Vole
Microtus spp.
moderate risk
rodent
Overview
Small mouse-like rodents that cause serious damage to lawns, gardens, and orchards through underground tunneling and bark girdling.
10-20cm, stocky body. Short tail, small eyes, short ears hidden in fur. Brown to gray coat.
Prevention Strategies
- •Hardware cloth cylinders around tree bases
- •Keep grass mowed short around trees
- •Remove ground cover and mulch away from tree bases in winter
- •Habitat modification to reduce shelter
Control Methods
- •Snap traps in active runways
- •Zinc phosphide baits in runways (follow label strictly)
- •Predator encouragement (raptors, snakes, foxes)
- •Habitat modification
Interesting Facts
- •Population cycles peak every 3-5 years with 10-fold increases
- •Entire orchard rows can be girdled and killed under a single winter's snow
- •Hawk and owl populations rise and fall with vole populations
- •Different species have different habitat preferences - meadow voles vs pine voles