Vole or Pocket Gopher? How to Tell What's Tearing Up Your Lawn

A ruined lawn in early spring or late summer is one of the most frustrating sights for a Montana property owner. When the snow melts across the Gallatin Valley or the Bitterroot, yards often reveal a network of dead grass runways, raised soil ridges, or dirt mounds scattered across pastures and gardens.

In Montana, the two most common culprits behind underground yard destruction are voles (meadow mice) and pocket gophers. Because their biology and feeding habits differ completely, identifying the specific pest is the only way to pick an effective treatment method.

Here is how to identify the damage, pinpoint the culprit, and fix the problem.

Direct Comparison: Voles vs. Pocket Gophers

The quickest way to diagnose your lawn is by looking at the type of damage and the shape of the soil displacement.

Feature	Montana Vole (Microtus spp.)	Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides)
Surface Evidence	Open, 1-to-2 inch wide surface runways in turf	Fan-shaped or crescent-shaped mounds of fine soil
Burrow Openings	Clean, open holes (~1.5 inches wide) with no dirt plugs	Plugs of soil sealing the entry holes shut
Damage Timing	Most visible right after spring snowmelt	Active year-round; heavy mound-building spring through fall
Primary Diet	Grass blades, stems, roots, and tree bark	Taproots, bulbs, tubers, and root vegetables
Underground Depth	Shallow surface tracks and shallow burrows	Deep subterranean tunnel systems (4–12 inches down)

Identifying Vole Damage (Meadow Mice)

Voles are small, stocky rodents with short tails and small ears. In Montana, the most common species is the meadow vole.

• Surface Runways: Voles stay active under the snowpack throughout Montana winters, creating "subnivean" pathways. As the snow recedes, these surface runways appear as bare, chewed-down trenches across the turf.

  
  

• Girdled Trees and Shrubs: During hard freezes, voles gnaw on the bark at the base of young aspen, fruit trees, and ornamental shrubs. If bark is stripped all the way around the trunk, the tree will die.

  
  

• Open Holes: Vole burrow entrances are small, golf-ball-sized holes with clipped vegetation around the rims. They do not leave dirt mounds around these openings.

  
  

Identifying Pocket Gopher Damage

The Northern Pocket Gopher is built for digging, featuring large clawed front paws, small eyes, and external fur-lined cheek pouches used to carry food.

• Crescent-Shaped Mounds: Unlike moles (which produce volcano-shaped mounds with a central hole), pocket gophers push dirt out laterally. This creates an asymmetrical, fan-shaped mound with the entry hole visibly plugged with soil to one side.

  
  

• Root Depredation: If an established perennial, ornamental shrub, or garden root vegetable suddenly wilts or pulls easily from the ground with no roots attached, pocket gophers are feeding from beneath.

  
  

• Winter "Casts": Gophers pack soil into snow tunnels during winter. When the snow melts, these leave long, winding, snake-like ropes of dirt resting on top of the lawn surface.

  
  

Common Montana Resident Questions

Do voles or pocket gophers hibernate during Montana winters?

No. Neither animal hibernates. Both species stay active 365 days a year beneath the snow and soil, which is why extensive damage often goes unnoticed until the spring thaw.

Will lawn aeration fix gopher tunnels?

No. Aeration only treats the top few inches of compacted soil. Gopher main tunnels sit 4 to 12 inches underground, and their nesting chambers can reach depths of up to 6 feet. Gopher activity requires targeted trapping, underground baiting, or carbon monoxide treatments.

Can dogs or cats control a vole infestation?

While outdoor pets may catch individual voles, they rarely eliminate an infestation. Montana vole populations fluctuate rapidly, with females producing up to 10 litters per year. Relying solely on pets can lead to torn-up turf from digging and potential exposure to ticks, fleas, and parasites.

How do I protect my trees from winter vole damage?

Install 1/4-inch hardware cloth cylinders around the base of tree trunks. Extend the cylinder 3 inches into the soil and at least 18 to 24 inches above the expected snowline to keep voles from chewing the bark.

What to Do Next

1. Clear Surface Debris: Remove heavy weed cover, tall grass, and woodpiles within 15 feet of structures and lawn perimeters to eliminate vole nesting habitats.

   
   

2. Mark Active Mounds: Flatten existing gopher mounds with a rake. If new mounds appear within 24 to 48 hours, note their locations for targeted treatment.

   
   

3. Use Targeted Management: Trapping and exclusion work well for minor issues. For established infestations across large rural lots or subdivisions, professional subterranean applications are required to clear the network permanently.

   
   

If your lawn shows persistent tunneling or new mounds keep surfacing across your property, Montana Pest Solutions to inspect the runways and install a tailored exclusion plan.

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