Voles are small, rodent-like mammals that often resemble mice, though they typically have chubbier bodies, shorter tails, and smaller ears. These creatures commonly inhabit grassy areas, gardens, and other environments offering dense vegetative cover. Given their elusive nature and tendency to move through concealed pathways, their presence is frequently indicated by sounds before they are seen. Understanding the distinct noises voles produce can help in identifying their activity in a specific area.
Describing Vole Sounds
Voles communicate through a range of vocalizations, with chirps and squeaks being among the most common. These sounds are typically high-pitched, often resembling the chirps made by birds or mice, and serve as communication, particularly when frightened or perceiving danger. Some of their vocalizations, particularly those used by pups, are ultrasonic, meaning their frequency is beyond the range of human hearing.
Beyond chirps and squeaks, voles also produce other sounds that offer clues to their behavior. Water voles, for instance, have been observed making distinct “piping” cries when agitated or angry. Similarly, eastern meadow voles can produce chattering noises with their teeth, which may indicate irritability or stress.
While not strictly vocalizations, movement sounds such as rustling or scrabbling through vegetation or tunnels are frequently associated with vole activity. These sounds are subtle, though predators like owls can detect them. Water voles are also known to make audible “crunching” sounds as they nip at vegetation.
Context for Identifying Vole Vocalizations
Interpreting vole sounds effectively requires an understanding of their activity patterns and environment. Voles are often most active and vocal during dawn, dusk, and throughout the night. To detect their subtle noises, it is helpful to listen carefully near dense vegetation, garden beds, or close to their burrow entrances, as these are areas where they commonly reside and forage. Many of their calls are ultrasonic, meaning specialized equipment like bat detectors are sometimes needed to hear them.
Distinguishing vole sounds from those of other small mammals is also helpful. While mice produce squeaks that can be louder and more distinct, some vole sounds are ultrasonic, making them inaudible to humans. Shrews, which are sometimes mistaken for voles, have pointed snouts and tiny eyes, unlike the rounded heads and larger eyes of voles. Shrews also make high-pitched sounds for navigation and communication, but their appearance is a more reliable identifier than their vocalizations alone.
Non-Auditory Signs of Vole Presence
Beyond sounds, several physical indicators can confirm the presence of voles. One of the most apparent signs is the presence of narrow, well-worn runways, typically one to two inches wide, that snake through grass or just beneath the surface of the soil. These pathways are created as voles clip grass close to the ground, and they connect burrows to feeding areas. Unlike moles, voles do not create raised ridges along their runways.
Another sign of vole activity is the presence of their droppings, which are small, granular, and dark brown, resembling tiny rice-grain-sized pellets, approximately 6mm or 1/4 inch long. These droppings are often found along their runways or near feeding sites. Small, inconspicuous burrow entrances, about the size of a golf ball or one to 1.5 inches in diameter, can also indicate their presence. These holes are typically clean, lacking the telltale dirt mounds associated with other burrowing animals.
Voles also leave irregular gnaw marks on plants, especially on tree bark at the base, often up to 30 centimeters high. These marks are distinctively small, roughly 3mm wide by 1.5mm deep, and appear in irregular patterns. Damage to plants, such as wilting, yellowing, or the complete disappearance of roots and bulbs, further suggests vole activity.