We’re your vole removal experts
Voles are part of the rodent family, they are commonly known as field mice. Often, they dig tunnels and also rearrange plants or flowerbeds.
What do voles look like?
Most importantly, they are frequently confused with mice or moles. These rodents are in the same family of Muroids. Without the help of a professional, it is difficult to recognize their differences. In comparison to mice, their tails are shorter. Moles have internal ears and pointed snouts, while voles have external ears and smaller noses.
What do voles do?
Similar to moles, voles spend a lot of their time underground. Unlike moles, their dinner does not consist of underground arthropods such as earth worms and grubs. Instead, voles are herbivores; they like to eat your plants and veggies. When they’re not foraging above ground for plants, they will eat the roots of your plants. Between their meal habits and tunneling, they destroy the entire root system.
Although they create tunnels, they do not create mounds like moles. Their tunneling is most noticeable by entry points or holes.
Additionally, voles breed quickly; an infestation up to ten young can easily occur. They also breed up to ten times a year, meaning your small vole problem can become extensive. Efficient vole removal methods are important to prevent further damage and infestations.
What diseases do they carry?
Voles carry diseases such as salmonella, tularemia, and rabies. Furthermore, they are perfect hosts for fleas and ticks that can pass on lyme disease. They also carry diseases similar to other rodents, a more extensive list can be found here.
Vole removal and exclusion
If you find a vole in your home, it is most likely an accident. Although they venture above ground more than moles, they are outdoor rodents. Moreover, dead plants or rearranged dirt are two signs of moles.
Baiting and repellents are unsuccessful D-I-Y methods of keeping voles away. The most effective method of vole removal is trapping. More than likely, a vole will bite you if you try to pick it up. An experienced wildlife professional should handle vole removal to avoid any dangerous diseases.
If damage to your flowerbeds or garden is extensive, we can recommend methods for remediation.
For the assistance of a wildlife technician with vole removal, please call 717-419-0781 or use our contact form
Serving Central PA
Backyard Wildlife Solutions serve a wide area in Central Pennsylvania, including: Lancaster, York, Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin, Cumberland, and other counties nearby.
Backyard Wildlife Solutions is a registered member of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association. Undergoing regular training, BWS uses humane, approved traps and techniques when removing voles and other animals from residential and commercial properties.