Voles

Description

Voles are referred to as "meadow mice" quite frequently due to their shared features, however, they are not actually mice at all! Voles are small, furry rodents that enjoy digging tunnels and eating their weight in plants every day. They easily increase in number faster than predators can eat them. They cause damage to yards and gardens that is often mistaken for the work of moles, mice, and rabbits. Voles are great at burrowing, so direct contact with humans is rare.

Appearance

• Short and stout
• Dense gray or brown fur
• Hidden ears
• Short tails
• Round, blunted noses
• Sharp, chisel-like teeth
• On average are between 5 and 8 inches

Habitat

Out of the 155 species of voles that live around the world, there are only 23 different species in the United States. Like most voles, these species primarily are found in areas with heavy plant cover that helps to shelter them from their natural predators. Predators to the voles include: hawks, owls, coyotes, and cats. In addition to areas with heavy plant cover, voles can be found in grassland prairies, sagebrush prairies, marshes, meadows and forests. Inside a vole's burrow, you can expect to find nests of grass clippings and other plant materials!

Entry

Will voles enter my home or yard?

Voles tend to stray from entering manmade structures due to their lack of ground cover and sufficient plant material. However, they will enter yards! Their burrow entries are easy to spot. Popular areas include gardens, unkempt grass, or overgrown ground cover.

Damage

Do voles harm people or property?

Because is rare for voles to even interact with humans, it is highly unlikely that someone will be harmed by one. What voles will harm are crops, gardens, golf courses, lawns and irrigation systems with their burrowing and feeding habits. Voles have been known to gnaw on the bark of young trees and orchards. Voles are capable of carrying diseases like most rodents but they are an insignificant source of illness.

Control

Control and Safety

To protect your saplings and young trees, you can cover them at the base with cloth, plastic, or wire mesh. Keeping lawns manicured also helps keep these little creatures away! Fences at least 1ft high and buried at least half a foot underground is also often effective at keeping rodents out of gardens.

Trapping and Removal

Voles primarily are classified as protected, non-game animals and may only be trapped or removed if they pose an immediate threat to a person's health or property. Since the effective removal of voles can be difficult, wildlife control experts should be called to handle the problematic rodents. Critter Control professionals have the training and experience to successfully rid residential and commercial properties of vole infestations.

We can help you get rid of vole problems! Call our office in St. Joseph today! 816.654.6922.