Voles
Voles are small rodent-like creatures that live in North America and Europe. There are many different types of voles, but they share some common characteristics. Voles are very active, and they love to explore their surroundings.
One of the unique qualities that voles possess is their ability to store food. They store seeds, fruits, and vegetables in underground chambers called caches. A vole makes a cache by digging a shallow pit with its front paws. Then the vole gathers up a pile of food and buries it in the pit. It scoops dirt over the cache to hide it from predators.
The caches provide voles with a food supply that they can access during the winter when food is scarce. Voles also use their caches to store information about where they have found food. Voles are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and animals.
How do you recognize voles in your yard?
Voles can be identified by their small size and their characteristic burrows. They are typically about four inches long and have a furry tail. Their fur is typically brown or black, but they can also be gray or red.
Where do voles live?
Voles live in open areas near fields, forests, or wetlands. They typically build their nests in burrows that they dig in the ground. They may also live in piles of brush or logs.
What do voles eat?
Voles are herbivores and eat a wide range of plant products. They may also damage trees by chewing bark from the trunk or branches.
How do you get rid of voles in your yard?
While voles do not typically pose a threat to humans, they can cause damage to gardens and crops. To keep voles out of your yard, you should prune back brush piles and clear away loose logs or piles of leaves. It would help if you also kept an eye out for vole droppings; these droppings are cylindrical and about 5/16 inches long.
If you think you have voles in your yard, it is crucial to contact a pest professional.
17 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Voles in Your Yard
1. Use a repellent.
There are various repellents on the market that can be used to keep voles away from your yard. One popular repellent is called “Mole Free,” which can be found at most home improvement stores.
2. Create a physical barrier.
One way to do this is to install a fence around your property. Ensure that the fence is at least six inches high and no gaps or holes through which voles can enter.
3. Use wire mesh.
Another way to create a physical barrier is to use wire mesh. You can either bury the wire mesh a few inches below the ground’s surface or attach it to the top of your fence.
4. Use a sensory barrier.
Certain smells and textures repel voles so that you can use these as a sensory barrier. One way to do this is to plant thorny plants around your property. Another way is to spread chili pepper powder or garlic cloves around your yard.
5. Trap them.
One of the easiest ways to get rid of voles is to trap them. Various types of traps are available, such as live traps, snap traps, and electronic traps.
6. Destroy their habitat
If you remove their food and shelter, voles won’t have anything to sustain them in your yard.
7. Remove sources of water
You should also make sure that there are no puddles or standing water in your yard. Voles need to be near a water source to survive, so taking away their access to water is one of the most effective ways to get rid of them.
8. Use natural predators
Certain birds, cats, skunks, snakes, and owls prey on voles. You can use these creatures as a form of natural pest control by relocating them into your yard or creating nesting spots for them. One good example is the owl box. Owls will out voles to protect their territory.
Read More: How To Get Rid Of Lizards Permanently? The 21 Best Ways to Get Rid of Lizards Permanently
9. Use a vibrating disk
This is a newer form of technology used to get rid of voles. The vibrating disk emits a loud noise that voles find intolerable and will drive them away from the area.
10. Use sound emitters
You can also use sound emitters to scare voles away from your yard. These devices emit a high-pitched sound that is unpleasant for voles but does not harm them.
11. Use a motion detector
Another way to use sound to get rid of voles is to use a motion detector. This device will activate when it senses movement and will emit an unpleasant noise to scare the voles away.
12. Remove vegetation
Voles are burrowing animals, which means they need dense vegetation to create their underground tunnels and nests. Removing vegetation around your yard will make it harder for them to find a suitable nesting spot and will drive them away from the area. You should leave some open space in your yard so you can easily access areas where voles might be hiding or entering your property.
13. Build a raised bed garden
A raised bed garden is another way to protect certain plants from soil disturbances such as vole holes while still allowing air circulation. The height of the raised beds will also ensure that voles cannot squeeze underneath the fence and enter the garden space. This method has been proven effective by many gardeners.
14. Install metal plates
If you are having trouble with voles digging through your soil to get to your plants, you can install metal plates around the base of the plants. The metal plates will create a physical barrier that will stop the voles from getting to the plant’s roots.
15. Mulch your plants
Mulching your plants is another way to protect them from vole damage. By mulching, you are essentially putting a layer of material (usually bark, straw, or leaves) around the base of the plant. This will create a physical barrier between the plant and the soil and help keep the soil moist.
16. Use chicken wire
You can also create a physical barrier between your plants and voles by using chicken wire. Chicken wire is strong enough to prevent the voles from getting through, but it can easily be removed if you want to get rid of it.
17. Install fencing
One way to keep voles out of your yard is by installing fences. Voles will not try to dig under a fence because they are not good at climbing over raised surfaces, so an effective way of keeping them out is by putting up a fence around your property line. You might need to do some research on local fencing laws before you put up your fence, however.
FAQs
- What are voles?
Voles are small mammals that look like mice. They have short, furry tails and weigh between 1/2 and 2 ounces. There are several different species of voles, but the most common species in North America is the meadow vole.
- Do voles damage gardens and yards?
Yes, voles can cause significant damage to gardens and yards. They will dig tunnels underground to store food and shelter from predators. The tunnels can also cause damage to garden plants and. Voles can also be a nuisance by gnawing on ornamental plants and garden furniture.
- How can I get rid of voles in my yard?
There are a few different ways to get rid of voles in your yard. One way is to place traps near the entrances to their tunnels. Another way is to use a repellent, such as castor oil, to make the area unappetizing to voles. Finally, you can also fence off your yard to prevent them from entering.