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Ground squirrels. .?

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From: John Valluzzi City: Monee, IL
How do you know if you have ground squirrels ? Since the snow has melted I have now noticed a large number of " trails " in my lawn. They almost look like an animal has removed the grass and made a trail in the grass but I think it is a burrow . I have also noticed piles of grass around some of the trails....I have noticed ground squirrels in my yard in previous years but never damage like this before. If squirrels any idea to control or remove ?
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
The trails you are seeing are likely those of voles. Voles need to eat all winter and create those trails under the snow on top of the soil parting the grass as they go. In a normal year the trails quickly disappear as grass growth resumes. Voles return to their homes when done feeding and often those are in perennial or shrub beds or beds of ornamental grasses.
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