Problems with voles in the garden? We show you how to recognize the small rodents and what really helps to successfully combat voles.
As cute as these little rodents may seem, voles can cause a lot of damage in the garden. In the following you will learn everything about the pest and which means are suitable for controlling and driving away voles.
Vole: Wanted file on the pest
The genus of voles (Arvicolinae) consists of several species. These include small field mice and water voles, but also the muskrat, which can be up to 35 cm long. They prefer to build their shallow tunnel systems in moist, light to medium-heavy soil. The rodents feel particularly at home near watercourses and embankments. The loners do not hibernate and can therefore also damage roots over the winter. The litter performance of the females is particularly noteworthy. A female can have up to 20 young animals per year, which leave the nest after just two weeks to create their own tunnel system. The most important enemies of the vole include weasels, foxes, polecats, martens, owls, birds of prey and of course the domestic cat.
Recognizing voles in the garden: differences from moles
Since voles are often nocturnal and remain in their burrow system, identification is almost exclusively possible through damage to the plants. The herbivores like to nibble on root vegetables, potatoes and perennials - and unfortunately fruit trees and shrubs often have to serve as a source of food. The mice usually limit themselves to the roots and subterranean parts of the plant. In the case of root vegetables, the damage is often easy to identify due to the large feeding areas. However, the infestation of an infested fruit tree can usually only be seen through a generally ailing overall picture such as falling or yellowed leaves.
If you notice major damage caused by feeding on the plants or generally recognize sickly plants without being able to assign a specific disease, it is worth taking a close look at the garden soil. Because the voles have to get the excess soil from their tunnel system somewhere. If you find small, oblong earth ejections,these most likely belong to a vole. Other indications are irregular removal of the heaps of earth, which are usually interspersed with roots and plant material. Molehills, on the other hand, are larger, rounder, and more evenly spaced.
Before you even think about combating them, you have to make sure that they really are voles. If moles are attacked by mistake, pen alties of up to 50,000 euros are possible. Besides noting the hill shape, there is another trick to identifying the responsible culprit. All you need to do is find a hole in the tunnel system. These are usually located on the oblong mounds of earth. A carrot is simply inserted into the hole and slightly buried. After about a day you can check on the carrot. If it's been eaten, it's most likely voles, since moles only eat insects, earthworms, and other creatures.
Hint: There are some other animals that dig holes in the garden. We'll show you which ones they are and help you match the holes in your garden to the appropriate animal.
Repel voles: Mechanical control methods
Mechanical methods include all kinds of traps, such as box traps and wire baskets that are placed in the planting hole when trees are planted. We present the individual traps you can use to catch voles. Incidentally, you will achieve the best control results in late autumn or early spring.
Fighting voles with box traps
When setting up box traps (and other mechanical control methods) you should consider a few things so that the desired success is achieved. Always work with gloves and be careful. Before setting up the trap, it should be left outdoors for at least one night, ideally with contact with the ground - this will eliminate the human smell. Place the trap properly and add fresh bait before setting it up. Celery and pieces of carrot are suitable for this. It is also particularly important to regularly check and clear the traps.
Fighting voles with wire baskets
Another method of protection against voles is wire baskets, which can be purchased at the store or plainmade out of wire mesh. If you want to make such a basket yourself, make sure that the mesh size is a maximum of 15 mm. For example, if you want to plant an apple tree, first dig a sufficiently large hole. After that, line the pit with two lengths of wire mesh (cross them) - leave no loopholes for the voles. Plant the tree (voles especially like to nibble on young apple trees) and fill the hole with soil. At the end, simply gently press the wire mesh around the trunk and add another layer of soil on top. Your young trees are already protected from the voracious rodents and can grow and gather strength in peace.
Repel voles with noise and noise
But noise is also a good way to drive voles out of your own garden. For example, bury empty glass bottles in the ground and let the wind do the rest of the work. The wind will blow into the bottle and create sounds like a flute, which will hopefully scare the voles out of the garden. Special vole and mole deterrent devices are supposed to work according to the same system. These pillars are stuck into the ground and are often powered by solar cells. The devices make sounds and are supposed to drive away rodents, but their effect is highly controversial. A cheaper method is definitely the variant with the old glass bottles in the ground. It is best to gather your own experience with these deterrent methods.
Repel Voles: Chemical Control Methods
You can also use poisonous baits, which often consist of pieces of dried carrot and are therefore readily eaten by the voles. These contain the active ingredient zinc phosphide. These bait are placed in the vole exits and eaten by the rodents. Note that these baits must not be placed openly as they are not only poisonous to voles but can also be dangerous to our pets - so be careful.
Home remedies for voles
Since voles have a very sensitive nose, you can also use simple home remedies to deter rodents. For example, you can pour sour buttermilk down the aisles and let the foul-smelling butyric acid do the rest. Seal the aisles after pouring them out to keep the nasty smell of butyric acid from getting into the aircan evaporate, but stays in the vole exit.
Another way to get rid of voles is to plant different plants. In our special article you can find out which plants are suitable for repelling voles.