What Is the Difference Between Moles & Voles?

Moles are small mammals of the Talpidae family; voles are small rodents of the Cricetidae family. They have little in common, albeit a rhyming name. They are different in appearance, habitat, lifestyle and diet.

Identification

Moles range from five to eight inches long and are characterized by lack of visible eyes or ears and large front claws that they use for tunneling. Voles range from three to five inches long and resemble a mouse, with small ears and sharp, visible front teeth.

Geography

Voles occupy grassland fields and shrubs and spend most of their lives above ground. When given the chance, they occupy mole holes and feed on roots. Moles spend most of their solitary lives underground.

Diet

Voles eat primarily vegetation such as seeds, tubers and conifer needles. Moles eat mostly insects and earthworms.

Significance

Voles actively cause damage to yards and gardens by eating vegetation. Moles cause horticultural damage inadvertently, by tunneling into roots of plants, leaving them vulnerable to disease. They are both difficult to control.

Fun Facts

Moles can tunnel up to 15 feet an hour, providing excellent aeration for the soil. There are no moles in Ireland. Voles are able to reproduce by one month of age and produce many litters each year.

References

• NC State University: Moles and Voles
• The Master Gardeners: Moles, Voles and Holes

Resources

• University of Vermont: Moles and Voles
• Science Daily: Mole (Animal)
• Extension: Voles