Field mice, meadow mice, or voles are all the same. With similar habits of moles, gophers, mice, and shrews, voles are often mistaken for their true identities. Like gophers, moles, or ground squirrels, voles tunnel throughout the ground and create multiple exit holes.
What is a Vole?
A vole is a small rodent that closely resembles a mouse but has a shorter tail and a rounder body. There are about 150 different species of voles. Voles repopulate very quickly, up to 10 times each year containing 5-10 young per litter. A vole will typically not live longer than twelve months, with some species only living for 3-6 months.
The Damage Caused
Voles enjoy eating small plants, fruits, and nuts but will also eat dead animals. Voles damage plants by eating their root system or bulbs while burrowed under the plant. Once the plant is dead they will move onto another one and can destroy a number of plants very quickly.
Prevention and Curative Action
Not a lot can be done to prevent voles, other than not having plants within the lawn or landscaping. To take care of voles after they are noticed it is best to place a mouse trap baited with peanut butter outside the exit holes of their tunneling system.
Sum it up
Voles are pesky little rodents that can cause landscaping damage quickly if left uncontrolled. If damage, tunnels, or exit holes are noticed it is crucial to try to take care of them immediately before they begin populating and causing more problems and more damage.
It is always a good idea to consult with a lawn care professional and ask any questions you may have. Look around, ask friends or family, and research companies on the Better Business Bureau to find a company that you can trust.