Moles and voles can damage your yard and garden but planting this flower will keep them away. And as a bonus, it will add ...

Animaflora / GETTY IMAGES Slightly larger than moles, voles are 5 to 8 inches long and resemble field mice with short tails, compact heavy bodies, small eyes, and partially hidden ears, says Smith.

Moles and voles build a series of trails that kill large patches of grass as they crisscross through the grass in search of food. Last month we looked at moles, today let's look at voles.

Also, moles lack visible ears, have small eyes and a hairless snout. Voles live in large colonies and are voracious feeders. The pine vole prefers a diet of bark, bulbs, roots, tubers and grass.

Besides the tunnels that voles make, they also use mole tunnels and tunnels left by roots that have decayed. Traveling around the yard in mole tunnels helps them get to each side of the garden.

Voles are often confused—and rhyme—with another pest you may you want to get rid of, a mole. A vole resembles a cross between a mouse and a hamster, with lush fur and small, rounded ears.

Q. I have moles or voles all over my yard. I tried treating it myself and have paid a professional to get rid of these pests. Can you suggest something or someone to fix this problem? Thanks for an… ...

A mole spends almost his entire life underground looking for and eating earthworms, insects and grubs. Voles, primarily vegetarian, live and burrow underground but forage for food above ground.

Last week's article on moles brought a comment from a reader that the critters destroying lawns are not moles, but voles. He is right; meadow voles or meadow mice are destroying lawns, too. While ...

Voles are mice-like rodents that feed on the roots of many garden plants and they use mole tunnels to avoid predators. You can trap voles with mouse traps baited with peanut butter or apples.

It doesn't matter what caused the turf damage, whether wild pigs, voles, moles, snowplows, dog urine, mold or road salt. The damage has to be repaired. Rake the soil level, or fill if necessary.

Unlike moles, voles are vegetarian and feast on the roots and stems of plants, says Smith. The animal may tunnel to root systems, eating the roots and chewing the main stem just above the ground.