Clear and blustery

Good Morning Augusta.
This morning it is mostly cloudy, then clear. High of 41F. Winds 10-15 mph.
Tonight it will be clear. Low of 25F. Winds diminishing to 5-a0 mph.
The readings outside right now, taken from my own weather instruments:
a relative humidity of 64% with a Dew Point of 20.9ºF.
The temperature is 31.7ºF with almost no wind chill.
Presently we have North Northwest winds between 5.6 mph and 11.3 mph.
Our Barometric pressure is 29.82 and rising with a weather graphic
indicating sun.
We had precipitation in the form of snow and rain overnight of 0.06 inches.
Visibility is 10.0 miles with a great ceiling. .
Again, from the Farmer's almanac, more about pests and how to deal with them
(candidates for office excluded).
This time, the pests are moles and voles, Mother Nature's pint-sized lawn
wrecking crew.
*Habitat and History
Moles: Moles can be found throughout North America, although primarily in
the eastern and northwestern United States. There are seven species of
moles, although the Star Nosed and the Eastern are the most prevalent. Moles
are gray or brown mammals and are actually NOT rodents. They are their own
family of mammal. They have a long, naked snout, no external ears, large
forelegs shaped like paddles and their eyes are hidden beneath fur.
Moles spend almost their entire lives underground, rarely coming to the
surface. They prefer moist, loose soil. Moles are extremely territorial and
will not allow other adults in their territory other than for mating.
*Voles: Voles are found throughout North America. There are many different
species of voles, but only about half a dozen of them cause significant
problems for humans. Voles are a species of rodent, and are commonly
mistaken for field mice or deer mice.
All voles are mouse-sized, measuring in at six to seven inches long and
weighing approximately four to five ounces. Their eyes, ears, and tails are
relatively small compared to mice. Some voles cause major surface damage,
while others cause damage beneath the surface. Voles can be found in a large
variety of habitats, and their ranges can overlap.
*Diet
Moles: The mole's diet consists almost exclusively of earthworms and grubs.
There is only one mole, which occurs in the far northwestern United States,
that actually eats root crops and tubers.
Voles: Voles are herbivores, feeding primarily on grasses, flowers, fruits,
vegetables, bulbs, and roots. Some voles will also gnaw and feed on the bark
of trees in winter, under the protection and cover of snow.
*Reproduction
Moles: Breeding for moles occurs in the late winter into early spring. There
are generally four to seven young per litter, and they become active at
about four weeks of age.
Voles: Like many other small rodents, voles are active breeders, with some
species having four to five litters a year and two to five young per litter.
In some warmer climates, they can breed year round. At around three weeks of
birth, voles can begin breeding. Vole populations are cyclical, with a cycle
of approximately three to six years.
*Problems, Solutions and Health Concerns
Moles: Moles do not pose any health-related concerns to humans. The thing
that makes moles a pest is that they can devastate a lawn with mounds. These
mounds can be either high and round or in the form of "running" tunnels.
There are several ways to rid your property of moles. You can purchase traps
from your local hardware store, which can be placed right in the tunnels.
You will need to remove the carcasses as they are trapped.
Another easy way to rid your property of moles is to use a lawn roller. Lawn
rollers are steel wheels that are generally filled with water and pulled
behind your riding mower. Once filled, they are very heavy and will crush
the mounds and tunnels. This is a very effective way of eliminating moles.
You will, however, have to do it as a regular maintenance routine.
Some people chemically treat their lawns for grubs. This eliminates the
moles' food supply, sending them on their way. Be warned, however, that
there are health concerns associated with chemically treated lawns.
Chemicals can leach into a well, garden plants, and even children, pets, or
livestock that come into contact with it. If it's green and can be mowed,
it's nice. Nobody needs "perfect grass."
*Voles: All species of voles burrow, although most species are not
subterranean. Some species of voles actually create runways by eating and
munching vegetation in paths, almost like a trail system. They seem to stay
in their nests most of the day, coming out to feed day and night at short
intervals.
You can reduce the pressure from voles in a number of ways. First, you can
keep your lawn mowed short. This will give the rodents less cover. You
should also keep vegetation and brush away from flowerbeds, veggie gardens,
and ornamental plants. Voles build their nests in these types of areas for
cover.
Most damage from voles is to flowerbeds and gardens. The best way to keep
your plants safe is to erect a barrier between your plants and the voles.
Dig a trench around the area you want protected. The trench should be at
least eighteen inches deep. This will also help deter other mammals such as
woodchucks, ground squirrels, etc., too. Once the trench is complete,
install 1/4" hardware cloth all the way to the bottom of the trench. Also
note that the end of the hardware cloth at the bottom of the trench should
be bent at a 90 degree angle, out about four inches. Now you can fill the
trench back in. This helps to deter them from thinking they can dig around
the hardware cloth.
Voles do not pose any infectious disease threat to humans.