How do you know if you have a vole?
Voles look like field mice with short tails, compact heavy bodies, small eyes, and partially hidden ears. Voles are 5 to 8 inches long and have prominent orange teeth for gnawing plant roots and stems. These opportunists will dig characteristic golf ball-sized exit holes in previously established mole tunnels.
What attracts voles to your yard?
Voles are attracted to areas with ample vegetation for food and cover. Rather than encouraging voles to live in your yard, take steps to remove these elements to help drive them out naturally. Mow your lawn and pull weeds regularly. Remove ground cover like brush, low-lying bushes & shrubs.
How do I know if I have a mouse or a vole?
Appearance. Voles look like the stockier cousins of field mice. Although they share a mouse's rounded ears, voles have thicker bodies, much shorter tails, and rounder, blunter snouts. Most voles have fur that's a mixture of chestnut brown and black.
How do you get rid of vole?
How to Get Rid of Voles: 5 Effective WaysRemove vegetation. Voles don't like to feed out in the open. ... Protect young trees. Voles love to gnaw on the trunks of young trees. ... Use live traps. ... Use natural repellants. ... Contact a professional pest management company. ... Vole Poisons. ... Repellents. ... Traps.More items...•
How does Dawn dish soap get rid of moles?
The scent of the soap will repel the moles and keep them away. You can repeat this process every few days or as needed until the moles are gone. You may also need to reapply after heavy rainfalls.
What is the best vole killer?
Top 3 most effective vole poisons:Motomco Tomcat All-Weather Bait Chunx.JT Eaton Bait Block.Sweeny's Mole and Gopher Poison Peanuts.
Will voles come in your house?
Voles are very small rodents that people often get mixed up with ordinary house mice. Voles, however, are known to live primary outdoors and will rarely come inside.
Can voles climb walls?
They eat bark and roots of trees, usually in fall or winter. Voles store seeds and other plant matter in underground chambers. Voles are poor climbers and usually don't enter homes or other buildings.
What sound do voles make?
Vole sound communication includes two main signals: squeaks and singing. The sounds made by M. hartingi have significantly higher frequency parameters than those of other species. Voles of all species squeak in situations of distress, and the males sing during courtship of the females.
What scent will keep voles away?
You can repel voles by using scents they dislike such as rosin and peppermint. Voles also hate certain plants like pachysandra, daffodil, and boxwood and are repelled by cleared areas such as crushed gravel, pavement, and clear yards.
What is a home remedy to get rid of voles?
Mix a portion of castor oil with liquid soap, and dilute with a gallon of water. Spray or splash around the perimeter of your home, in burrowed holes, and your lawn and garden as vole pest control.
What is the best bait for voles?
peanut butterThe best bait for voles includes bread and butter, small nuts, cherry pits, oatmeal, sunflower or similar seeds, mixed peanut butter and oatmeal or gumdrops. When baiting vole traps, make sure you put the bait in and around the trap.
What scent will keep voles away?
You can repel voles by using scents they dislike such as rosin and peppermint. Voles also hate certain plants like pachysandra, daffodil, and boxwood and are repelled by cleared areas such as crushed gravel, pavement, and clear yards.
What is a home remedy to get rid of voles?
Mix a portion of castor oil with liquid soap, and dilute with a gallon of water. Spray or splash around the perimeter of your home, in burrowed holes, and your lawn and garden as vole pest control.
What is the fastest way to get rid of moles in your yard?
Repel or eliminate moles in your yard by following these steps:Remove their food source.Avoid overwatering your lawn.Apply repellents.Poison moles with bait.Kill moles with traps.
What plants keep voles away?
These include crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis), daffodils, grape hyacinth, hellebores, iris, salvia, and snowdrops. Plants that repel voles: Voles will avoid most plants in the allium family. Plant ornamental alliums in garden beds and include garlic, onions, and chives in edible plots to deter voles.
How big are voles?
Voles have certain characteristics that will help you tell them apart from other common small rodents: Voles can range in length depending on the species, but can be about 3-7 inches long , and weigh only a few ounces. They are about the size of a mouse.
What Is a Vole?
Voles are small rodents that are very common in fields and yards. They are often called field mice, meadow mice, or meadow moles, and create surface runways that help to identify their presence.
Do voles live year round?
Vole Habits & Habitat. Voles are active year-round, day and night. They can sometimes get confused with moles (see vole vs mole image above), since some species do create tunnel systems underground. However, they spend a lot of time above ground and they eat plants, not insects, like moles . Voles create runways in grass, ...
Do voles make runways?
Voles create runways in grass, and keep these runways trimmed short, which helps you to find and identify vole presence.
How big are voles?
Voles are small, chunky, ground-dwelling rodents. Mature voles are 5 to 7 inches long and have stocky bodies, short legs, and short tails. Adults are chestnut-brown mixed with black, and their underparts are dark gray.
What is the difference between a mole and a vole?
Voles are frequently mistaken for moles, shrews, and mice. Moles have greatly enlarged front feet, with prominent digging claws. Moles also have no external ears and very small eyes. Shrews are smaller than voles, and have long, pointed snouts and pointed front teeth, with their eyes and ears nearly hidden in their fur. Voles have rounded, blunt snouts, and their front teeth are chisel-shaped. Their eyes and ears are readily apparent. The distinction between voles and mice is less obvious. The best way to distinguish them is by tail length. Mice have long tails that extend nearly half their body length, whereas voles have short tails.
What repellents are good for voles?
Repellents. Repellents containing thiram (a fungicide) or capsaicin (the ingredient that makes chili peppers hot) are registered for vole control. Little data is available on the effectiveness of repellents to deter vole damage. Therefore, repellents should not be used as the sole method of vole control.
What are the signs that voles are using runways?
Bits of freshly cut vegetation and accumulations of vole droppings (brown or green in color and shaped like rice grains) in surface runways are positive evidence that the runways are being used. Vegetation, small roots, or mold in the paths indicate that voles no longer use them. Meadow voles may also build and use underground tunnels, and they will often use underground tunnels made by moles or woodland voles.
What are the four species of voles in Pennsylvania?
Left to right: Mole, vole, and shrew. Four species of voles occur in Pennsylvania: the meadow vole ( Microtus pennsylvanicus ), the woodland (or pine) vole ( Microtus pinetorum ), the red-backed vole ( Clethrionomys gapperi ), and the rock vole ( Microtus chrotorrhinus ).
How to tell if a vole is in the meadow?
The most easily identifiable sign of meadow voles is an extensive surface runway system with numerous burrow openings (see diagram). Voles keep these runways free of obstructions, and vegetation near well-traveled runways may be clipped close to the ground. Overhanging vegetation provides cover as they travel along runways. Such travel lanes, about 1½ inches wide, are reliable indicators of meadow vole activity. Woodland voles do not use surface runways, but rather build extensive systems of underground tunnels. As they build the tunnels, they push out dirt, producing small, conical piles of soil on the ground surface. These small, conical piles of soil are an indicator of woodland vole activity.
How to tell if a vole is a mouse or a shrew?
The distinction between voles and mice is less obvious. The best way to distinguish them is by tail length . Mice have long tails that extend nearly half their body length, whereas voles have short tails. Left to right: Mole, vole, and shrew.
What are the signs of voles?
Vole Holes. Holes are another visible sign of vole activity. The animals dig dime-sized entrances to their burrows around the roots of plants. Following surface runways often leads to a vole hole.
What Does a Vole Hole or Tunnel Look Like?
Unsightly vole tunnels and holes are the most noticeable problem associated with these pests. Residents can check for specific visual cues to know if voles are present.
What are voles known for?
Vole Damage. These small, burrowing animals are best known for the harm they cause to turf and landscaping. Vole tunnels are most visible as snow begins to melt in spring. Over the winter, the pests live underground and create runways on the surface of yards to connect their burrow entrances.
Do voles have nocturnal populations?
Evidence of a vole problem is easy to see, but spotting these shy, nocturnal pests is rare. While homeowners might not see a large number of the rodents, that doesn't mean they aren't there. In fact, vole population booms are common. The pests may cause extreme issues for several years in an area, then seem to disappear.
Do voles dig tunnels?
Voles dig extensive burrows underground, so people who think they see vole tunnels on the surface of lawns may actually be looking at vole runways. During the winter, the pests feed on grass under a blanket of snow. The runways they create look like thin, dirt-colored trails that snake across the yard.
What is the difference between a mole and a vole?
Moles “M” are meat-eaters, and their diet consists of insects, grubs, and earthworms. Voles “V”, on the other hand, are vegetarians and eat the roots and stems of plants.
What do voles eat?
Voles are voracious pests that eat the roots of trees and other desirable plants. The vole’s front teeth will leave 1/4 inch side-by-side grooves in the wood as seen in this photograph.
How many feet of tunnels do moles dig?
It digs characteristic volcano-shaped hills in the lawn. The tunnels are dug at a rate of 18 feet per hour and can add 150 feet of new tunnels in the lawn each day. Moles are expert diggers that will consume up to 60 to 100% of their body weight in insects, grubs, and earthworms each day.
How to keep voles out of my yard?
Keep turfgrass mowed and dethatched regularly, and keep mulch cleared from around tree bases. To protect an area from a vole infestation, a wire fence with a mesh of ¼ inch or smaller will help exclude them. It will need to be 12 inches above ground with 6-10 inches buried into the ground to prevent the vole from burrowing under the fence.
What are the two types of voles in South Carolina?
The two types of voles found in South Carolina are meadow voles and pine voles. Meadow voles are much larger and live most of their lives above ground, whereas pine voles are much smaller and live almost all their lives underground. Damage by meadow voles is usually to the base of plants and fruit trees.
What type of trap is used in an active mole tunnel?
A harpoon style mole trap may be used in an active mole tunnel.
How big is a mole?
A mole is 4 to 7 inches in length with paddle-shaped feet and prominent digging claws. It has an elongated head and snout, small eyes, and no external ears. The short black-to-brownish-gray fur has no grain, which allows the mole to move easily forward and backward in the tunnels.
What are voles' physical characteristics?
A vole’s body is stocky, rounded, and shaped similar to a potato. Its short hair is usually colored brown to black, with a darker belly.
How to tell if a mole is a vole?
Walk carefully around the entire length of your property, paying special attention to the ground. Even in daylight, you may want to use a flashlight to shine on the ground so you don’t trip over any runways. If you do see ground damage, you can identify that it’s a vole rather than a mole if there are surface runways or small tunnel entrances. On the other hand, moles will stay solely underground and create large mounds that run the length of the tunnels. Another indicator of voles will be the debris and droppings they leave along their runways or entrances to their tunnels.
How long do voles live?
Both male and female voles will stay with their mother and father for only a short period of time. Voles only live for about a year.
What pets repel voles?
Household Pets. Cats and dogs can serve as natural vole repellents because of their inherent predatory nature. A cat may also bring the voles directly to you, which can actually help you see how many they’ve taken care of, and you’ll notice as the population begins to thin out.
How to get rid of voles?
Once you know you have voles, you can create a long-term strategy to eradicate them using any combination of physical barriers, repellent, poisons, bait and traps. But don’t skip the previous steps – you don’t want to waste money on products unsuitable for vole control. Understanding what you’re dealing with can also help you decide whether you need a wildlife expert who can implement an integrated pest management system.
Where to place a vole trap?
Place the trap strategically where it will receive a lot of traffic. Since vole runways are open-faced, you can peer inside them to see which areas look well-used. These areas will likely be slightly deeper or wider, and there will be more vole droppings.
What is the difference between a vole and a mouse?
Differences Between Voles and Mice. Mice have very large eyes and ears, while voles’ eyes and ears are small in comparison. Mice have a long tail that extends nearly twice as long as its body, but voles’ tails are much shorter.
What does a vole look like?
A Vole Looks Like a Mouse. Voles are nocturnal and timid, so there’s not much chance that gardeners will see them while weeding on a sunny spring morning. And even if they do, the vole might easily be mistaken for a mouse; they’re both rodents, with a similar shape and coloring.
How big are voles?
In fact, voles are tiny in general; woodland voles, the smallest species, are less than 4 inches long and weigh no more than 1 ounce—about the same as five grapes. They have soft, thick, dense fur and eyes that could be described as “bright.” (Although exasperated gardeners might use the term “beady” instead!)
What does a molehill mean?
Aside from serving as the foundation of many a metaphorical mountain, molehills are a clear sign that this critter has moved in—or rather, under. Moles live an entirely subterranean existence, and their hills only hint at what’s beneath the surface: an expansive system of tunnels, “larders” where moles can store their earthworm provisions, and sleeping dens.
What do moles eat?
Moles Eat Earthworms, Beetles, and Grubs. Moles are insectivores, and voracious ones at that. They can consume up to 100 percent of their own body weight every day, totaling an average of 50 pounds of earthworms, grubs, and beetle larvae annually.
How to make a potato snoot?
Take the biggest potato you can find and fashion one end into a sharply tapered snoot. Add two large flippers, one on either side of the potato’s girth and each equipped with long, sharp, scary-looking claws. Put a pair of smaller limbs at the other end, almost as an afterthought. Cover it with velvety brown fur.
How deep do moles live?
Moles’ subsoil living spaces are generally 8 to 12 inches deep, with one exception. When a mole is actively searching for a mate, it will tunnel just beneath the surface, enabling it to pop up at intervals and scan the surroundings for potential partners. A solo mole’s territory can comprise more than 2 ½ acres.
How many yards can a mole dig?
Averaging a mere 7 inches long, moles are incredible diggers. In just one day, a mole is capable of digging more than 200 yard s, and in so doing, displacing an astonishing 540 times its own body weight in soil.
General Biology
- The meadow vole is most often found in extensive grassy or weedy areas such as old fields and moist hillsides with heavy ground cover. However, stream and pond banks, orchards, pastures, hay fields, and fence rows also provide suitable habitat for meadow and woodland voles. Meadow voles occasionally invade lawns, gardens, and nurseries. Woodland vo...
Description of Damage
- Voles may cause extensive damage to orchards, ornamentals, and tree plantings by gnawing on the bark of seedlings and mature trees (girdling). They eat crops outright and also cause damage by building extensive runway and tunnel systems through crop fields. Underground, woodland voles may consume small roots, girdle large roots, and eat bark from the base of trees. After th…
Legal Status
- Voles are classified as nongame mammals and are protected. However, they can be controlled when causing damage.
Damage Control
- The preferred vole damage control techniques vary with the size of the population. When populations are low and damage is not extreme, exclusion or trapping may be the most economical means of avoiding damage. Large populations causing extensive damage may warrant the use of repellents and toxicants. If the property owner does not feel he or she can pro…
Acknowledgments
- Portions of this fact sheet were adapted from Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage, a two-volume manual edited by Scott E. Hyngstrom, Robert M. Timm, and Gary E. Larson and published by the University of Nebraska's Cooperative Extension Division, USDA APHIS-ADC, and the Great Plains Agricultural Council's Wildlife Committee. Partial funding for the development of this fact …
Description of The Vole
Interesting Facts About The Vole
- These prolific little mammals are widespread and an important part of the food chain, albeit, at the bottom. They may look like mice, but these creatures have behavior all their own. 1. Plant Power– When food is plentiful, voles are quite fond of eating plants. Of the rodents and other small animals, they have some of the highest preference for plants. This can make it easy to ide…
Habitat of The Vole
- There are few habitats that voles cannot survive in. They have adapted well to a human-centric world, and can even live in cities and urban areas, as well as farms and pastures. Some of their primary habitats include meadows, and other open areas. When open grassy fields or meadows are not available, they are happy to accept pastures. The habitat preference varies based on the …
Distribution of The Vole
- The many different species of voles can range across much of the world. In fact, there are few places that you can’t find voles! A variety of species can reside across Eurasia, and India, as well as Australia, North America, and more. There are even species that live in the Arctic tundra, though they do not inhabit Antarctica.
Diet of The Vole
- As discussed above, when given the choice, voles prefer to eat plants. However, they are not strictly herbivores. They will also feed on carrion when they come across it, as well as seeds, nuts, and berries. Grasses and flowering plants make up a large portion of their diet. Other food sources include flowers, fruits, fungi, insects, snails, bark, roots, and bulbs. When populations ar…
Vole and Human Interaction
- Humans and voles interact frequently, though humans do not realize it as much as the voles do. Because they are so small, these rodents go unnoticed most of the time. Humans kill or trap them for destroying crops, or getting into animal feed. Humans also threaten some species through habitat destruction. While many species have booming populations, some species, or subspecie…
Vole Care
- The primary concern with keeping these creatures is providing an appropriate diet. A variety of fresh greens are the best choice for these rodents, rather than a diet aimed at domesticated mice. The occasional fruits, veggies, seeds, and insects make good treats. The exact care requirements vary species by species, some species are social and must live with other voles. Regardless of t…
Behavior of The Vole
- With 155 different species, behavior varies dramatically. Some species are diurnal and active during the day, and others are nocturnal and only active at night. Many species are social, and live in groups, while others are solitary or even territorial. Many vole colonies can grow to be very large, as vole families can produce many offspring per year.
Reproduction of The Vole
- Most species of voles can produce anywhere between 5 and 10 litters in a single year. The gestation period is just 3 weeks long, and the average litter produces up to 10 young. Those offspring reach sexual maturity and can reproduce within a month of birth. A single pair can have up to 100 offspring in a single year! This means that an unchecked population can grow drastica…