What Happened to Our Maine Lawns Under All That Snow This Winter?

It's always fun to see what is under all that snow after all these months.

All the snow (at least in the southern half of Maine) is long gone. A few 70-degree days tend to do that to even the biggest snow pile. Even the shady parts of your lawn are showing signs of your lawn. But for some of us, there are these crazy trails. What the hell causes this?

The cutest little rodent causes all this mayhem on your lawn. These are vole tracks. According to Utah State University,

During the winter, voles move about under the protection of snow cover and create unique surface runway systems with numerous burrow openings. Runways are 1 to 2 inches in width, and vegetation near well-traveled runways is often clipped near the ground.

Voles? The first thing I thought was...what the hell is a vole? It's a little field mouse and it's so cute.

Why is it that adorable little creatures are the ones that can do the most damage to your house and lawn? And yes, to get rid of these ugly tracks left by burrowing voles, you can set out poison to get rid of them. Voles also can do a number to plants once the snow is gone too. There are non-toxic ways of getting rid of them. Some commercial pellets you can buy or even a mix of chopped hot peppers, water, and dish soap.

For me, when I see these tracks, it adds character to a lawn that is very full of character. Some call them weeds, I call them character.