Lawn damage is most visible in the spring. The guard should be tall enough to reach above the snow line in the winter. It occurs in irregular patches at ground level with the size of gnaw marks approximately 1/8 inch wide by 3/8 inch long and 1/16 inch or more deep. However, vole damage is one problem faced by their presence. Voles may go unnoticed for a large portion of the year. Dig a hole to the appropriate size and depth of the fruit tree/root ball you’re transplanting. When a vole gets a tree you see no damage above ground. Trees that have had the bark completely removed … The mesh should be 1/4 inch or less in size and should be buried 3 inches below ground level to prevent voles from burrowing under the cylinder. Do this in the fall just before the first heavy snow storm. Often the first thing I see is the tree has just fallen over. Often a species may cause damage at several growth stages. CAUTION: Mention of a pesticide or use of a pesticide label is for educational purposes only. Vole damage may also be noticed on trees and shrubs where they have chewed through the bark near the ground. Conclusion. Voles are mouse-like rodents known mostly for damaging grass, bulbs, trees and plant roots. Creating an environment that is not inviting to pests can keep damage below thresholds needed for further intervention. Reduce large vole populations with toxic baits. These rodent pests will also gnaw on a tree's trunk and at the base of a shrub. Check the bases of trees and shrubs in the vicinity of the vole damage you are seeing in the lawn. During the winter, voles move about under the protection of snow cover and create unique surface runway systems with numerous burrow openings. Burrow Entrances: You’ll find clean entrances, round holes that are 1.5-inches in diameter. But, moles are rarely seen above the soil. So far mostly small trees two feet or so tall, but they got my prairie cascade willow that was almost 5 feet tall. Castor oil can be used as a repellent for voles. Voles also tunnel through any root system, causing damage to trees and shrubs. Two voles species are common in our area, the pine vole and the meadow vole. Be sure to read labels carefully before using. When food sources are scarce, they’ll eat the bark around the bottoms of trees and shrubs. Standard mouse snap traps set along runways or near tunnels will catch some animals. The most severe damage often occurs at certain stages of the orchard’s establishment, particularly in the seedling stage, but trees of all ages can suffer. Voles are often implicated in damage to young trees and woody ornamentals. Vole Damage in Orchards. Feces and small pieces of vegetation can usually be found in the runways. If the damage is below ground, you will need to remove soil from the base of the tree to see it. If you see chewed-up bark near the base of trees and shrubs, look closely. Baar Lawn Vole Castor Oil. Vole damage to trees can be identified by girdling and patches of irregular patterns of gnaw marks. Almost every common juniper in the Black Hills has damage. Remove them or keep the ground very clean. Remove vegetation. They can have multiple litters in a year, and every 3 to 5 years there is a population boom. Beaver, for example, can damage trees of any size. Jennifer Menken, Bell Museum of Natural History. Voles can also damage trees and shrubs. Voles are voracious pests that eat bulbs, tubers, tree roots, seedlings, and the stems of mature plants. We are seeing a tremendous amount of vole damage on junipers and other small trees. Place hardware cloth cylinders around the base of young trees to protect them from voles. Even worse, you may observe feeding damage on small shrubs and trees. Bait stations prevent consumption by non-target animals and pets. These nutrient-rich, underground tubers are just too tasty for them to pass up. Since voles burrow in the snow, they may damage tree trunks as high as snow accumulates. Usually seen in early spring just after snowmelt, a series of criss-crossing trails can be viewed on the surface. What kind of plant damage do voles do?   Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are one type that voles don't eat, happily. Read about: Climate Challenge: Organic No-till vs. Voles don’t like to feed out in the open. As the surrounding grass grows, it will cover up the trails. Voles generally do more damage to trees, bushes, grass, garden, and other vegetation. Apple trees are prized for their fruit and as ornamental plants. Vole Facts. Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. Such plants include trees, shrubs, flowers as well as lawns. Make sure that the guard is loose enough so that it does not constrict the tree. 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