Voles can be a common pest problem across Canada and the northern U.S. Unlike other types of rodents, voles can do serious damage to residential lawns, orchards and other agricultural endeavors. Their tunnels can disrupt root systems, causing plants to die or not bear fruit. Because they move underground, they are also quite difficult to manage and often require the help of a professional pest control service. Keep reading to learn more about voles and how to manage them:
What is a vole?
Voles can be easily confused with moles and shrews. Both moles and shrews have more elongated snouts than voles, while a vole looks more like a large mouse or rat with a shorter tail. If in doubt as to whether you've spotted a mouse or a vole, tail length is the best indicator. Mice have tails that are nearly the same length of their body, while voles have short, stubby tails. They also have larger forepaws. According to the University of Pennsylvania, most species of voles live in fields and hillsides with moist soil. They typically to don't inhabit dry areas, because it is too difficult to move through hard soil.
Voles eat plant material including roots, seeds, bulbs and tubers. That's why they can cause such bad problems in agricultural settings. However, voles are also known to eat insects, snails and animal remains if there isn't enough viable plant matter in the area.
Vole damage
Like moles, voles dig burrows through the ground, though they do come up from underground to scavenge on occasion. According to the University of California, voles will even gnaw the bark from fruit trees, which can make them more susceptible to rot and disease. They are also fond of eating vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, potatoes and tomatoes, among others. In residential areas, their tunnels can disrupt lawn root systems, causing bald and yellow patches of grass. Their tunnels can also be quite unsightly.
Vole management
Voles can be difficult to control, because they hide underground and may not use the same burrow system all the time. If you've identified vole problems on your property, one of the best ways to manage them is through exclusion methods. Clemson University reported that mesh wiring along tree trunks and drift fences are among the most successful exclusion methods. Habit modification is another option. Removing weeds, raking leaves and cleaning up litter will discourage voles. It's also important to destroy their burrows by stamping them down.
Traps and toxic repellents can be effective, but should only be used after the above options have failed to remedy the problem. Trapping can be very time consuming, and is often more trouble than it's worth. If you're experiencing significant damage from a vole infestation, it's best to call in a professional pest control service to handle the situation.
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.
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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.
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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.
