What is how to get rid of voles?

Voles, also known as meadow mice, can cause significant damage to lawns, gardens, and ornamental plants. Here's how to manage them:

• Habitat Modification: Voles thrive in areas with dense ground cover. Reducing these areas can make your property less appealing to them.

  • Remove tall grasses and weeds around your property.
  • Keep lawns mowed short, especially in the fall.
  • Clear away leaf litter and mulch from around trees and shrubs.
  • Consider using gravel or rock mulch around susceptible plants instead of organic mulches.

• Exclusion: Physical barriers can be effective at protecting valuable plants.

  • Use hardware cloth to create barriers around tree trunks, vulnerable plants, or entire garden beds. Bury the hardware cloth a few inches below the ground to prevent voles from burrowing underneath.

• Trapping: Trapping is a common and often effective method for controlling vole populations.

  • Use mousetraps or vole-specific traps baited with peanut butter, apple slices, or oatmeal.
  • Place traps near vole runways or burrow entrances.
  • Check traps frequently and dispose of captured voles properly.

• Repellents: Chemical repellents can deter voles from feeding on plants.

  • Apply vole repellents containing ingredients like castor oil, capsaicin (from chili peppers), or thiram around vulnerable plants.
  • Reapply repellents after rain or irrigation.
  • Be aware that repellents may not be effective in all situations, especially when food sources are scarce.

• Natural Predators: Encourage natural predators of voles, such as owls, hawks, cats, and foxes.

  • Provide habitat for owls by installing owl boxes.
  • Consider allowing cats to roam your property (if safe for the cat and local regulations allow).

• Fumigation: Fumigation of vole burrows is generally not recommended for homeowners due to safety concerns and potential environmental impacts. It is best to contact a professional pest control company if you are considering this method.

• Other Considerations:

  • Identify vole runways and burrow entrances to determine the extent of the infestation and target your control efforts.
  • Be persistent. Vole control may require ongoing effort, especially in areas with large vole populations.
  • Consider a combination of methods for best results.

Disclaimer: Always follow product label instructions when using any pesticides or repellents. Consider the potential impact on non-target animals and the environment.