Your home is your kingdom and your haven, and so is the land around it. Having a pest infestation inside your home is just as irritating as having pests invade your yard, especially when it comes to moles, voles, and groundhogs. These mammals can do significant damage to your home if left untreated, and this can cost you a ton in repairs and your peace of mind. Twin Forks Pest Control® has the expertise to remove these outdoor pests and is here to outline the warning signs of an infestation.
What Are Moles, Voles, and Groundhogs?
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- Moles are mammals that have poor eyesight and burrow deep inside of soil. TheSpruce.com describes them as anywhere from six to twelve inches in length, with large feet, a very long nose, and may appear to have no eyes or ears from afar. They prefer eating worms and other insects.
- Voles are rodents that look very similar to a mouse and leave scars on your lawn. They can be anywhere from five to seven inches long, with short and small legs and tails, as illustrated by LawnStarter.com. They enjoy eating a variety of plants.
- Groundhogs are rodents that are much bigger than both moles and voles. To be specific, Hunker.com states that they can be 16 to 20 inches long! As their name implies, groundhogs burrow deep into the ground, much deeper than moles and voles can reach. Their long and curved claws help them to excavate large amounts of soil as they create tunnels. Groundhogs can eat both plants and insects.
Unlike moles and voles, groundhogs can sometimes be visible above ground. On the other hand, moles and voles are rarely visible above the ground, so the best indicator of which infestation you are experiencing is the evidence they leave behind!
Signs of a Mole Infestation
As moles create tunnels deep underground beneath your soil, they leave behind large piles of dirt. These piles of soil are referred to as molehills because this is a clear sign of a mole infestation. TheSpruce.com also notifies us that moles create a network of tunnels to connect multiple feeding tunnels, so you will likely see numerous molehills if you do indeed have an infestation of moles in your yard.
Signs of a Vole Infestation
Unlike moles, voles do not burrow as deeply into the ground. Therefore, a sign of a vole infestation is seeing grassless depressions curving and bending around your yard that are about one to two inches wide. If you have a vole infestation, you will not see piles of soil. However, you may see damage to your trees or shrubs since they eat plants, as reported by LawnStarter.com.
Signs of a Groundhog Infestation
Groundhogs are much bigger than moles and voles and can create much larger tunnels. To be exact, they can burrow tunnels that are up to 12 inches wide. A sign of a groundhog infestation is large tunnels in your yard, typically near a tree, fence, or building foundation. Sizeable mounds of soil will also accompany these tunnels.
Twin Forks Pest Control® Removes Pests From Your Yard For Good
If you have noticed any of these warning signs, contact a professional exterminator at Twin Forks Pest Control®. We have the in-depth knowledge, effective products, and years of experience to face any infestation head-on. East End homeowners of Long Island have trusted us for over 20 years to solve their pest problems, and we can do the same for you! Call us today.
