Voles
How to get rid of voles
Voles can be a real pest in the garden as they love to eat the roots of vegetables. Root vegetables such as potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, turnips and carrots are naturally high on their menu. But voles can also be a nuisance in ornamental gardens. They like to nibble at the roots of roses and bulbs. Voles are nocturnal and do not hibernate, so they are pests all year round. You can recognise a vole infestation by the following:
- Vole burrows are longer and flatter than those of moles. They are also often interspersed with roots or grass
- high-oval passageways (like a standing egg) and tunnel entrances. The tunnels of moles are usually roundish in shape
- Groove-like feeding marks on the roots
Prevention
- Wrap the roots of young trees with a tightly woven wire cage (15 mm/0.6 in). Remove or lengthen the wire as the tree grows.
- Flower bulbs can also be planted in wire baskets. These include birds of prey, tawny owls, barn owls, weasels and cats.
- Barn owls, for example, like to nest in eaves or barns. A wicker basket tied to a tree can also serve as a nesting aid for owls.
- Plant plants around vulnerable areas or crops that voles will avoid. These include imperial crowns, garlic, spurge, hound's tongue, blackcurrants, daffodils and white sweet clover.
Remedies
As voles know no garden boundaries, it is important to work with your neighbours to control the rodents. We do not recommend using harsh methods such as chemical baits, as these can lead to an extremely gruesome death or can be eaten by other animals or small children. Here are some 'softer' methods:
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Place deterrents in the voles' tunnels. These include thuja twigs, walnut leaves and garlic cloves. The smell is unpleasant to the rodents. A slurry of elder leaves should also help. This needs to be poured into the burrows - pour buttermilk into the burrows. The butyric acid it contains will drive the voles away. The tunnels should be sealed after pouring so that the smell does not dissipate quickly
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Place human hair (e.g. from a visit to the hairdresser) in the tunnels or bury it around vulnerable plants. Empty bottles should be buried in the ground at an angle with the opening facing upwards. When the wind blows in, it makes a whistling sound that scares the voles away. This method also works to scare away moles
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Drive iron bars into the ground. Driving a strong iron bar into the ground several times a day in areas where voles are likely to be present can help to deter them. The loud sound and vibration will scare the rodents away.
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Plant Jerusalem artichokes around the edges. This will act as an attractant plant for the rodents to feed on. Repellent plants: garlic, spurge, hound's tongue, imperial crown, sweet clover, sunflowers
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If nothing else works, you can set traps. These are also available in various designs from specialist retailers. Make sure you wear gloves when setting them, as even the slightest human scent will alert these clever animals.
Rolf Tischer on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/de/photos/w%C3%BChlmaus-nager-nagetier-tier-feld-688253/
