Get rid of voles with my tips and tricks if you are dealing with these annoying and pesky buggers! Here are my pest control tips and tricks for garden voles.
A few months ago, I took the Harry Potter patronus quiz, because, well, I needed to know what kind of patronus I was! I was a little dismayed, and even a little depressed to learn that my chosen patronus was a vole. Really, a vole. These furry creatures may look cute in pictures, but their digging can cause havoc around your yard. Say goodbye to the vermin; here’s how to get rid of voles!
Before beginning, you will need to determine where the voles have spread and dug. Take special care to ensure that their tunneling hasn’t affected the integrity of your home foundation. If so, you will need to call in professional help.
After their “lay of the land” has been determined, do your best to guess how many voles are tearing apart your yard. It’s common for yard spaces to have between two and three.
Catching a vole is similar to catching a mouse; you will need to look for “burrows” in your yard. The small mounds of dirt (burrows) are the entrances to their tunneling systems. You will need to place traps (I like to use catch and release traps!) at the entrances of the burrows. They do like to dig, so make sure that you look for multiple entrances and exits.
Once placed, you will need to “bait” the vole traps so they become appealing to the animals. You can use a variety of seeds, nuts, peanut butter, oatmeal, and in some cases, even gum drops. Most find that a peanut butter/oatmeal combination does best to catch these little critters!
Check the traps multiple times a day to see if your efforts have proven successful.
If you’ve caught your creature, make sure that you wear gloves before attempting to move the trap, or release the animal. Voles, like most rodents, are known for their razor sharp teeth, and wearing a simple glove can help protect you.
If you plan on releasing the animals, be sure to follow the instructions included with your trap. I recommend that you take the critters AT LEAST 5 miles away from your yard or house, so they aren’t tempted to find their way back to you! It is best that you release them in an open field where they won’t bother any other gardeners or home owners.
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