Question
I live in Northeast Ohio and just mowed my lawn and found soil quite soft in many spots and have found that I have tunnels under many areas of my lawn. Don't know what causes these tunnels since the soil is up just a tunnel and ground is very soft for many feet continuos and then it stops and find the same thing in another part of the lawn. My beds also have holes in the dirt the size ranging from 2 to 4" in diameter.
Please help.
Thanks, Bill

Answer
Bill, you either have moles or voles tunneling in your lawn.

First, make sure you have properly identified the pest. Many people mistakenly assume that they have moles when, in fact, their problem are voles. Moles create large hills at the entrance of each hole, while voles will tunnel close to the surface.  

The other primary difference is that moles are carnivores, preferring grubs and other insects below the surface. They seldom, if ever, venture above ground. Voles can be very destructive. They are herbivores and usually snack on young seedlings, trunks of trees, and roots of plants.

If you come to the conclusion that your problem relates to voles, there are chemical treatments such as "Poison Pills" available through most garden centers. Some are more effective than others. I personally believe that the only way to eradicate voles is by trapping and/or killing them. Natural predators include owls and cats.  For trapping, you can use regular mouse traps. Place the trap near an entrance hole. Bait it with cheese and peanut butter. Most voles and shrews cannot resist this combination.  

If moles are the problem, you need to rid your lawn of the grubs. This can be accomplished by using a pesticide called Grubex or by applying a bacterial spore to your lawn called Milky Spore. The bacteria is fatal to grubs, but will not harm beneficial insects. Once their food supply is gone, they will normally relocate to another location.

Unfortunately, with moles and voles, there is no humane method to trap the animal. In the short term, you can either place poisoned pellets in their entrance holes, or kill it by trapping. Be sure to use a trap specifically designed for moles. Place the trap above the tunnel in the center of the runway. If you do not catch it within two days, move it in one foot increments. Since this trap is especially designed to "snap" below the surface, I have no doubt that you will eventually trap it. Just be patient.

I hope this answers your question. Good luck, and write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike