Types of Damage Caused by Voles and Gophers Outdoors

 

Voles and gophers are small mammals that live underground and can cause a lot of hidden damage to yards, gardens, and landscapes. The main problems they cause are damage to plant roots, turf, underground cables and irrigation, and the creation of unsightly mounds or tunnels. While their activity often goes unnoticed at first, the longer they remain active, the greater the harm to your outdoor space.

 

How Voles Damage Outdoor Areas

 

Voles are mouse-like rodents. They mainly create shallow, narrow runways in lawns and gardens, which look like little surface trails where they travel. Their main damage is:

• Feeding on Roots and Bark: Voles eat the roots, bark, and stems of grasses, shrubs, flowers, trees, and vegetable plants. In winter, when grass is covered by snow, they often chew off the bark near the base of trees and shrubs, which can “girdle” (cut the flow of nutrients) and eventually kill the plant.
• Surface Trail Destruction: Their trails become visible as the grass dies off, leaving winding brown paths. These are not holes, but rather travel paths where grass is eaten or trampled.
• Damage to Lawns and Gardens: Vole activity results in patches of dead or dying grass, irregular plant growth, and general thinning of landscaped areas.

Voles rarely create deep tunnels. Most of their damage is above ground or just under the surface. In flower beds or vegetable gardens, you may notice stunted or suddenly wilting plants due to root damage.

 

How Gophers Damage Outdoor Areas

 

Gophers are slightly larger rodents known for creating extensive underground tunnel systems. Their major forms of damage include:

• Plant and Root Destruction: Gophers eat roots of grass, ornamental plants, shrubs, and vegetable crops from below, often pulling the entire plant underground. This causes plants to wilt suddenly or disappear.
• Soil Mounds and Tunneling: Gophers push up crescent-shaped or fan-shaped mounds of soil at tunnel entrances. These mounds ruin lawns, make mowing difficult, and create tripping hazards.
• Undermining Structures: Their tunnels can weaken the soil around sidewalks, retaining walls, driveways, and patios, causing them to sag, crack, or collapse over time.
• Damage to Irrigation and Cables: Gophers chew through underground sprinkler lines, irrigation tubing, and even power or internet cables, leading to expensive repairs.

Unlike moles, gophers don’t create raised, continuous ridges. Their dirt piles are a main sign, and if you lift the soil, you’ll find tunnels 6-12 inches underground.

 

Why This Damage Matters

 

The harm from voles and gophers is more than just ugly lawns or dead plants. Their presence can have lasting effects, including:

• Property value reduction because of persistent landscaping problems or repair needs.
• Costly landscaping and structural repairs.
• Repeating plant loss, requiring frequent replanting or reseeding.
• Possible injury risk due to tripping over holes or mounds.

If you notice any of the above signs, early intervention is important. The longer voles and gophers are allowed to feed and tunnel, the harder and more expensive the damage becomes to fix. Professional removal may be necessary to restore and protect your outdoor spaces.