Vole Identification and Control Strategy

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Voles are often mistaken for other small animals, but their damage is distinct, as they primarily target plants.

• Diet & Damage: Voles thrive on small plants, but will also eat nuts, seeds, and fruits. They are particularly destructive to vegetation:

  • Girdling: Voles will readily girdle (chew away the bark in a ring around the circumference of) small trees and ground cover, which can easily kill young plants and seriously injure mature shrubs.

  • Root Damage: They burrow under plants and ground cover to eat away at succulent root systems until the plant is dead.

  • Bulbs: Bulbs in the ground are a favorite target, accessed via their excellent burrowing and tunneling skills.

• Identification Challenge: The presence of large numbers of voles is often only identifiable after they have destroyed a number of plants and areas of your lawn.

How to Identify a Vole

Voles are small rodents with a high reproduction rate, allowing populations to grow very quickly.

• Size: Voles grow to 3 – 9 inches in length, depending on the species.

• Reproduction: They can have 5 – 10 litters per year. With litters averaging 5–10 young, a single female can produce a hundred or more voles in a year.

• Appearance (Comparison to Mice): Voles have a stouter, rounder body, a shorter tail, and smaller ears compared to the house mouse.

PEST PRO EXTERMINATOR SOLUTION

The first step in solving a vole problem is scheduling an inspection with your Pest Pro Exterminator service technician. Our solutions are carefully designed for effectiveness and safety.

1. Inspection and Strategy: We assess the infestation and consider critical safety factors:

   • Location (front yard vs. backyard activity).

   • Presence of pets (dogs) on your property or a neighbor's.

   • Safety risks to children (picking up traps).

2. Tools and Treatment: Typical solutions involve:

   • Installing rock exterior bait stations that contain a commercial-grade rodenticide, placed strategically near runways.

   • For heavy or severe infestations, snap traps and live traps may also be used in protected locations.

3. Prevention: Once the voles have been eliminated, filling the holes with soil and grass seed will remove existing burrow opportunities and minimize the chance of a reoccurrence.

COMMON CONCERNS ADDRESSED

Why do I have voles?

Voles are attracted by the resources you provide:

• Ideal Habitat: If you have an established yard with lush gardens and beautiful grass, you have created a great environment for voles to thrive, as they feed off grasses, seeds, nuts, and plant bulbs.

• Location: If you live next to a green space, pond, lake, or park, you have an increased likelihood of pest pressure from voles and a wide variety of other wildlife.

My neighbor has voles and won’t do anything about it. Can I still solve my problem?

Yes, you can solve your vole problem, but it will require consistent effort. All properties are constantly being tested by wildlife. When you successfully eliminate a pest on your property, you temporarily create a void. Wildlife from neighboring properties may try to enter and take over this empty space.

While having uncooperative neighbors makes your job harder, a diligent perimeter control program can protect your property. For the right advice and a strategy tailored to a high-pressure environment, remember to speak to your Pest Pro Exterminator service technician.

How do I know if I have a vole or a mouse issue in my garage?

At a casual glance, a vole and a house mouse are very similar.

• Vole Behavior: Voles do not want to be inside a structure. They prefer to burrow, creating runways in lawn areas and garden beds. If a vole is found inside a structure, it is often bad luck—it was not their intention to enter.

• Assumption: You should always assume it is a mouse inside the structure first until proven otherwise by capture.

• Solution: Fortunately, the process for removing a vole from an interior structure is the same as for a house mouse.