8 Ways to Vole Control

Voles are small rodents that are also called  “meadow mice.” Their habitat includes shrubs, fields, forests, woodland, grasslands, moorland habitat, hayfields, pond banks, pastures, streams, and orchards. Their diet consists of plant leaves, roots, tubers, seeds, grass, bulbs, stems, vegetable crops, insects, fungi, and even snails. Immediate action should be taken if these rodents decide to visit your garden because they are known to kill newly planted trees, shrubs vegetables, flower bulbs, and other garden plants. Voles also damage healthy lawns by grazing on the roots and the grass blades, causing the lawn to thin out and become patchy.

How to Identify Voles

Voles resemble mice, they are pudgy small rodents with a shorter tail and a darker color and have small eyes and partially hidden ears. Although voles are mostly brown to black their colors can also range from yellow to brown or red to brown. Voles can live for about 12 months, a single female mole can produce 15 to 50 young per year.

Signs that You have a Vole issue

Here are some signs that you may have a vole issues.

• Physically seeing them.
• Holes in the soil.
• Grass that is allowed to be kept high during the summer months with a ripple that is seen moving through the lawn turf may be a vole or even a snake; therefore, you should be careful.
• Tiny trails in your yard that are 1 to 2 inches in width, these trails may be especially visible after a snowy winter.
• When the soil is walked on it feels spongy because of the moles tunnling.
• Garden plants especially crops collapse because of voles chewing through the roots. Plants also turn yellow and wilt.
• If you have a cat that sits still in one spot of your yard watching, it may be that you have a vole issue.

Voles are most active during spring months, and their tunnels are mostly noticed in spring after the snow melts.

1. Apply Repellent Sprays

Repellent can be sprayed or applied around gardens and lawns,  these repellents can be store-bought or home-made and must be reapplied especially after heavy rain. These products are formulated from hot pepper, predator urine, and castor oil

2. Use Barries

Installing a low fence will keep voles at bay, low fences can be installed around garden beds, the fence can be made of 1/2 inch hardware cloth installed around your garden beds and buried 5-12 inches in the soil. Bulb cages and tree guards can be used for protection. Tree guards should be installed as close to the ground as possible to prevent moles from getting under the barriers. Ensure however that the tree guard tree guard isn’t too tight. When applying mulch around the base of your trees make sure that mulch doesn’t make contact with tree trunks to discourage voles from hiding. Reducing brush piles will also limit mole hiding places.

4. Install Vole Proof Plants

The installation of plants that moles hate is a great way to deter moles some of these plants include, Castor bean, Crown imperial, Daffodil, Snowdrops, mint plants,  salvias, grape hyacinth, grape hyacinth, alliums, Lenten rose, etc…

5. Install Live Trap

The installation of rat traps baited with peanut butter and placed near the base of trees where voles nest or perpendicular to vole tunnels can work, but setting live traps calls for consistency the traps will have to be checked regularly. Once voles are caught it’s important to follow local guidelines to relocate and release voles back into the wild or far away from your home.

6. Attract Natural Predators

A well-manicured garden that’s kept clean will reduce a vole hiding place causing the voles to be easily seen by their predators, some of voles’ predators include owls, hawks, domestic cats, raccoons, weasels, badgers, foxes, seagulls, etc…

7. Use Companion Planting

Companion planting is a great way not only to deter voles but other garden pests, install plants that voles hate next to plants that are vulnerable to vole attack. This will help minimize voles damage because of the scent these plants give off. Some of these plants include onion, garlic, chives, thyme, golden sage, catmint, sweet clover,  etc…

8. Keep Your Yard Tidy

An effective way to keep voles, rodents, and other garden pests at bay and to ensure the health of garden plants and turf grass is to keep your garden tidy, don’t allow the lawn to overgrow but keep it at the proper mowing height. Keep garden plants nicely trimmed, keep garden flower beds clean of debris and leaves, and keep your yard free of weeds. In other words, a well-maintained garden contributes to a healthy garden.

9. Moisture

Besides food sources voles are also attached to water sources, therefore it’s best to reduce moisture by not overwatering your garden and lawn, and remove outdoor containers that collect and hold standing water. If there are any outside leaky faucets and pipes repair them right away. The goal is to cut off all outdoor water sources from voles.

Note: The time to consider calling a professional pest control company is if the vole issue is persistent and is causing server damage to your garden and landscape. This call may call for you to spend a bit of your dollars but at least you would have won the war of vole control.

Additional Information

• When applying mulch in your garden apply 1 inch deep because heavily mulch areas are a good hiding place for voles.
• Voles hate the smell of castor oil, simply mix castor oil in water add to a 32 oz. spray bottle, and spray around your garden plants to protect against vole damage.
• Garlic spray will keep voles at bay this homemade spray can be simply made by crushing some garlic cloves and steeping the cloves in 1 quart of boiling water for about 35 minutes. Strain the mixture into a 32 oz. spray bottle, add 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and shake thoroughly or you can purchase ready-to-use garlic spray from your local nursery or garden center.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What exactly are voles, and why are they in my yard?

Answer:
Voles are small, mouse-like rodents that love to dig tunnels and munch on roots, bulbs, and grass. They often invade yards because they’re attracted to thick ground cover, overgrown grass, and food sources like plants and vegetables. If your yard is cozy and well-fed, they see it as a perfect home!

 2. How can I tell if I have voles and not moles?

Answer:
Great question! Voles create shallow surface runways and leave behind small exit holes, while moles make raised tunnels and push up soil into mounds. Also, moles eat insects—voles are all about your plants. If your garden roots are mysteriously dying, voles are likely the culprits.

 3. What’s the fastest way to get rid of voles?

Answer:
The quickest method is setting snap traps near active runways, baited with apple slices or peanut butter oats. Combine that with cleaning up dense ground cover and applying repellents like castor oil-based sprays. Traps catch them, and the clean-up discourages them from coming back.

 4. Do vole repellents really work?

Answer:
Yes, when used correctly. Most effective vole repellents use ingredients like castor oil, garlic, or predator urine. They don’t harm the voles, but make your yard smell or taste awful to them. For best results, reapply after rain and pair repellents with habitat control.

 5. Are vole control methods safe for pets and kids?

Answer:
Definitely, but you’ll need to choose wisely. Go for non-toxic repellents and pet-safe traps. Avoid poison baits—they’re dangerous for curious pets and children. Always read product labels and, if using traps, place them out of reach.

 6. Can landscaping choices help prevent voles?

Answer:
Absolutely! Voles love thick, low vegetation. Keep grass trimmed at the proper height, Don’t keep mulch piles near foundations, and avoid dense groundcovers like ivy. You can also plant vole-resistant plants like daffodils, alliums, and fritillaria to help keep them away.

 7. Will flooding their tunnels work to drive them out?

Answer:
It might force a few out temporarily, but it’s not a long-term solution. Voles will often return or dig new tunnels elsewhere. Plus, flooding can damage your lawn. It’s better to address the root causes and use targeted control methods.

 8. Do voles go away in winter?

Answer:
Not really. Voles stay active year-round, even under snow! In fact, snow cover can protect them from predators and help them tunnel freely. Winter damage to lawns and shrubs often signals vole activity beneath the snow.

 9. What is the length of time to get rid of a vole infestation?

Answer:
It depends on how large the infestation is and what control methods you use. With consistent trapping, repellents, and yard maintenance, you could see results in a few weeks. For larger infestations, it may take a couple of months to fully clear them out.

 10. Should I call a professional for vole problems?

Answer:
If traps and repellents aren’t doing the trick, or the damage is extensive, it’s smart to bring in a pest control pro. They can assess the situation, locate burrows, and implement a more aggressive (but safe) treatment plan.

Conclusion

Voles like other garden pests can be controlled, these tiny rodents can cause major issues to garden plants, we have discussed what needs to take place if you have a vole issue or if you want to keep voles at bay. This guide is your blueprint for vole control. Why let these critters take over your garden and landscape even destroying your nicely kept lawn when you can strike back with these effective methods stopping voles in their tracks?