Common Critters - Backyard Mammals - Part 2

Last week, I touched on common critters which you may find in your yard or garden. In Part 1 we talked about some of the really obvious mammals who are probably munching on your plants. This week will focus on some critters who are probably out there but you don't see them very often.

Moles are very common visitors to yards, and while we don't often see them, we do see the result of their handy-work. As they grub around under the grass looking for insects to munch, they push up the grass into molehills. We find ourselves stomping their tracks back into the ground after they've come to visit. The Midwest is home to two different species: the Star-Nosed and the Eastern Mole. While they may manage to disturb our yards; it's good to keep in mind that they are eating grubs and insects which we may not want munching on our plants later. It's worth noting that moles remain active in the winter, and while they are known for eating worms they will also eat snails, centipedes, and beetle grubs. The moles may in turn be eaten by owls, hawks, and coyotes.

Shrews are more closely related to moles than they are to rats or mice. Shrews also eat various small critters in our yards and gardens. Some shrews in your area may include: the Prairie Shrew, Cinereus Shrew, Water Shrew, Smoky Shrew, and the Northern Short-Tailed Shrew. Shrews like the Northern Short-Tailed have a venom to help them catch prey. Shrews eat insects, small rodents, and some amphibians. Pictured below is a Short-Tailed Shrew we had last winter come and visit a tray full of safflower seed.



Voles, unlike our previous two animals are rodents. They can be mistaken for mice and are a common food source for birds of prey such as Great Horned Owls or Red-Tailed Hawks. Voles carve out trails through your lawn; you may notice bare paths where there is no grass. These trails may have multiple burrows to help voles escape predators easily. They are veracious chewers and will eat roots, bulbs, and gnaw the bark off of trees. The Woodland Vole and the Prairie Vole are both native to the Upper Midwest and are considered to be of special concern in Wisconsin. The decline of the Prairie Vole is attributed to the loss of native prairie sod.

Groundhogs or Woodchucks are large rodents belonging to a group known as marmots. These mammals have been made famous by Punxsutawney Phil, and growing up in rural Illinois, we had our own Groundhog who ate fallen apples from our trees. They are certainly not the most common rodent in suburbia, but we had a very close encounter with one while sitting on our deck. Groundhogs are mostly herbivorous but will eat some insects. Because of their size and their need to burrow, groundhogs can become problematic for homeowners as they may establish burrows under the deck or stoop or near your foundation or driveway.