Oh No - Mice or Moles?

[Mike Goetzke]

Never seen anything like this in my yard before. They are deep trails but through the grass. I was originally thinking moles but aren’t mole trails totally under ground? (Like to know before I spend big $ on mole traps) - Thanks

 

[bobtskutter]

Is the ground dry?  Could they be cracks in the soil, or maybe there's been a lot of rain and it's a drainage channel?

I believe moles usually push the soil somewhere, which is what a "mole hill" is.

I've seen rats in compost heaps make channels like that, but that was INSIDE the mound of rotting material.

I would have thought if it was animal related it would need to have been under some sort of cover to protect it from predators.  I've had some old sheets of timber lying on the ground in the garden and mice have made smaller channels under the sheets, but I've never seen that in open ground before.

My 2p worth.

Bob 

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Those look like vole trails/tracks....

 

[rvieceli]

Voles.

Ron

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Voles.

Ron

Those look like vole trails/tracks....

Any idea how to get rid of them? - Thanks (Ha - I'm google'n it now)

 

[Packard]

Fill the holes with thermite and light ‘‘em up!  (Just kidding.)

Depending on local ordinances, you might not be able to do anything.  These are wild animals and they may have legal protections.  Check with your local town and find out what you are legally allowed ro do.

You might have to resort to using a licensed pest control company.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Strange they were not here in the summer and I have raised garden beds. I put hardware cloth under them before I filled them to keep the critters out.

 

[peter halle]

If they are voles - based on advice given during a seminar I attended put on by some governmental dept, find an active trail or tunnel.  Dig a hole and insert an empty soup can with the lip at ground level.  Fold a piece of cardboard in either a 90 degree shape or a u shape and place just beyond the can.  Prop in place.  Voles are supposedly pretty dumb and will come out of their tunnel, get confused, and fall in the can.  They won't know how to get out.

If the person presenting it didn't have the credentials and history I wouldn't have believed him.

Peter

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Make sure you don’t leave a stick in the can. Otherwise it will get used to pole-vole-t out.

 

[guybo]

Make sure you don’t leave a stick in the can. Otherwise it will get used to pole-vole-t out.

nah it is off to vole - hole - a