Mice tracks

[Keegan]

Has anyone dealt with mice burrowing tracks in the ground with snow on top of it? Now that the snow is gone you can see their handy work. I looked at two properties today near each other where mice tore up the ground in a lot of places.
I'm assuming fill in the tracks and seed. DO the mice continue to use the same tracks?

[americanlawn]

I bet it's vole (meadow mice) damage. Once the snow is gone, they move out of the lawn. In most cases, the turf recovers on its own, but I saw fairly severe damage earlier this week -- the customer bought a bag of soil to fill in the holes/craters along the concrete that the voles created. I normally suggest the customer not rake or disturb the damaged area cuz the rhizomes are still intact within the upper soil profile.

[bx24]

Originally Posted by Keegan

Has anyone dealt with mice burrowing tracks in the ground with snow on top of it? Now that the snow is gone you can see their handy work. I looked at two properties today near each other where mice tore up the ground in a lot of places.
I'm assuming fill in the tracks and seed. DO the mice continue to use the same tracks?

I had chickmunk tracks all over my yard (1+ acre) under 5+ft of snow. Look like hell, but thye pushed the thatch out....Power Broomed it, all gone.

You sure it is mice?

[phasthound]

Larry is right, sounds like voles (also known incorecctly called meadow mice or field mice).
Damage to turf can be repaired by reseeding the "highways" they make in the lawn. They can cause severe damage to young trees and shrubs by gnawing on the base of the trunks. This damage can be prevented by removing mulch, ground cover and weeds from the base of plants. Predator odors are most displeasing to voles. Fox and coyote urines can often be bought at trapper supply houses.

[Smallaxe]

Originally Posted by phasthound

... Predator odors are most displeasing to voles. Fox and coyote urines can often be bought at trapper supply houses.

That is a great idea... does it work well and will it last???

[phasthound]

Originally Posted by Smallaxe

That is a great idea... does it work well and will it last???

I've only used it as a deer repellent. Deer pressure here is so high you have to keep changing repellents. What has worked the best for me was lion manure.

[phasthound]

Originally Posted by phasthound

I've only used it as a deer repellent. Deer pressure here is so high you have to keep changing repellents. What has worked the best for me was lion manure.

I forgot to mention, it's really tough to scare the crap out of lions.

[Smallaxe]

Originally Posted by phasthound

I forgot to mention, it's really tough to scare the crap out of lions.

If I see one I'll not try to scare him, just follow it around with a bucket...