Lawn Care – How To
What are Voles?
Why do I have trails running through my yard? You may have a mouse-like rodent called a vole. Voles are distinguished from a mouse by their short tails, stocky bodies and short legs. Under ideal conditions voles produce from March through October. They can produce litters of three to eight young about every 21 days. Females can reach maturity in 35 to 40 days and start raising litters of their own. The life span of a vole last from about 2 to 16 months.
Voles create trails throughout the yard by eating the grass down to the crown. These trails are more evident during the winter months when the lawn is not actively growing. Trails lead to small holes that go down to underground runways and nesting areas. Voles are not limited to eating grass but can also damage nearby landscape plants. Flowers, shrubs and trees are all susceptible to damage from vole foraging.
Controlling voles is relatively easy. A mouse trap baited with a small piece of apple or peanut butter-oatmeal bait will also work. Place the trap under a roof shingle or small board approx. 3 inches off the ground to give the vole a place for cover. Set the trap at right angles to the run and set back- to- back within the run. Using a rodenticide may be the easiest way to control unwanted voles. Most of these are an anticoagulant. The Grass Pad sells a Mole and Gopher pellet that is placed around the runs and holes. A rat and mouse rodenticide , d-Con is also labeled for voles. Remember all rodenticides are designed to kill mammals. Take reasonable precautions and follow label directions so that non-target animals are not harmed.
