Moles, voles wreak havoc below and above ground

In the past two weeks we have had a number of calls about moles and voles taking a toll on lawns.

Moles prefer moist, loose, sandy loam soil that is easy to tunnel through. They generally avoid heavy, dry, clay soil. In the right soil, they can tunnel 200 feet in one day.

They feed on cutworms, beetles and grubs, but grubs are their favorite. Moles do not eat bulbs, plants or roots, but they do damage lawns and gardens as they tunnel through roots in search of food.

Moles are seldom seen above the ground. Normally, trapping is the best method of control. Traps can be used for voles, but require lots of time.

The best way to set a trap for moles is to first walk down all the tunnels you see up. The tunnel you see up the next day is where you set your trap. This tunnel is the most active one. The instructions on how to set the trap should be on the label.

Voles are compact animals with a stocky body, short legs and short tail. They are usually brown or gray. They cause problems by feeding on the lower bark of trees and shrubs. They also feed on the roots of hostas. If you get up one morning and your hosta is gone, it probably was eaten by a vole. In the spring, they feed on bulbs.

Voles can be controlled by pulling mulch away from the trunks of trees and ornamental plants. If you have peach trees make sure you keep the grass cut, especially in the fall of the year. This helps to prevent them from hiding and chewing on the bark of your trees.