Vole
Vole
A vole will weigh only one to two ounces as adults and measure four to seven inches long, including tail. Voles typically inhabit roadside ditches, crop fields, woodlots, and other grassy or weedy sites. They can, however, cause problems with lawns and backyard plantings when they overpopulate an area and turn their attention toward tearing up turf and girdling trees and shrubs.
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Voles construct surface runways about 1 to 2 inches wide that consist of closely clipped vegetation. Small holes in the ground often lead to underground runways nesting and areas. Voles can damage lawns by constructing runways and clipping grass very close to the roots. Though the damage done is usually not permanent, it may detract from the appearance of a well-kept lawn. Voles typically eat leaves, shoots, roots, tubers, and seeds of most grasses and forbs. When food-stressed, especially in winter, voles can cause severe damage to trees and shrubs when they feed on the bark and cause girdlingxt.
Prevention and Control
The likelihood of future damage can be reduced by decreasing the suitability of the habitat for voles. High vole populations cannot become established without food and protection from predators. Tall grass and weeds can be controlled in areas that are adjacent to backyards, cemeteries, and golf courses. Consider installing 1/4-inch mesh hardware cloth cylinders around trees or shrubs you wish to protect. They can be time-consuming and expensive to construct, but once installed they provide your plants long-term protection from voles and rabbits.
Voles can be controlled easily by trapping if only a few are causing problems. Set mouse snap-traps perpendicular to or back-to-back in vole runways and bait them with peanut butter. Rodenticides are more cost-effective in larger areas to reduce high vole populations. Zinc phosphide is registered for vole control and is available in treated-grain bait or pellet formulations. Hand-baiting is the only application method that can be used in urban lawns, ornamental plantings, parks, and golf courses. The bait must be placed by hand directly in the runways or burrow openings. Use caution when baiting voles, to avoid poisoning and other non-target animals. Read pesticide labels carefully and comply with all directions provided.
- wire mesh baskets for plants
- wire mesh installed under lawns
- wire mesh fence installed vertically 2' under ground around the perimeter of the yard
- trapping
- 6" cushion of 1"gravel around pvc and wire runs.
- Smoke Bombs
- Bait
