If you’ve noticed small tunnels or burrow openings in your yard and assumed they were made by snakes, think again. These intricate underground networks are often the work of voles—small, burrowing rodents that can cause serious damage to your lawn, garden, and even crops. Here’s how to spot voles, understand the damage they cause, and take steps to keep them from taking over your yard.
What Are Voles?
Voles are small, stocky rodents often confused with moles or field mice. They’re covered in brown or gray fur, have short tails, small eyes, and ears that are partially hidden. They range from 4 to 8 inches long and are built for life underground, with thick fur to keep them warm and longer guard hairs for added protection.
Unlike some other pests, voles don’t take a break—they’re active year-round, day and night. With over 20 species living in various climates, these adaptable rodents can thrive just about anywhere.
The Damage Voles Can Do
While voles aren’t dangerous to humans, they can cause a lot of trouble for your yard. Here’s how:
Voles are especially drawn to areas with dense vegetation, like overgrown lawns, mulched gardens, and weedy fields. These environments provide food and protection from predators.
How to Prevent Voles in Your Yard
Keep Your Lawn and Garden Tidy
Protect Your Plants
Stay Vigilant
By maintaining your yard and taking preventative measures, you can significantly reduce the chances of a vole problem. If the situation gets out of hand, don’t hesitate to call in a pest control professional for help. Acting early can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration in the long run.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
