Voles eatgrasses, herbaceous plants, bulbs, tubers, bark, roots of trees, and seeds.
Below, we will walk you through keeping voles out of your yard and garden.
There are over 100 vole species.
The Spruce / Brianna Gilmartin
They weigh only about 2 ounces but can eat their body weight in a single day.
Their diets differ, too.
Voles eat vegetation while moles opt for worms, insects, and grubs.
Here are two ways to tell the difference in their habitats.
They can also be deterred by fencing and driven away with vole repellents.
Mouse Traps
The best time to trap is either autumn or late winter.
you’ve got the option to installmouse snap trapsin a runway to kill voles.
Place the trap perpendicular to a vole runway, aligning the trap’s trigger with the path.
You could try some peanut butter for bait.
Commercial Repellents
Thiram-based vole repellents may be effective against these pests.
However, thiram should not be used on garden plants.
Repellents must be reapplied frequently, because they dissipate with rain.
Garden fencing can also be placed around plants to protect their roots.
Gravel
Additionally, voles dislike crossing sharp gravel.
Heavy ground cover or dense vegetation provides protection and shelter for voles.
If this area is removed, voles will feel exposed and look for a safe environment elsewhere.
Fox and coyote urines can usually be purchased online or at farm and garden centers.
Anything in theallium familywill do nicely.
Prefer something with a more pleasant scent?
Trydaffodils,irises,salvia, andsnowdrops.
Warning
Avoid poison, flooding, fumigation, and vibrations when trying to remove voles.
These methods can cause more damage and disruption to your yard and garden, attracting even more pests.
Meanwhile, moles typically feed on grubs and earthworms and create extensive, deep underground tunnels.
Voles construct well-defined, 2-inch wide crisscrossing tunnels or “runways” at or near the ground’s surface.
You may also notice droppings and severely damaged or eaten fruits and crops such as beans and corn.
What Attracts Voles to Your Yard?
Both pests will definitely destroy your curb appeal.
Voles will devour plants and other vegetation in your yard, so voles are the bigger nemesis.
Voles.Utah State University Extension.
Managing Voles in Colorado.Colorado State University Extension.
