Voles are small, common rodents that can cause significant disruption to residential lawns and gardens. These herbivores are active year-round and possess a voracious appetite for plant material, leading to various forms of landscape destruction. They are often confused with shrews or mice, but understanding their specific signs and habits is key to managing the problems they create.
Identifying Voles and Their Signs
Voles are often mistaken for common house mice, but they possess a stockier body, a more rounded snout, and noticeably smaller eyes and ears that are partially concealed by fur. A key distinction is their tail, which is significantly shorter than a mouse’s, typically only about one-third of their body length. Meadow voles and prairie voles are the most common species found in yards, thriving in areas with dense ground cover that offers shelter from predators.
The most reliable sign of a vole presence is the distinct network of surface runways that crisscross the lawn. These pathways are narrow, usually one to two inches wide, and are created as voles clip the grass close to the soil line while traveling. The runways allow them to move quickly between their feeding areas and burrow entrances.
Unlike the raised soil mounds created by moles, vole tunnels are shallow and often feature small, clean entry holes roughly the size of a golf ball. These burrow openings are typically found along the surface runways or hidden beneath dense vegetation or mulch. The presence of tiny, rice-like droppings, which are dark brown or green, scattered along these active runways, further confirms vole habitation.
Specific Ways Voles Damage Yards and Gardens
Voles’ feeding habits directly impact the health and aesthetics of lawns and gardens. Their constant clipping of grass along runways creates unsightly, winding patches of dead turf, especially visible after winter snowmelt. While surface damage is temporary, voles also feed on grass roots and crowns, which can cause affected areas to feel spongy or soft underfoot.
The most severe damage voles inflict is on woody plants through a process called girdling. This involves gnawing on the bark and underlying tissue around the base of young trees and shrubs, most often near the soil line. Voles prefer to feed on bark during colder months, especially when protected by a layer of snow cover.
When voles chew away a complete ring of bark around the trunk, they sever the flow of water and nutrients between the roots and the rest of the plant. This interruption causes the tree or shrub to starve and ultimately results in its death. Younger trees with smooth bark, such as fruit trees, are particularly vulnerable to this damage.
In garden beds, voles exhibit a strong preference for root crops and ornamental bulbs. They readily consume underground storage organs of plants like potatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips and crocuses, are also a favorite food source, often resulting in missing or partially eaten bulbs. Persistent feeding on roots and tubers can cause plants to wilt suddenly or collapse without any apparent above-ground cause.
Practical Methods for Vole Management
Management of vole populations begins with modifying the outdoor habitat to make the environment less appealing. Voles rely on dense cover for protection, so removing heavy layers of mulch from around trees and garden beds is helpful. A vegetation-free zone of several feet around the base of trees or a layer of crushed stone can deter their activity.
Regular mowing limits the height of the grass, reducing the protective cover voles need to move safely. Clearing away debris like woodpiles, old equipment, and overgrown weeds eliminates potential nesting and hiding spots. Reducing these sheltered areas increases the voles’ exposure to natural predators.
For protecting high-value plants, exclusion methods offer a reliable physical barrier. Young trees and shrubs can be protected from girdling by installing tree guards made of wire mesh or hardware cloth with openings no larger than a quarter inch. These guards should extend a few inches below the soil line and reach above the expected snow line to ensure year-round protection.
To protect vulnerable bulbs, they can be planted within wire baskets made of hardware cloth, preventing voles from accessing the underground food source. Trapping is an effective method for reducing localized populations in small areas. Common mouse snap traps, baited with peanut butter or apple slices, should be placed perpendicular to the active runways so the vole must step over the trigger. The use of poison baits is discouraged due to the high risk of secondary poisoning to pets, wildlife, and natural predators.