Gopher, mole or vole: what's digging up my yard?
Written and reviewed by Casey Jones, Founder & CEO, Arizona Qualified Applicator, license #31513
Last reviewed:
Short answer
In Arizona, it's almost always pocket gophers. University of Arizona Extension says moles aren't known to live here, and voles are far less common than people think, mostly in moist, grassy, higher-elevation spots. Crescent- or fan-shaped dirt mounds with a plugged hole off to one side are the classic sign of a pocket gopher.
Arizona context
Pocket gophers spend nearly their whole lives underground. As they dig, they push loose soil to the surface in crescent- or fan-shaped mounds, with the hole off to one side and sealed with an earthen plug. Gophers keep their tunnel systems closed. The open holes you sometimes see are usually feed holes, where a gopher reaches out to clip plants a body length or so from the opening; they have no dirt mound and a ring of clipped plants around them. A single gopher can make several mounds in a day.
What you can do
- Look at a fresh mound: crescent- or fan-shaped, with a plugged hole off to one side, means a pocket gopher.
- An open hole with no mound and a ring of clipped plants around it is usually a gopher feed hole.
- Small open holes linked by runways through thick grass, with no mounds, point to voles.
- Check trees: vole gnawing is usually above ground, while gophers damage roots below ground.
What about moles and voles?
Moles are not known to exist in Arizona, according to University of Arizona Extension. Mounds people blame on moles are almost always pocket gophers.
Voles do live in Arizona, but they are far less common than people think. UA Extension lists at least three vole species in the state, and they stick to areas with dense grass, other ground cover or litter. In the White Mountains, the Arizona montane vole is tied to wet, grassy or marshy areas. Voles don't push up dirt mounds; they leave small open holes connected by runways through the grass. UA Extension also notes voles are nongame mammals protected by Arizona law, although controls can be used when they cause significant damage.
What we see in the White Mountains
Gophers are one of the more common wildlife questions White Mountains customers ask us about, and the mounds people blame on moles or voles almost always turn out to be pocket gophers.
When professional service is warranted
Call when fresh mounds keep appearing, lawns and gardens are being undermined, or trees and roots are being damaged.
How Hydra handles it
Hydra provides pocket gopher trapping and control. Our Service Pros confirm it's a gopher, locate the active tunnel system and set traps there. Not sure what's digging? Tell us what you're seeing and we'll explain your options in a free custom quote.
Frequently asked
Are there moles in Arizona?
Moles are not known to live in Arizona, according to University of Arizona Extension. Mounds people blame on moles are usually pocket gophers.
Do voles live in Arizona?
Yes, but they're far less common than people think. At least three vole species live in Arizona, mostly in moist, grassy areas at higher elevations, including wet meadows in the White Mountains. Voles don't push up dirt mounds, so a yard full of mounds is almost always gophers.
Why are some gopher holes open?
Gophers normally plug their burrow openings. An open hole with no dirt mound and a ring of clipped plants around it is usually a feed hole, where the gopher came up briefly to eat.
Is it legal to trap gophers in Arizona?
University of Arizona Extension notes pocket gophers are not protected under Arizona law and may be controlled on private property. Trapping is the most effective method.
How do I tell vole damage from gopher damage?
Voles leave open burrow entrances and surface runways, and their gnawing on trees is usually above ground. Gophers leave plugged, crescent-shaped mounds and damage roots below ground.
About the author
Casey Jones is the founder and CEO of Hydra Pest Control, which started with Casey knocking on doors across rural Arizona. Casey is an Arizona Qualified Applicator (license #31513), licensed by the Arizona Department of Agriculture in categories including wood-destroying insects (termites) and ornamental and turf. Casey writes and reviews Hydra's answers using what our Service Pros see in the Gila Valley, White Mountains and Sierra Vista.
About Casey JonesRelated on this site
References
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — Managing Pocket Gophers (Backyard Gardener #45)
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — Voles (Backyard Gardener #33)
- University of California IPM — Pocket Gophers
- University of California IPM — Voles (Meadow Mice)
- Frey (2021) — Status and limiting factors for the Arizona montane vole (BISON-M)
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