Voles and rodents: not a wonder‘vole’ addition to your garden

Описание: As you’re walking through the garden, admiring your handiwork, I’m sure many of us have encountered some signs that pesky rodents have made an appearance; a tunnel entrance, some chewed leaves, some nibbled seedlings, we ask ourselves how do we get rid of these unwanted guests? There are a few ways to help reduce the impact that rodents have. First, you must identify the animal correctly as there are different methods for each rodent. The voles that have overwintered in my cold frame are now eating my radishes and consuming my cucumber seedlings. Voles are a very common rodent that is frequently called a field mouse. The name vole is a little better scientific name since they have very short tails compared to the traditional long-tailed mice. It is confusing but they do go by the common name Field Mice. Voles are plant lovers and will take up residence in your ornamental grasses for winter, enjoying the supply of grass seed and warm shelter. And they will continue to feed all summer on your vegetable crops if you provide covering vegetation. They love to consume hosta roots, iris tubers, bulbs like lily and tulip, and the bark of juniper ground covers and orchard trees. Rapid reproduction and short-lived they are a very valuable part of the local food chain for owls, hawks, fox, coyotes, raccoons and snakes. But when they damage your crops you might want to take action. Some repellents are registered for voles and moderately effective. Manual mouse traps work very well. Bait the traps with bird seed and peanut butter and you can catch them easily. Before you spend the time on control be sure you have eradicated their cover (wood piles, grasses) on which they depend for protection from predators. Lifting your heavy duty, garden row cover for the winter will also close down their motel! Good luck.

Joyce Browning Horticulturist, Master Gardener Coordinator
Video credit: Bethany Evans Longwood Gardens Professional Gardener Program Alumni; CPH

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