In North America, there are around six different types of voles. They are frequently found in landscaped gardens, and the most common species is the pine vole, which are about three inches long (not including its small ½ inch tail). They are very small, weighing only an ounce, and are chestnut-colored.

Voles are very secretive creatures, hiding underground to create their burrows. You are more likely to see signs of voles than the voles themselves. They are constantly feeding on plant roots and anything else that comes in their way while burrowing. You can look for them by locating their circular burrow entrances not more than 1″ – 1.5″ in size. By lifting mulch, you can reveal long, narrow tunnels that wind around anything that the vole cannot eat through. If you notice that the young plants are quickly dying or beginning to lean, this is a common telltale sign of vole obstruction. These rodents gnaw on tree trunks and the bottoms of shrubbery. In addition, voles eat through flower bulbs, carrots and other rooty specimens in a garden. Voles’ preferable source of food includes stems and grass.

Unlike other mammals, voles are not hibernating animals. They have to remain active throughout the year to keep up with their high metabolisms and growing their populations. Voles can have up to five litters each year with three babies per litter. Since they have such an effortless ability to reproduce, vole populations soar quickly.

If you notice holes, tunnels or uprooted plants, a vole may be the culprit. Contact Solidified Pest Control today to humanely rid your home of these pesky critters before they tear up your whole yard!