What are some things I can do to keep voles out of my yard?
To keep voles out of your yard, you can use a combination of vole control, preventive measures and deterrents. Here are some effective strategies:
1. Remove food sources, heavy cover and habitat:
• Keep the grass mowed short, as voles prefer areas with tall grass and dense ground cover.
• Remove piles of leaves, mulch, or brush that can provide hiding spots. This will give them less hiding places and natural predators can help to control them in your yard.
• Trim back vegetation around trees and shrubs, and remove any brush and clutter in the yard.
2. Install physical barriers:
• Place heavy gauge hardware cloth or wire mesh (with a 1/4-inch or smaller grid) around the base of trees, shrubs, and garden beds. Make sure to bury it several inches underground to prevent digging.
• Use a counter sunk underground fencing around the perimeter garden areas to keep voles from burrowing into plants.
3. Use natural repellents:
• Make a mixture of cayenne pepper, garlic and water, or castor oil granules around your yard or garden to repel voles. This method has not been proven to be Uber effective and will only be a temporary fix.
• Plant borders of vole-repelling plants such as marigolds, daffodils, or alliums.
• Set traps along vole runways, which are typically visible as narrow, well-worn paths through the grass. Peanut butter or apple slices work well as bait. Traps should be covered so non-target protected birds are not caught. A professional pest control company that is specialized should have a process for trapping and controlling voles.
5. Encourage natural predators:
• Attract owls, hawks, and other natural predators by providing nesting boxes or perches. This process can only be done in an environment that would have the necessary ecosystem to attract these birds.
6. Use vole baits:
• Commercial vole baits are available and can be applied to gardens and lawns. These rodent treatments can be applied by a licensed exterminator and should be applied to not target anything other than the species to be treated.
7. Limit mulch and pine straw use:
• Mulch and pine straw around trees and garden beds can provide shelter for voles. If you need to apply mulch or pine straw, use a thinner layer and create space from the base of plants.
By combining these methods, you can create a less hospitable environment for voles and reduce the chances of them taking up residence in your yard.
