This afternoon while sitting on my deck writing, I saw something move out the corner of my eye. As I looked over by the wooden privacy fence, I saw a black mouse-like creature move under a hosta plant. It retreated back under the fence, and then came out to the next hosta.

I sent my neighbor an email, figuring Bob “the lawn guy” would know what it was. And he did!

Small rodents often confused for mice, except with shorter tails and beady eyes, voles live throughout the Northern Hemisphere and are often considered agricultural pests because they eat vegetation.