http://www.theindependent.com/news/ag_news/strategies-to-consider-when-faced-with-a-vole-problem/article_88d9da52-cc44-11e5-a114-a755b6456218.html
HORTICULTURE AND PEST MANAGEMENT
Strategies to consider when faced with a vole problem
Posted: Saturday, February 6, 2016 10:00 pm
By Elizabeth Killinger Hall County Extension Educator
The first rule of war is to know thy enemy.
It may seem a little drastic to think about waging war against furry little critters, but once you have actually dealt with them, then you will understand. Find out about a common landscape villain, what they do, and how to keep your landscape from becoming their lunch.
Knowing your enemy is key. Voles, with a “V,” are closer related to a mouse than a mole. Vole adults weigh about 1-2 ounces and reach about 4½ to 7 inches in length.
There are a couple of ways to differentiate a vole from a mouse. One way is to look at the tail — the tail of vole is about 1 inch long, compared to mouse, whose tail is as long as its body. Voles also have a stocky build and small eyes.
There are three common species of voles in Nebraska: the prairie vole, meadow vole and pine vole. Vole populations can increase rapidly. Depending on the species, voles can have between 1 and 10 litters per year with about 2-5 young per litter.
Voles feed on a wide range of plant material. They will clip off young plants and dig up seeds of field and forage crops. They can also damage or eat flower bulbs, garden plants and vegetables.
Feeding damage tends to be less during open winters due to the availability of food sources, but it can still happen. Winters with more snow cover offer fewer food choices and voles resort to munching on the landscape plants. Some of the damage is more cosmetic than permanent.
Voles will construct runways by clipping the turf very close to the crown beneath snow cover. These runways are about 1-2 inches wide and allow the voles to move between locations under the cover of snow. Most of the time the damage isn’t noticed until the snow melts and the runways are revealed.
Each situation is unique and should be considered when determining whether control is warranted. Voles don’t always cause significant damage to property or the landscape. The quick increase in populations can be cause for concern due to the relationship between the population number and the level of damage.
Once a few voles damage a highly valued tree or become a problem in your prized flower bed, control might need to be considered. Usually it is more cost-effective to respond quickly to signs of damage than wait until the damage becomes severe.
There are several methods to control voles. The first is habitat modification. Voles like to feel secure in locations where they are protected.
Removal and controlling weeds and grasses around young trees and shrubs will help protect them from nibbling. Be cautious when it comes to using plastic weed barriers — voles will also thrive under the most well-laid plans to control weeds.
Exclusion is another method to keep voles away from prized plants. Make a barrier of hardware cloth, a quarter-inch or smaller mesh, and install it around small flower beds or gardens to prevent access of voles in those areas. The fence should be about 12 inches high, or up to 18 inches high if rabbits or ground squirrels are also a problem, and 2-3 inches of the bottom should be buried in the ground.
If the damage is confined to a limited area, trapping can be an effective method for controlling voles. Two to three single mouse traps per runway and/or hole will be sufficient to control voles. Place the traps perpendicular to the runway.
Bait is not required, but peanut butter mixed with oatmeal can be used if preferred. Multiple-catch mouse traps can also be used. Locate the traps near visible burrows and near vole trails. Place a small amount of seed, either bird or grass, near the entrance points.
Repellents are another option for vole control. Sprays that contain thiram and capsaicin are labeled for use on ornamental plants, but not on garden plants or plants that will be eaten. Fox or coyote urine also may be used.
Repellents are fairly costly and may only provide short-term protection. They often need to be re-applied and work best when the voles have another food source to go to.
Baits or toxicants can also be used. Very large populations can be controlled using toxic baits. Read all pesticide product labels thoroughly and comply with the directions.
So after the snow melts, be on the lookout for signs of voles and the visible damage. Then take steps to keep your prized plants from becoming their next meal.
Elizabeth Killinger is the horticulture educator at the Hall County Extension Office. For more information, contact her at elizabeth.killinger@unl.edu, her blog at http://huskerhort.com/, or HuskerHort on Facebook and Twitter.