Voles can wreak havoc on your yard, gnawing on orchards, tunneling through your ground, and damaging forests, and garden crops. These troublemakers cause significant harm in Colorado, especially when no prevention has been done. In this blog, we will tell you all about how to spot the signs of vole activity, how to control it, and the best products you can find at Country Ace to make it a success!
How to Identify Vole Damage in Your Yard
Identifying damage caused by voles and other critters is your first step to reclaiming your yard. Let’s dig into their favorite snacks, where they love to cause trouble, and how to spot vole damage like a pro!
What Do Voles Eat in Colorado?
In Colorado, voles have a diverse diet and aren’t too picky. They literally snack on whatever’s available! And you know what that means: trouble for your yard! They love lawn grasses and forbs like clover and dandelions. Also, you might want to protect your garden crops: carrots, potatoes, beans, and peas are some of their favorites. If you have fruit trees, they particularly love the bark, especially on aspen and cottonwood. And last but not least, do you love tulips and roses? Well, voles do too! Unfortunately, you can count on them to destroy ornamental shrubs and bulbs.
When Do Voles Create Damage?
Bad news! In Colorado, voles cause damage year-round. During spring and summer, they mostly target grasses and garden crops. As the weather cools down in fall and winter, their diet shifts to gnawing on the bark of trees and shrubs. This is when you need to protect your fruit trees. The bad news is that your yard is at risk pretty much all year long so keep an eye out!
What Vole Damage Looks Like
Vole damage in Colorado is quite distinctive. According to a Colorado State University study, “[they] cause damage by girdling seedling and mature trees in orchards, shelterbelts, and forests. They also damage field crops and frequently construct runways in lawns.” These runways often appear as narrow, well-worn paths across your yard. You might also notice gnawed bark on trees and plants, or bushes with unsightly brown patches. These are hints to act before the damage becomes too severe!
Vole Control and Prevention in Colorado
Voles may seem unstoppable when they invade your yard but don’t worry – you can discourage them from settling down! And if you’re dealing with too much damage in the long run, check out our products below to banish them for good.
How to Prevent Voles in Colorado
Want to stop voles from hanging out in your yard? We’ve got you covered! Start by making your yard a place they don’t want to hang out at. Wrap young trees and shrubs in ¼-inch mesh cylinders. Voles will get frustrated and just give up. It’s not the most aesthetic solution, and while voles might try the underground route, it definitely demotivates them!
Want to go the natural route? Plant species that keep voles away! Castor beans are a top pick – voles can’t stand the ricin in their seeds. Alliums like onions, garlic, and chives’ strong odor keep voles away. That’s not it! Have you heard of fritillaries’ bulbs, daffodils and vetch? With these plants in your garden, voles will be running for the hills! We love this one because it adds a splash of color to your yard while keeping those pesky critters at bay!
Oh and one more thing: maintaining a tidy yard discourages voles from settling in as well. So remove those debris and trim the overgrown vegetation!
Get Rid of Voles Now Before Damage Gets Out of Control
According to a Colorado State University study, you can reduce vole damage with “habitat modification, exclusion, repellents, trapping, and poison grain baits.”
Whether you prefer natural methods or need a more direct approach, there are plenty of options. If you’ve got kids or pets, you can choose a softer approach that requires patience, like traps. It can be long and repetitive if it doesn’t work right away. But it works! However, if the damage gets out of hand, you can go for something more immediate and aggressive, like poison. It’s really about finding what works best for you, what fits your style, and how quickly you want to see results!
But, don’t always expect miracles; voles can always come back. So here’s a tip for Colorado homeowners: always keep an eye out for vole activity! But especially in the cooler months: be ready to take action before the damage gets out of hand!
Our Team’s Favorite Vole Products
Vole and rodent spray repellents and other deterrents can be a good first line of defense in some areas of the country. However, they are not as effective in mountain regions due to rain and harsh weather conditions. So, here are our favorite alternative options for effective rodent control.
Vole Habitat Modification
At Country Ace, we love Victor Sonic Spikes. They emit sonic pulses to irritate voles and cover a 95 ft diameter – and they’re safe for pets!
Deterrent Trap
Havahart Small Live Catch Cage Traps let you capture and relocate voles. While you may feel the urge to release them in your neighbor’s yard, it’s important to release them more than half a mile away from your property in grassy areas or overgrown fields.
Vole Elimination
If prevention and natural methods aren’t enough, try Victor Poison Peanut Pellets from Country Ace. Place the pellets at the entrance of vole burrows, and they’ll eat them and retreat. (Just use caution around pets and kids!)
Keep Your Eyes Peeled!
Keeping an eye out for potential vole activity year-round is key to maintaining a healthy, vole-free yard. Whether you prefer natural methods or need something stronger, it’s possible to keep these critters at bay. Stop by Country Ace to chat with our team about the best practices and products to protect your yard from voles in Colorado!