A good way to determine which animal, the mole or the pocket gopher, is responsible for lawn damage is to

A good way to determine which animal, the mole or the pocket gopher, is responsible for lawn damage is to

• A. Learn to identify the characteristic mounds left by each animal
• B. Check soil pH
• C. Observe leaf damage patterns
• D. Count the number of birds visiting

Answer: (A)

Using the signs on the lawn—the mounds left by burrowing animals—tells you which pest is at work. Moles create volcano-like mounds with a central hole and irregular surface runs from shallow tunnels. Pocket gophers push soil to the surface in crescent- or fan-shaped mounds, often lined up along the tunnel path. By recognizing these distinct mound shapes, you can tell whether a mole or a pocket gopher is responsible and choose the right management approach for that animal. Other options don’t provide the culprit’s identity. Soil pH doesn’t indicate which burrower is active, leaf damage patterns come from above-ground feeders, and the number of birds visiting isn’t related to burrowing damage.

Using the signs on the lawn—the mounds left by burrowing animals—tells you which pest is at work. Moles create volcano-like mounds with a central hole and irregular surface runs from shallow tunnels. Pocket gophers push soil to the surface in crescent- or fan-shaped mounds, often lined up along the tunnel path. By recognizing these distinct mound shapes, you can tell whether a mole or a pocket gopher is responsible and choose the right management approach for that animal.

Other options don’t provide the culprit’s identity. Soil pH doesn’t indicate which burrower is active, leaf damage patterns come from above-ground feeders, and the number of birds visiting isn’t related to burrowing damage.