. I’ve had a few moles before. They didn’t do any near the damage that these voles have. I’ve even found evidence of them in my basement (including one dead one after the exterminator did his thing.)
Also, with the snow having melted, they (the voles) probably won’t do any more lawn damage. However, if you don’t control them ASAP, they will move into your gardens. They will burrow into your mulch and eat the roots of every one of your garden plants. They can also kill trees, especially young ones and non-native ones.
Incidentally, I’ve never even heard of voles causing such damage until recently. I wonder what’s going on? Are the local populations increasing, or have they recently moved into New England?
If you’re willing to let them outdoors that is. Conversely it’s almost amazing how quickly this type of damage appears, along with bird’s nests in easily reachable ledges, once a long time indoor-outdoor cat dies and is not replaced.
Don’t know about New England, but they’ve been in Maryland causing damage to lawns since the early 90’s. My parents had an infestation of voles in their yard when I was in high school.
Hmm. A few people elsewhere have said voles as well. We don’t have a cat, but the neighbors do, and it’s outside a lot. We do have a terrier who will begin spending more time outside - he’ll probably dig the yard up more than the voles. We don’t have a garden yet, but we did want to start one this year. I’ll have to look into an exterminator.
Coming from a more deserty area, it’s bizarre to me how much life just springs up out of nowhere around here. Everywhere you look, there’s some critter hanging out. It takes some getting used to.
If you grow marigolds or zinnias they will attract Japanese beetles. The beetles will produce larval grubs, and the grubs will destroy your lawn, as well as provide food for the voles.