Mice and voles are both close to being identical in size and shape. Although voles tails are noticeably shorter. The key differences between the two species are mostly in their behavior. Mice are drawn to living inside man-made structures in the winter. Voles prefer to live outside all year and will use leaf litter and snow cover as insulation to keep warm. Mice are nocturnal and voles can be found scurrying around in the yard during all times of the day. They are mostly found living in retaining walls and under thick foliage. Voles eat the roots of blades of grass and bark causing damage to many homeowners’ lawns and plants. Mice prefer to eat seeds and nuts from trees as well as a variety of human and pet food.