Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Home, Cottage or Land Maintenance
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-24-2022, 09:33 PM   #1
bigdog
Senior Member
 
bigdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central MA-Gilford
Posts: 1,409
Thanks: 304
Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts
Default Lawn animal damage ?

I seem to have some lawn damage, just noticed after recent snow melt uncovered the damage. Damage appears to be isolated, close to edge of driveway. Area of damage is about 6'x8'. Trails are raised.....

Is this issue a result of Moles, voles, or some other vermin ?

I did some research on 'voles' and found this description: 'Moles dig for prey, sculpting subterranean housing and highways. Voles travel these tunnels but make their nests above ground. According to Bob Vila, they're more likely to create "runways," channels of chomped grass in service to finding tasty morsels.'

This exactly describes my lawn damage ! Could I have Voles looking for Grubs?

Thoughts ?
Attached Images
 
bigdog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2022, 10:22 PM   #2
John Mercier
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 2,909
Thanks: 2
Thanked 523 Times in 431 Posts
Default

I would guess a mole/vole... but it seems a bit early for worms/grubs to be active. The weather has been unusual, and if you had an infestation last fall... the mole/vole would inhabit the area.

It is really hard to break the cycle, because other than milky spore, you would need to apply in spring and later in the year. I see a lot of people use Easter and July 4th.

But it seems like an infestation of beetle larva can simply move from one area to another quite easily.
John Mercier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2022, 10:33 PM   #3
bigdog
Senior Member
 
bigdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central MA-Gilford
Posts: 1,409
Thanks: 304
Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Mercier View Post
I would guess a mole/vole... but it seems a bit early for worms/grubs to be active. The weather has been unusual, and if you had an infestation last fall... the mole/vole would inhabit the area.

It is really hard to break the cycle, because other than milky spore, you would need to apply in spring and later in the year. I see a lot of people use Easter and July 4th.

But it seems like an infestation of beetle larva can simply move from one area to another quite easily.
John.....
So you think 'beetle larva' is attracting the Moles/Voles ?
bigdog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 06:06 AM   #4
SAB1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Tuftonboro
Posts: 1,162
Thanks: 182
Thanked 297 Times in 220 Posts
Default

Yup moles. Not uncommon to see when the snow melts away.
SAB1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 06:53 AM   #5
TiltonBB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Gilford, NH and Florida
Posts: 2,882
Thanks: 637
Thanked 2,147 Times in 894 Posts
Default

I have had problems with moles for years. If you Google there are multiple solutions listed from poison to putting chewing gum in the holes because they will eat in and it clogs their system.

One year, every day when I went outside there were raised trails that I would go stomp down, only to have them reappear.

One morning, I stood quietly looking at the trail and could actually see it growing as the mole moved along underground. I went to the tool shed and got a metal rake and eliminated the mole. One down, many more to go!

(Please don't call the SPCA on me!)
TiltonBB is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 03-25-2022, 07:28 AM   #6
pondguy
Senior Member
 
pondguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 231
Thanks: 543
Thanked 177 Times in 119 Posts
Default Juicy Fruit

Juicy fruit gum has worked for me they love it and then they are gone.
pondguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 08:19 AM   #7
WinnisquamZ
Senior Member
 
WinnisquamZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,867
Thanks: 192
Thanked 590 Times in 395 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by pondguy View Post
Juicy fruit gum has worked for me they love it and then they are gone.
Wondering if that works for chipmunks


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
WinnisquamZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 09:14 AM   #8
bigdog
Senior Member
 
bigdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central MA-Gilford
Posts: 1,409
Thanks: 304
Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts
Default Juicy fruit gum ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by pondguy View Post
Juicy fruit gum has worked for me they love it and then they are gone.
Pondguy.....
Interesting reply......
Exactly how did you apply the 'Juicy fruit gum' ?
bigdog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 09:27 AM   #9
pondguy
Senior Member
 
pondguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 231
Thanks: 543
Thanked 177 Times in 119 Posts
Default

I use a half a stick in their runs of loose dirt in about a dozen places, it works.
pondguy is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to pondguy For This Useful Post:
bigdog (03-25-2022)
Old 03-25-2022, 10:47 AM   #10
Descant
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 1,204
Thanked 1,498 Times in 975 Posts
Default Castor oil

Some years ago, I sprayed the yard with castor oil that I bought at the local garden center. I don't think it killed anything, but they left. Safe if you have pets or love the squirrels.
Descant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 05:28 PM   #11
John Mercier
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 2,909
Thanks: 2
Thanked 523 Times in 431 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bigdog View Post
John.....
So you think 'beetle larva' is attracting the Moles/Voles ?
Beetle larva are what grubs generally are.
But only certain chemicals applied at certain times in the life cycle will have an effect.

And since a new infestation will occur after mature beetles find your nice green lawn and lay eggs... it can be an ongoing battle skipping some years, but reoccurring.

Lots of predators will either tunnel or dig for them as a food source once the ground warms enough for them to become active.
John Mercier is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.20779 seconds