In the garden, voles can cause enormous damage to both the plants and the lawn. We'll show you how to get rid of the pests.
Voles can cause significant damage to a garden and are a deterrent to garden owners. The best help against a pest is always knowledge. Therefore, before combating voles, several questions arise. What exactly are voles and how do they live? What properties can be useful in combat? How can a garden be designed in such a way that voles find it unattractive? Can the animals be caught or even killed? And which methods can be used sensibly? Are there also ineffective tips and remedies?
What are voles?
The term vole is not entirely unique. From a biological point of view, the term hides a number of different species, because it designates a group that is defined as a subfamily. This includes the following species and genera:
- Field Mouse,
- bank vole,
- Muskrat,
- water voles and
- Lemmings.
In general usage, the water mice are referred to as voles. There are two variants of this animal species. One lives near larger bodies of water and is sometimes referred to as a water rat. The specimens are slightly heavier than their land-dwelling counterparts. Both species are characterized by a stocky build and small ears. The tail is about 6 to 9 centimeters as long as the body. Water voles vary in color from light brown to black.
Buildings
Voles dig tunnels in the ground and throw up mounds of dirt as they build. These mounds can be confused with those of moles. The tunnels of moles and voles can be distinguished primarily by their shape. The burrows of voles are oval in height and the roots are gnawed. In contrast, loose plant roots hang in the burrow of a mole and it is broadly oval. Furthermore, open burrows are closed relatively quickly by voles, while a mole digs a second tunnel under the open one. The distinction is mainly because of thisimportant because moles are protected. They must not be fought.
The burrows of moles and voles can be distinguished by these features:
| species | Gears | hill |
|---|---|---|
| Mole | • wide oval • roots protruding into the tunnel | • small • pointed • conical |
| Vole | • high oval • roots have been eaten off | • large and flat • with plant remains |
Nutrition
Water voles feed mainly on roots, bulbs and tubers, occasionally smaller animals such as snails and insects are also eaten. The voles can live up to three and a half years and the female animals have litters with usually two to six young three to five times a year.
Voles have several natural predators that can control a vole population. Some of these enemies include the following animals:
- Weasel
- Fox
- Polecat
- Marten
- cat
- Birds of prey, including various species of owls and the common buzzard
What damage can voles do?
Due to their diet, voles damage various plants. They mainly eat the roots, which causes the plants to die. They particularly like carrots, root vegetables and flower bulbs. A particularly large amount of damage can occur when the voles in orchards or tree nurseries nibble on the roots of young trees and these die as a result. Vegetable crops such as carrots or asparagus can also be affected to a considerable extent.
But voles can also cause considerable damage in private gardens. In addition to the eaten roots, the earthworks of the animals sometimes cause problems. The underground passages and mounds of earth can become tripping hazards. In addition, the appearance of a well-groomed lawn is significantly disturbed.
The activities of the voles can be recognized by the typical corridors and tunnels. But also the grazing marks show typical characteristics. The animals usually start by eating the roots, but they also gnaw off the bark just above the surface of the earth. The gnawing marks are about 1.5 to 3.5 millimeters wide.
The following overview shows which plants are most at risk from being bitten by voles:
| Plant Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Root Vegetables | • Carrots • Celery • Salsify • Jerusalem artichoke • Parsnips • Beetroot |
| Flower Roots | • Tulips • Snowdrops • Lilies |
| Fruit Trees | • Apple varieties such as 'Cox Orange', 'Reinette' and 'M9' |
| Perennials with fleshy roots | • Heuchera • Peonies • Daylilies • Glosswort • Wild candles |
| Decorative Hollow | • Wisteria • Clematis • Roses |
How can you make your own garden unattractive as a habitat for voles?
When designing your garden, you can prevent damage caused by voles by following a few tips.
Create barriers
This includes, for example, structural measures such as installing barriers in the form of wire mesh and plant baskets. Ideally, such barriers enclose the entire root system and also protrude a bit from the earth. The upper edge is bent outwards. This prevents the animals from climbing over the barrier. Barriers are a relatively safe measure against voles, as long as some of the animals have not accidentally been enclosed along with the plants to be protected.
Attractive plants and deterrent plants
There are several plants that are said to have either an attractive or deterrent effect on voles. When selecting the plants, areas can be determined in which the attractants for the voles are used. These plants should be easily accessible and popular with the animals. Such an offer is important so that the animals can be kept away from the plants to be protected by other measures. Deterrent plants can be used around these vulnerable plants.
Refuges for the voles not only help to use deterrent measures, but they can also keep the peace in the neighborhood because they don't have to face a sudden infestation. In principle, both attracting and deterrent plants can be seen as supporting measures in combating voles. However, they cannot guarantee the absence of voles.
Attract natural enemies
Attracting natural enemies can be a further aid in the fight against the gnawing pest. On the one hand, it is important to create an attractive environment for these animals, but of course they are not allowed to go through a tight fence eitherbe locked out. Moles should also be seen in the garden from this point of view, because they are also among the natural enemies of voles. They also leave the roots of garden plants alone.
Important tips for a suitable garden design
| Tip | Implementation options |
|---|---|
| Attract natural enemies | • Set up perches for birds of prey • Provide piles of rocks as shelter for weasels and other animals • Create entry holes for owls in outbuildings • Do not fight moles |
| Plant decoys | • Hardy Herbs • Jerusalem Artichoke |
| Use Deterrent Plants | • Garlic • Sweet Clover • Crown Imperials |
| Adjust Tillage | • In late autumn, make desired areas free of voles by thorough tillage |
| Adjust planting period | • Rather in spring than in autumn |
| Use of barriers | • Wire baskets around the roots of trees and shrubs • Wire baskets for bulbs and tubers • Secure raised beds with wire from below |
What home remedies are there for voles?
In addition to the means for garden design, home remedies are sometimes used to drive away the annoying voles. A particularly strong and deterrent smell is usually used. The recommendations range from fermented buttermilk to liquid manure and various types of hair to strong liquor. However, the effect of these agents is questionable and some of the voles also get used to the strong smells. Especially in winter, when food is scarce, the animals will hardly be deterred.
Tip from a reader: Vinegar essence!
Our reader Volker B. gave us the following tip: "I used vinegar essence to drive away my voles. For this I diluted 200 ml of vinegar essence with water in a 10 l watering can and poured the contents into the vole holes. I haven't had any voles in the garden since then."
Can you catch or even kill voles?
In contrast to moles, voles are not under species or nature protection. Therefore, in principle, they can be caught or killed. However, like all animals, they fall under the Animal Welfare Act. The most important sentence of this law can be found right in paragraph 1 and reads as follows:
No one shall cause pain, suffering or harm to an animal without good cause.
UpThis statement raises the question of whether pest control can be counted as an important reason. Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act also gives an answer to this:
… if [the killing of a vertebrate animal] is carried out within the framework of permissible pest control measures, the killing may only be carried out if the pain involved is no more than unavoidable. Only those who have the necessary knowledge and skills may kill a vertebrate.
From this it can be inferred that the killing of voles is generally permitted. However, care should always be taken to ensure that the animals do not suffer any torment as a result. When using live traps, models that work well and do not injure the animals should be chosen. In general, if you have any doubts, it is better to consult a pest control specialist. Because they definitely have the necessary knowledge and skills.
How to catch and kill voles?
Basically, the time from autumn to spring is ideal for attempts to catch or kill with the help of bait. Because during this time the voles will accept bait better because they suffer from a general lack of food. But when traps are placed unbaited in fresh, still-used passages, they usually work very well too.
Hint: If you are bothered by the mounds of moles, you must not kill them. But you have a few options here too. Read our article on getting rid of moles - 8 tips.
Catch voles
In order to catch as many of the small rodents as possible, several traps should be used. It is best to provide one or two catch systems for each corridor that is currently in use. The traps should smell as little as possible, otherwise the voles will avoid them. Wearing old gloves when working and rubbing the traps with dirt will help here. It is best to check the traps daily and set them again until no more voles are caught.
Killing Voles
Fighting voles with poison is theoretically always possible, but should be left in the hands of professionals. Poison should be dosed in such a way that it can produce an effect, but it should not be applied more than necessary and above all not openly. Openly available poison can be very dangerous for other animals and small children.
So-called vole traps are also designed to kill the animals quickly and painlessly. They work with a blank cartridge and are intended to get the voles throughkill the blast generated when triggered. However, if the function is not perfect, the animal can die in agony. In addition, improper use may cause injury to people.
The snap trap is an alternative to the shot trap:
Conclusion - When in doubt, voles should be controlled by professionals
In principle, it is possible to design the garden with appropriate means in such a way that voles find it rather unattractive. Structural measures, the right planting and the promotion of natural enemies can be used here. If the infestation is severe, the animals can be fought well with live traps. However, poisons and special equipment for killing voles should preferably be used by professionals.