Lawn and garden pests
Mole, Vole or Gopher? Identify Lawn Damage Before Trapping
Use mound shape, surface runways and active tunnels to narrow down the pest before selecting an underground trap.
Similar damage, different animals
Raised soil, plant damage and tunnels can be caused by different animals. Product selection and placement improve when the active species and active route are identified first.
Read the signs
- Moles create raised surface ridges and deeper tunnels while feeding mainly on soil invertebrates.
- Voles make narrow surface runways through grass and may gnaw stems, roots and bark.
- Pocket gophers typically create fan-shaped soil mounds from plugged burrow systems.
- Fresh soil, repaired openings or a tunnel that is reopened after testing can indicate current activity.
Place traps in active routes
Follow the trap instructions for tunnel preparation, trigger direction and covering. Vole traps are commonly positioned in active runways; mole and gopher traps must intersect active tunnels. Several placements and patient monitoring may be required. Keep traps protected from children, pets and non-target wildlife.