Let’s start with the good news: unlike other rodents, voles are less likely to invade your home. While it is not impossible for this critter to find its way inside, they don’t tend to do so intentionally or in search of the food or nesting locations that cause other rodent control issues. Additionally, they also don’t typically cause the kind of damage that rats and squirrels can do, like chew through structural features and wiring. While these facts may give homeowners some peace of mind, vole damage to lawns, gardens and landscaping can be a severe problem. So, what are voles? Learn more about voles and vole pest control services.
What are Voles?
Voles are small, stocky rodents often gray or brown in color and around a half of a foot in size. Sometimes referred to as “meadow mice” or “field mice,” their front feet and small eyes and ears may initially appear similar to mice but their behaviors differ significantly. Additionally, voles and moles may often be confused due to their similar sounding name and association with yard damage. However, aside from their physical characteristics, which homeowners would be unlikely to see up close, two key differences help distinguish voles from other rodents with which they are often confused:
- Food preferences: Unlike moles who eat insects, voles prefer plants, as further discussed by Purdue University Extension. Therefore, while some pests like bats actually help your garden by consuming problematic bugs, voles will aim for the delicious vegetables you’ve been nurturing as well as flower bulbs and even tree bark, not to mention plant roots. Unlike mice who will go inside to raid your pantry for grains and leave droppings and other signs in their wake, voles aren’t heading to the lettuce crisper or your window ledge herb pots for sustenance.
- Ground damage: Voles do most of their damage above ground, while moles are the critters that create dome-like tunnels below the surface in their search for food. Consequently, the surface damage voles create may look similar to pathways created by regular wheelbarrow traversing versus more mound-like formations. Since voles often chew on trees, shrubs and other plants, they can do severe damage to these features in your yard in addition to unsightly lawn trails.
What Kills Voles? Natural Predators and Pest Control Solutions
Owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes, snakes and the neighborhood outdoor cats are all potential threats to the voles near you. In some circumstances, the presence of these predators may be enough to reduce the chances that a property will have a problem with voles. However, in the event that your yard remains in danger from voles, it may be time to explore expert vole removal solutions. If you are exploring what kills voles or other vole pest control solutions, consider these possibilities:
- Traps: As with getting rid of mice, snap traps and live traps can be used to address vole issues in your yard. These traps are generally set by any paths that voles have made in the yard, although they may be placed in other areas that point to signs of their damage. However, for these traps to be effective you may need to reset and rebait them daily. Additionally, the protocols for releasing any home-caught pests may vary depending on location which may make vole pest control better left to the vole removal experts near you.
- Physical barriers: Fencing and wire mesh are generally important to a gardener’s or landscaper’s toolkit. Fortunately, these materials also help protect plants from voles. For example, wire mesh enclosures can limit vole accessibility to tree bark and young plant stems, as well as seeds and bulbs.
- Natural methods: As highlighted by Better Homes and Gardens, other strategies like homemade deterrent sprays and companion planting help ward off voles and a variety of other garden and yard pests. Using a variety of methods for repelling animals from your garden is helpful in ensuring comprehensive protection in addition to any professional pest control services.
- Professional vole removal services: In addition to making recommendations for proactive prevention and ensuring accurate diagnosis and treatment for your pest problem, professional vole exterminators are best suited to providing a multi-layered approach to vole control and to doing so in a safe and effective manner. While voles aren’t generally considered as dangerous to humans and pets as some other intruders, they can be a source of diseases like the plague and tularemia, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and carry ticks.
At Eliminate ‘Em, we understand the frustration that comes with lawn and garden destruction. Although voles may not disrupt your sleep with squeaking or leave droppings in your pantry, they may significantly derail and impede your efforts to beautify your yard and grow your own food. Fortunately, our experienced vole extermination team can tailor pest control solutions to the needs of your specific home and property. Contact us today for immediate service with vole removal or any other pest or wildlife control!
