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What Are Voles?

YESpestpros • Aug 29, 2021

As a part of the rodent family, voles are similar in appearance to mice and moles. They mainly eat plants, roots, and stems but occasionally feed on meat, like tiny insects or animal remains when food is scarce. 

Voles also prefer to burrow around the outside edge of buildings or driveways or chew their way through the grass, which leaves a very noticeable mark!

Is it a Vole?

The vole has distinct characteristics that can help us tell it apart from other rodents, which include:

  • The body shape of voles is stockier, more round than that of mice
  • The tail length is shorter than a mouse’s tail.
  • The ears of voles do not protrude like a mouse. They look as though you can only see half of the ear.
  • The teeth of a vole are distinctly orange, resulting from their diet of roots and plants.

Signs of Voles

If you’ve yet to see the creature and have only observed the damage or marks it’s leaving behind in your yard or garden, here are some signs to look for:

  • Look for holes in the soil that are 1-1 ½ inches in diameter. These are their entrances and exits. If you see mounds/piles of dirt, this is an indication of moles, not voles.
  • Feel if certain parts of your lawn are squishy when stepped on (this indicates a burrow may be underneath the surface) 
  • See plants dying? That can be an indication of voles as they eat the roots of plants or shrubbery.

How to Get Rid of Voles

Now that you know what to look for to identify voles, you’re better equipped to handle the problem! Whether voles have made their way into your yard or garden, these are some things you can do to protect your property.

  1. Traps may prove helpful if the number of voles in the area of your home and garden is on the low side. Placing a snap trap with a bit of peanut butter, oats, or apples on it under a box can be effective, as voles don’t enjoy being seen or eating in plain sight. In addition, the box will make them feel more at home and protect any children or pets enjoying the yard. 
  2. Repellants can also be made right from your kitchen. Voles aren’t fans of capsaicin (the protein that gives peppers their spice). Chopping peppers and mixing them with a solution of water and eco-friendly dish soap can prove to be a helpful repellent when sprayed at entrances. 
  3. Certain yard precautions will help you protect the hard work you’ve put into your lawn or garden. Since voles aren’t keen on being visible, removing densely populated greenery from the ground and keeping the property mowed will give them fewer places to hide. Reducing the amount of mulch used around trees or gardens can also be helpful for the same reason.

The Solution

As vole populations can multiply quickly, don’t fret if you still see evidence of voles even after your best efforts. Yes Pest Pros has trained professionals to help you get rid of voles or any other pests on your property. Our practical, effective, and environmentally safe solutions are at your service!

The post What Are Voles? appeared first on Yes Pest Control.

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