Voles are small, stocky rodents often confused with mice or moles, presenting a distinct challenge to gardeners and homeowners. Distinguished by their short tails, small eyes, and partially hidden ears, voles are herbivores that feed on a wide range of plant materials. They cause damage by gnawing on tree bark, particularly in winter, and by eating the roots and bulbs of plants and vegetables. Voles create shallow surface runways through the grass and complex burrow systems, leaving behind destroyed vegetation and unsightly trails. Effective management focuses on leveraging the things voles dislike: intense sensory inputs, exposed environments, and the threat of predation.
Repellents Based on Strong Scents and Tastes
Voles possess a sensitive sense of smell, so strong, noxious odors and tastes can make an area unpalatable enough for them to relocate. Commercial repellents frequently utilize castor oil, which coats food sources and tunnels with an unpleasant residue. This oil, often mixed with a surfactant, is applied as a liquid drench directly into active runways and burrow entrances to saturate the soil.
Another effective sensory deterrent is capsaicin, the compound responsible for the heat in chili peppers. Using concentrated capsaicin sprays or ground hot peppers creates a powerful irritant that voles avoid in feeding areas. Similarly, voles generally avoid plants containing pungent, distasteful oils, such as members of the allium family like garlic, onions, and chives.
Homemade liquid applications can be created by steeping garlic or mint in water to create a potent spray solution. These taste- and smell-based products are not a one-time solution, as their efficacy wanes over time. Regular reapplication is necessary to maintain the offensive barrier.
Habitat Modification to Eliminate Shelter
Voles are wary creatures that depend on dense cover to hide from predators, so they dislike open, exposed spaces. Removing thick ground cover, such as overgrown weeds, tall grass, and dense shrubbery, makes a property less attractive. Maintaining a short lawn height eliminates the protective canopy voles need to feel secure while moving and feeding.
Reducing the depth of mulch layers around trees and garden beds is important, as thick mulch provides ideal tunneling material and insulation. A protective ring of bare earth or thin mulch around young trees prevents voles from girdling the bark in winter. Disturbing established tunnel systems through frequent tilling or heavy watering creates an unstable environment.
Physical Barriers
Physical barriers offer a more permanent solution against burrowing and gnawing habits. Since voles are poor climbers, installing a fence or wire mesh with openings no larger than one-quarter inch can protect garden plots. To prevent digging underneath, this barrier must extend at least six to ten inches below the soil surface. For individual plants or bulbs, mixing coarse gravel or sharp, crushed stone into the soil deters digging, as voles dislike tunneling through abrasive materials.
Natural Predators and Biological Deterrents
A vole’s instinctive fear response to being hunted can be leveraged by encouraging the presence of natural enemies. Voles are a primary food source for many predators, including raptors like owls and hawks, and terrestrial hunters such as foxes, coyotes, and snakes. Installing perches or nesting boxes for raptors encourages these avian predators to hunt over the landscape, creating a constant threat that forces voles to remain hidden or move.
The scent of a predator’s urine acts as a powerful psychological deterrent, signaling immediate danger. Products containing coyote or fox urine can be applied around vulnerable areas to create the illusion of a patrolling hunter. This olfactory signal is an effective biological warning. Domestic cats are also effective, as their hunting activities naturally patrol and clear small areas of rodents.