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.

Voles are creatures of habit, scurrying so often over the same route that they wear trails—runways—into the soil. Once you know to look for them, the tundra is laced through with vole runways.

In the middle of October, bird watchers estimated about 40 short-eared owls were seen hunting on the wetlands — probably a record number. What was going on? Perhaps several things at once.

To find these vole trails, pull back overhanging grass. Droppings are further evidence of voles. Look for greenish-colored droppings about 3 / 16 inch long in the runways and near the burrow holes.

Voles spend a great deal of time eating grasses and roots and making trails. These surface runways are one of the easiest ways to identify the presence of voles.

There were some slightly bigger trails leading to somewhat bigger holes into the vegetation, and these I called vole trails. Voles generally have a somewhat wider straddle than shrews do, thus ...

Vole trails in residential landscapes may be seen coming from sheltered sites that are adjacent to lawns. This rock retaining wall is a good example.

Farmers planting in no-till systems are advised to scout their fields for voles before putting seed in the ground. Should they find trails or other signs voles are present, producers should begin a ...

What do I do about the mole trails ? -- Bob House, Avon For the past two winters, some kind of burrowing mouse/mole/vole makes tunnels under the snow and feasts on my phlox.

Once you reach yet another junction, hang a right onto Red Vole Trail and keep straight until you come to a fork at Huckleberry Road. Go left here. You'll soon come to a clearing and reach Annie's ...

DENVER — Voles are tearing up backyards across the metro area after this spring’s late snowfall. If you notice some dead patches of grass in your yard it might not be from the hot, sunny ...

If you see signs of a vole population now, you should expect vole damage this spring, summer, and fall, columnist Jolene Wallace writes.