Question
QUESTION: Hi

I have just started getting little holes round and up through a raised bed and little piles of very fine soil.  The soil looks like mole hill type earth but they only follow the wood of the raised beds and are not in piles across the lawn as moles would normally make.  The holes here and there are approx 3cm diameter.  I cannot see any mole activity in the fields surround us.  Any idea what animal could be causing this.  Area West Sussex, United Kingdom.  Thank you.

ANSWER: Have you noticed any damage to plants? Sounds like voles.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your prompt reply.  I hadn't even thought of Voles!  The runways as described in the article you suggested are just what they look like.  At the moment, I have the feeling the 'vole' has gone through to our neighbour which is great for me!!!-:).  No plants as yet have been damaged but the raised bed they actually came up in had luckily only just been seeded and nothign is growing as yet.  This could of course change in the future.  

How big a pest could they be in a vegetable garden with raised beds.  Could I leave them be?  I certainly could never kill them and would have take the course or persuading them to go elswhere - perhaps my neighbour will keep them - his garden is much bigger than mine!  Judi

Answer
Don't know about the UK, but in the U.S. there is no such thing as A vole. Voles? Sure. Never just one. It's like saying I have an ant.

Wildlife damage management requires a. monitoring, b. right tools, c. right habitat modification. I would suggest a. learn more about UK voles. 2. Monitor your garden regularly, every couple of days.