Shrew, Mole, or Vole? How to Tell Them Apart

This guide helps you quickly identify whether the small animal you spotted in your yard, garden, or basement is a shrew, a mole, or a vole. You’ll learn the key physical differences, habitat clues, and behavioral signs so you can tell them apart at a glance. No special equipment is needed—just your eyes and a little patience.

What You’ll Need

• A clear view of the animal (binoculars help if it’s skittish)
• A flashlight for dark areas or burrows
• A camera or phone to snap a photo for later comparison
• A ruler or tape measure if you can safely get close (optional)

Step-by-Step

1. Look at the snout first. This is the fastest differentiator. A shrew has a long, pointed, flexible snout that extends well beyond its mouth, constantly twitching as it hunts. A mole also has a pointed snout, but it’s shorter, stiffer, and often pinkish, with tiny eyes nearly hidden. A vole has a blunt, rounded snout, very much like a mouse but with a slightly heavier look.
2. Check the ears. Voles have small but clearly visible rounded ears that stick out from the fur. Shrews have tiny ears that are often hidden in their fur—if you can see them at all, they’re small and rounded. Moles have no visible external ears at all; just tiny holes covered by fur or skin.
3. Examine the eyes. Voles have small, dark, bead-like eyes that are clearly visible. Shrews also have small eyes, but they’re often hard to spot because they’re set deep in the fur. Moles have extremely tiny eyes, sometimes covered by skin, that are nearly impossible to see without close inspection.
4. Look at the tail. A vole’s tail is short and hairy—about one-third to one-half the length of its body, covered in fine fur. A shrew’s tail is longer relative to its body (often more than half), thin, and covered in short, velvety fur. A mole’s tail is very short, stubby, and almost hairless, often pinkish or gray.
5. Observe the feet. Moles have massive, paddle-like front feet with large claws turned outward—they’re built for digging and look almost like small hands. Shrews have small, delicate feet with tiny claws. Voles have normal mouse-like feet, with four toes on the front and five on the back.
6. Note the fur color and texture. Voles have dense, brown or gray-brown fur that’s soft but not velvety. Shrews have very short, velvety fur that’s usually gray-brown, sometimes with a lighter belly. Moles have plush, velvety fur that’s dark gray or black, with no particular direction—it lies flat no matter which way you stroke it.
7. Watch how it moves. Shrews are extremely active, darting and scurrying constantly, often pausing only briefly. Voles move more slowly and deliberately, often freezing when they sense danger. Moles are rarely seen above ground; if you do spot one, it moves with a clumsy, waddling gait, pushing through soil or leaf litter.
8. Consider the habitat and time of day. Shrews are active day and night, year-round, and are often found under logs, leaf litter, or in grassy areas. Voles are active at dawn and dusk, making surface runways through grass or snow, and they gnaw on tree bark in winter. Moles live almost entirely underground in tunnel systems, surfacing only occasionally, usually at night or after heavy rain.
9. Look for signs of tunneling. Moles create raised ridges of soil (surface tunnels) and volcano-shaped mounds of dirt. Voles create shallow, open runways on the surface, about 2 inches wide, often with clipped grass. Shrews don’t dig their own tunnels; they use existing ones made by moles or voles, or they scurry through leaf litter.
10. Check the diet clues. Shrews are insectivores—they eat insects, worms, and small invertebrates. Voles are herbivores—they eat grasses, seeds, roots, and tree bark. Moles also eat insects and worms, but they do so underground. If you find chewed roots or bark, it’s a vole; if you find insect remains, it could be a shrew or mole.

Common Mistakes

• Calling a shrew a mouse. Shrews have longer, pointier snouts and much smaller ears than mice. Also, shrews have 32 teeth, while mice have 16—but that’s hard to see without a close look.
• Thinking all small burrowing animals are moles. Voles dig shallow tunnels, and shrews use existing tunnels, so the presence of tunnels alone doesn’t mean it’s a mole.
• Assuming a vole is a rat. Voles have shorter tails and rounder bodies than rats, and their ears are smaller. Rats have long, scaly tails and larger ears.
• Forgetting that shrews are not rodents. Shrews belong to the order Eulipotyphla, while voles are rodents. This matters for control methods—shrews are protected in some regions.

Tips

• If you only see the animal briefly, focus on the snout and tail—those are the most reliable features.
• Take a photo and zoom in on the face and feet; you can compare later without stressing the animal.
• Moles are almost never seen above ground. If you see a small mammal running across your lawn in daylight, it’s almost certainly not a mole.
• Shrews have a strong, musky odor that some people notice. If you smell something odd near a small animal, it might be a shrew.
• Voles are often mistaken for young gophers, but gophers have large cheek pouches and yellow incisors, which voles lack.

Troubleshooting

What if the animal is too fast to see clearly? Try to corner it gently in a garage or shed, or use a live trap baited with peanut butter (for voles) or cat food (for shrews). Release it far from your home after identifying it.

What if you only see the tunnels, not the animal? Examine the tunnel shape. Mole tunnels are raised ridges with occasional mounds; vole runways are open, shallow channels on the surface. Shrews don’t make their own tunnels.

What if the animal is dead? Look at the teeth: shrews have sharp, pointed cusps; voles have flat, chisel-like molars. Also check the feet—moles have huge front feet with claws.

What if you’re still unsure? Compare your photo to a field guide or use an online identification key. Many university extension websites offer free identification help if you submit a photo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are shrews dangerous to pets?

Shrews are not aggressive toward large animals, but they have venomous saliva that can cause pain and swelling if a cat or dog catches one. It’s rare and usually not fatal, but monitor your pet if it eats a shrew.

Do voles damage gardens?

Yes, voles can be very destructive. They gnaw on tree bark, eat roots and bulbs, and create runways that ruin lawns. They are active year-round, even under snow.

Do moles eat plant roots?

No, moles eat insects and worms. The damage they cause to plants is indirect—their tunneling can dry out roots or uproot seedlings, but they don’t eat the plants themselves.

How can I tell a shrew from a mole if I only see a blur?

Look at the tail and feet. Moles have stubby, hairless tails and huge front claws. Shrews have longer, furred tails and normal-sized feet. Also, moles are rarely seen above ground.

Are shrews protected by law?

In many regions, shrews are protected as insectivores and are not considered pests. Check your local wildlife regulations before attempting any control measures.

Can voles climb?

Voles are poor climbers and rarely climb more than a few inches. They prefer to stay on the ground, using surface runways. If you have a climbing rodent, it’s more likely a mouse or rat.

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