Voles are very small rodents and look very similar to a mouse. They are cute, cuddly little creatures, but they can easily wreak havoc on your home, your yard and in your garden. This is hard to imagine since voles grow to be about three inches long. Voles differ from typical mice because they live underground. If you suspect that you have voles in your yard, it is essential that you call a professional in vole removal before they can cause severe damage to your property.
Where Do Voles Hide and Live?
Voles often burrow their own underground holes. They will often use tunnels that have been dug by other pests like gophers, to get into the ground. If there are no existing holes and tunnels, the vole will dig their own. Once under the ground, they will dig much deeper than a gopher does. This is where they build their nests to be protected and close to a food source.
What Kind of Damage Can a Vole Do?
It is hard to imagine, such a cute, small little creature doing serious damage to your property, but they do. When these animals travel underground, they are looking for plants to feed on. They will eat greenery, roots, fruits, and nuts. If you have a garden in your yard, the voles will attack the plants from the roots, destroying any chance of a healthy crop. They will also do eat the roots of the grass and your shrubs, killing the greenery that gives your home its curb appeal. They can even damage your trees. When voles are above ground, they will feed on the tree bark, exposing the inside. This can leave your trees susceptible to disease, and it can even kill your trees. By the time you are able to detect the vole’s presence, it will be too late to save the plants.
While you don’t need to worry about voles attacking your family and pets, they will attract other animals that can be very dangerous. There are many animals that eat voles, such as snakes, weasels, coyotes, and large cats. If you have a colony of voles living in your yard, these animals will come to feed on them. Since many of these animals are dangerous, allowing the vole colony to exist can put your entire family at risk.
Because voles can cause so much danger and destruction, it is essential that you call a professional in vole removal right away.
Why Hire a Professional In Vole Removal?
Many homeowners try to remove the voles from their yard themselves, but many times, their attempts are ineffective. A professional in vole removal will have the knowledge and experience to rid your yard of the infestation. Experts understand the vole’s behavior and their movement patterns. This is essential in ridding your home of these pests.
A professional will start by looking at your lawn or garden to assess the damage. When they are able to spot the damage that the voles have created, they will be able to determine where they are hiding. This information is essential in ridding the property of these pests.
Once the expert is able to find the nest, they will work to remove the voles. In some cases, Havahart live traps can be used. This is the most humane way to get the voles out of your yard..
If setting the traps aren’t working, the expert may need to use poison. While this isn’t the most humane way to rid your home of voles, there are times when it is the only option.
The typical homeowner won’t have the knowledge necessary to use poison safely. If used improperly, the poison can be hazardous to your family, your pets, and other helpful wildlife that lives on your property. Professionals have the knowledge and experience necessary to use the poison safely.
Most homeowners don’t understand the movement patterns of voles; therefore, they won’t set the traps in the right areas. Also, homeowners have been known to set traditional snap mouse traps. This can be very dangerous to any person or animal walking through the yard. Professionals in vole removal have extensive trapping experience. They will know where to set the traps and what to do with the animals after.
Preventing Another Infestation
After a vole removal expert has eradicated the problem, it is up to you to take the necessary steps to prevent another infestation. The steps you should take include:
- Remove dead or unwanted vegetation. Voles will not only feed on these, but they will also use them to burrow new holes into the ground.
- Keep your grass trimmed and remove any weeds that are growing.
- Cultivate the soil around your garden often. Doing this will help destroy the burrows that have already been dug.
- Place steel mesh cylinders around your trees. Voles don’t climb; therefore, if the base of the tree is protected, they won’t be able to eat the bark, which puts your trees at risk for disease or death.
Final Thoughts
Voles may look like cute, cuddly creatures, but they can wreak havoc on your home. The safest and most effective way to rid your yard of voles is to hire a professional in vole removal. An expert will perform a thorough assessment of your yard and create a plan to rid your yard of the voles on the first try. When the problem has been eradicated, the expert will be able to give you a few tips to keep the voles from returning. The sooner you hire a professional to rid your yard of voles, the faster your yard, your garden, and the things growing, there will be safe. When the voles are gone, your family will be safe from predators seeking out the voles for food. It is best to hire a professional as soon as you suspect an infestation.
