Golf-Ball-Sized Lawn Holes in Michigan: Voles or Collapsed Mole Tunnels?

Small “Push-Up” Holes: Not Raccoon, Opossum, or Rat

Scattered 1.5″ holes appearing as if something pushed up from below, in a Warren, Michigan yard with known opossum, raccoons (removed), stray cats, and gardening activity. Not typical of possum, raccoon, rat, or cat.

Top Suspects

• Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus): Create surface runways and small exit holes; clip grass at base.
• Collapsed mole tunnels: Shallow mole runs cave in, looking like push-up holes.
• Short-tailed shrews: Tiny insectivores; similar holes but rarer.

How to Tell

• Voles: visible runways (1–2″ wide paths of clipped grass) connecting holes.
• Mole collapse: no runways; holes random; soil feels spongy underfoot.
• Set apple slice traps: voles take bait; moles ignore.

Resources

ICWDM’s lawn damage guide (Inspection/Default.asp) has photos and ID keys. Note time of damage, duration, and any runway patterns.