Voles and moles are very similar animals ... They're also a member of the shrew family, not the rodent genus. Keep in mind that since moles are fairly subterranean, you’ll rarely see them ...

Sometimes confused for moles and voles, shrews are smaller, have a very pointed snout, brown or gray fur, and their ears are flattened against their head. "These small animals are not rodents ...

The woodland vole shows many adaptations for its burrowing lifestyle. The fur is short, soft, and silky, almost mole-like in texture. The front feet and claws are larger than those of its relatives.

Raptors such as the barred owl and broad-winged hawk, and larger mammals are potential predators of the hairy-tailed mole. Even smaller mammals such as the short-tailed shrew may prey upon nestlings.