how to get rid of voles in the winter

how to get rid of voles in the winter

The way to prevent vole winter damage is to implement vole control measures before winter. All rights reserved. Step 3: Monitor for Critters. Your best defense is a good mesh fence. When there is snow cover, voles continue to work their tunnels and feed on grasses, operating in the insulated space between the grass and the snow. (508) 485-6006, 344 Main Street To protect roots and bulbs, install rolls of ¼-inch wire mesh secured with stakes throughout your garden. Instead of installing mulch in early fall, try to wait until after the first frost. These barriers can be in the form of hardware cloth liners in the bottom and sides of flowerbeds or across the top of the bed to prevent digging or wrapped around the base of trees. 1-800-525-8084, We’re not satisfied until you are. The first and the most effective step is habitat modification. Mulch is a very effective insulator for plants during cold weather. Moles cause dead grass patches because their tunneling disrupts the root system of grass. Privacy Policy. Vole “runways” tend to be less obvious in landscapes with loose topsoil. The scent of predators can send voles scrambling. When the weather starts to warm, the moles will tunnel closer and closer to the surface as the soil thaws and becomes easier to navigate. If there are fruit trees on your property, clean up fallen fruit immediately, and rake up pine needles around evergreen trees as well. Andover, MA 01810 You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Once you’ve rid your outdoor space of uninvited guests, replace the plants they’ve ravaged and otherwise spruce up the area. They also hate capsaicin—the compound found in peppers that makes them taste hot and causes stinging. Although it may be difficult, reconsider killing that snake you find on your property as they are also excellent at controlling rodent and other pest populations. Laying the traps during the fall and winter season when food is scarce increases the likelihood that the voles will take the bait. If you don’t already have a cat, you may consider adopting one to roam your property and provide you with free pest control. Nashua, NH 03063 Bedford, NH 03110 Install barriers around valuable crops and trees. Monday through Friday: 7:00AM to 6:00PM This creates patches that often start out yellow and eventually turn a light tan color. Moles can wreak havoc on your lawn and garden. It’s true that we usually think of voles as spring or summertime pests in gardens, but fact is that most of the damage that voles do is done during the winter months. (978) 342-4240, April through October In fact, mole problems often arise because of underlying grub problems. Non-toxic ways to ward off voles include castor oil, derived from the seeds of the castor plant, and capsaicin, an oil found in hot peppers. Prevent and manage vole damage through yard sanitation, reseeding grass, tree guards, trapping and pesticide application. 5 Reasons To Be Thankful for Pest Control. Try this approach in a small garden; for greater expanses, pick up coyote or fox urine, available at home improvement stores and trapper supply houses (typically priced at $15 for an 8-ounce bottle). Physical barriers can be very effective at preventing more damage to flowerbeds and trees. Bait traps with peanut butter or apple and set them at a 90-degree angle to the vole “runway.” Once you’ve captured the critters, release them far from residential areas—and at least half a mile from your home. This is, in fact, not true. Besides the winter damage to lawns, voles can also damage trees as they chew off bark from below the snow line. To prevent vole tunneling, remove excess thatch and keep mulch less than two inches deep. As the soil freezes, moles move from tunneling near the surface to digging deeper in the ground. Purchase special covers ( trunk protectors) protecting trees so... 3. Step 2: Inspect Your Vegetation. Unlike many mammals, voles do not hibernate, or even slow down, during the winter. Find licensed pros in your area and get free, no-commitment estimates for your project. Moles are omnivores that prefer to feast on grubs, earthworms, and other bugs. As mentioned above, moles prefer to feed on earthworms, grubs, and other insects. By Jill Lawrence O'Hara and Bob Vila. The following steps can be included in this plan: 1. So don’t wait to roll up the welcome mat! L. B., Candia, NH. Moles do not hibernate and are quite active during the winter months. (603) 472-1083, 155 Fleet Street Heavy rainfall can also create these conditions so it is important to be vigilant after storms. Walk carefully around the entire length of your property, paying special attention to the ground. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. They also push soil and grass up as they dig, creating random mole hills across your yard. Before administering this type of treatment yourself, consult a pest control specialist for the safest, most effective outcome. Overuse of sprinklers and irrigation systems can lead to saturated, loose soil – an ideal … With adequate shelter and a plentiful food supply, a colony will thrive. Learn More, 300 Brickstone Square, Ste 201 Although it’s illegal to kill voles in some parts of the country, relocating them is fair game—and entirely humane. Since voles do not go far away from their nests in... 2. Seresto Dog Flea Collar. Framingham, MA 01701 A very common misconception is that moles hibernate during the winter. The good news is they don’t like to climb, so fencing need only be a foot tall. The steel trap made by Havahart, available at home improvement stores and online (view on Amazon), and the Sherman Trap (SNG model), also available online (view on Sherman Traps), are both effective choices that hold up to 15 voles. Follow these do-it-yourself control methods before you’re faced with a full-scale vole invasion. And snow is not a detriment, but is a plus as far as meadow voles are concerned. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Although these beautiful birds won’t eliminate a vole population entirely, they will reduce their numbers. | Nashville Charter #4109 |. (508) 872-4420, 225 Cedar Hill Street, Ste 200 Worcester, MA 01604 So your first move is to eliminate environments that make voles feel at home: excess brush and mulch, leaf piles, wood stacks, and tall grasses. Overuse of sprinklers and irrigation systems can lead to saturated, loose soil – an ideal environment for moles. (617) 340-1001, 945 Concord Street Spraying either substance on your greenery provide a smell and taste voles are sure to find unpleasant. Keep mowing your lawn in the fall until frost, but don’t mow it shorter than two inches to prevent winter injury to the grass. Be proactive in eliminating grubs and other pests from your yard to help control mole populations, as well. KEEP BUGS AT A DISTANCE. Voles leave evidence of their presence with narrow, winding surface tunnels, small burrow openings, piles of dead grass, and gnawed areas on tree trunks. Step 4: Create a Long-Term Strategy. Don’t Overwater: Overwatering your lawn with sprinklers or irrigation will leave your soil saturated … Portsmouth, NH 03801 If possible, avoid extermination. By preventing them from digging you can limit the damage inflicted and hopefully encourage them to move on to another yard. Because of this, it is important to take precautionary measures early before the winter season sets in. (603) 880-7900, 3 Executive Park Drive, Ste 9 Poison can be viable against voles, but toxins may pose a risk to children, pets, and other wildlife. The cliche of “making a mountain out of a mole hill” isn’t far from the truth. In past winters, we’ve had a problem with what we’ve been told are voles tunneling under the snow cover and destroying our lawn. Monday through Friday: 7:00AM to 5:00PM, Please click here or call for Holiday Hours, 20 Trafalgar Square, Ste 423 Jill Lawrence O'Hara, Bob Vila, 10 Cleaning Chores You Should Be Doing Every Week, The Dos and Don'ts of Air-Drying Everything You Own, 5 Ways to Prevent Cracks in Concrete—and 1 Easy Fix. If you’ve never actually seen a vole, it’s not surprising. Hopefully by that point, moles and other pests have established themselves in a more hospitable environment than in your yard. Keep It Dry. To encourage their nesting, mount owl nest boxes in your trees (purchase premade boxes or plans to build your own from sources like The Hungry Owl Project). Remove materials that provide winter cover for voles such as heavy mulch, heavy leaf cover, weeds, wild grasses, and litter. Step 1: Survey Your Property. In general, the more snow, the more vole damage you’ll see. This loose soil is much easier to tunnel through and is often rich with earthworms and grubs, making it a literal feast for moles. They actually remain active all winter long, continuing to dig and eat voraciously.

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