GA Perennial Plant Data

Is it a Mouse, Vole, Mole or Shrew?

The common names are linked to sites with photos and more information.

GROUP (order)	HOUSE MOUSE Rodentia	MEADOW VOLE Rodentia	EASTERN MOLE Insectivora	SHORT-TAILED SHREW Insectivora
FAMILY	Muridae	Cricetidae	Talpidae	Soricidae
AVG.BODY LENGTH WITHOUT TAIL	3 1/4"	4 1/2"	6"	3 5/8"
AVG. TAIL LENGTH	Long, scaly 3"	Short 1 3/8"	Short 1"	Short 7/8"
FUR	Gray to brown, variable	Brown, short, smooth	Gray, soft, thick, velvety	Gray, soft, short
EYES	Small	Small, beady	Tiny, hidden under fur, tell only light from dark	Small, Beady
EARS	Prominent, naked	Well-developed, hidden by fur	Well-developed, hidden by fur	Small
FOOD	Grains, many foods	Vegetarians, bark/roots/stems, girdle young trees	Insects, grubs, earthworms	Insects, worms, voles, eat its own weight in few hours.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS	Pointed snout, lg. ears, long tail, musky odor from glands near anal opening	Short, rounded head, short tail, tunnels in grass above ground	Lg outward facing, paddle-like forelimbs, long snout, lg. body	Pointed snout, top of feet pink or white, poisonous saliva, nervous behavior
CONTROL	Baited mouse trap with mixture of peanut butter & rolled oats; remove all food sources	Use mouse trap baited with pieces of apple or peanut butter & oats	Eradicate grubs in lawn or use harpoon trap over active burrow	Should not be trapped or killed because it is beneficial in eating insects/grubs

From The Greenhorn, Men's Garden Club, Mansfield, Ohio