What do wild voles eat

However, they are not strictly herbivores. They will also feed on carrion when they come across it, as well as seeds, nuts, and berries. Grasses and flowering plants make up a large portion of their diet. Other food sources include flowers, fruits, fungi, insects, snails, bark, roots, and bulbs. When populations are very high, some voles will also cannibalize their own species. Humans and voles interact frequently, though humans do not realize it as much as the voles do.

Because they are so small, these rodents go unnoticed most of the time. Humans kill or trap them for destroying crops, or getting into animal feed. Humans also threaten some species through habitat destruction.

While many species have booming populations, some species, or subspecies, live only in smaller habitats and have a greater danger of extinction. Humans have not domesticated voles in any way. However, humans have domesticated the house mouse , which is similar to the vole.

While keeping voles as pets may not be detrimental to the population for some species, it is inadvisable. These rodents are wild animals, and do not become accustomed to living in human care like domesticated animals are. The gestation period is about 21 days.

Young are weaned by the time they are 21 days old, and females are sexually mature in 35 to 40 days. Voles have short lifespans that generally range from 2 to 16 months.

Large population fluctuations are characteristic of voles. Population levels generally peak every 2 to 5 years; however, these cycles are not predictable. Extremely high vole densities sometimes can occur during population irruptions. Food quality, climate, predation, physiological stress, and genetics have been shown to influence population levels. Voles are an important part of the food chain, serving as prey for many predators such as hawks, owls, snakes, weasels, raccoons, foxes, opossums, and house cats.

Voles may cause extensive damage to orchards, ornamentals, and tree plantings by gnawing on the bark of seedlings and mature trees girdling. They eat crops outright and also cause damage by building extensive runway and tunnel systems through crop fields. Underground, woodland voles may consume small roots, girdle large roots, and eat bark from the base of trees.

After the snow has melted in early spring, the runway systems of meadow voles can also create unsightly areas in lawns, golf courses, and ground covers. However, this usually is only a temporary problem.

The most easily identifiable sign of meadow voles is an extensive surface runway system with numerous burrow openings see diagram.

Voles keep these runways free of obstructions, and vegetation near well-traveled runways may be clipped close to the ground. Overhanging vegetation provides cover as they travel along runways. Woodland voles do not use surface runways, but rather build extensive systems of underground tunnels. As they build the tunnels, they push out dirt, producing small, conical piles of soil on the ground surface. These small, conical piles of soil are an indicator of woodland vole activity.

Bits of freshly cut vegetation and accumulations of vole droppings brown or green in color and shaped like rice grains in surface runways are positive evidence that the runways are being used. Vegetation, small roots, or mold in the paths indicate that voles no longer use them. Meadow voles may also build and use underground tunnels, and they will often use underground tunnels made by moles or woodland voles.

Homeowners often notice meadow vole damage in spring, when melting snow reveals the criss-cross network of runways voles used to travel under the snow. Under the cover of snow, meadow voles may travel safely into areas they would not normally venture, such as open lawns or grassy areas. Usually the voles leave with the melting snow, and the lawn quickly recovers.

Both meadow and woodland voles can cause extensive damage in orchards and nurseries by gnawing on tree bark. This type of damage is generally most severe in winter when other food sources are limited. However, girdling and gnaw marks alone do not necessarily indicate the presence of voles since other animals, such as rabbits, may cause similar damage. Vole girdling can be differentiated from girdling by other animals by the nonuniform gnaw marks that will occur at various angles and in irregular patches.

Rabbit gnaw marks are larger and more uniform. Rabbits neatly clip branches with oblique, clean cuts. Examine girdling damage and accompanying signs feces, tracks, and burrow systems to identify the animal causing the damage. Woodland vole damage is more difficult to detect because it occurs underground. Injured trees grow more slowly, look off-color, and generally appear sickly. Often by the time orchardists note weak, unhealthy trees, the damage to tree roots is already extensive.

Voles are classified as nongame mammals and are protected. However, they can be controlled when causing damage. The preferred vole damage control techniques vary with the size of the population.

When populations are low and damage is not extreme, exclusion or trapping may be the most economical means of avoiding damage. Large populations causing extensive damage may warrant the use of repellents and toxicants. If the property owner does not feel he or she can properly handle the necessary damage control techniques, many wildlife pest control operators are available throughout the state that deal with vole problems. Contact your local extension office or the yellow pages for information regarding these operators.

Wire cylinders 18 to 24 inches high set into the ground around the trunk will prevent meadow voles from girdling the tree. Tree guards should be large enough to allow for 5 years of growth. Bury the wire 4 to 6 inches deep to keep voles from burrowing under the cylinder.

These guards will also protect against rabbit damage. Large-scale fencing of areas is probably not cost-effective. Habitat modification practices can reduce the likelihood and severity of vole damage. The roots and stems of grasses and other ground cover are the major food sources for voles. As a result, eliminating weeds, ground cover, and litter is an excellent method of achieving long-term control of voles.

Repeated mowings that maintain ground cover at a height of 3 to 6 inches reduce both food and cover and expose voles to predators. Therefore, lawn and turf should be mowed regularly. Be sure to keep small children and pets out of areas where you have set traps. When voles are numerous or when damage occurs over large areas, toxic baits can be the quickest and most practical means of control.

Take necessary measures to ensure the safety of children, pets, and nontarget animals, and follow all product label instructions carefully. They probably are the safest type of rodent bait for use around homes and gardens, because they are slow acting, must be consumed during a period of 5 or more days to be effective, and have an effective antidote, vitamin K1, making it safer to use around children and pets.

Check the label carefully to ensure it lists that the bait is suitable for use on voles or meadow mice. Because the pest must feed on anticoagulant baits during a period of 5 days, the bait must be available until the vole population is under control. Usually baiting every other day for a total of 3 applications is effective. As with trapping, bait placement is very important. Place the recommended amount of bait in runways or next to burrows, so voles will find it during their normal travels.

Generally, spot treating—placing bait in a specific place, such as a runway—is the preferred method of baiting, but in areas of heavy ground cover or if the area you are treating is quite large, broadcasting might be a better option if the label allows it. When broadcasting bait, be sure to spread it evenly over the infested area. If you use this technique, you probably will have to broadcast every other day for a total of 3 or 4 applications.

You must apply them before damage occurs. Voles usually damage plants at or just beneath the soil surface, making adequate coverage difficult or impossible. Many predators including coyotes, foxes, badgers, weasels, cats, gulls, and especially hawks and owls eat voles.

Most predators have a broad-based diet and readily shift to alternative prey when the number of voles declines. Predators rarely, if ever, take every last vole; thus, a residual population remains. With their extremely high reproductive potential, any remaining voles could repopulate an area in a short period. Effective, immediate action usually involves baiting or trapping and habitat modification. As with all animals, natural constraints limit vole numbers. Experience has shown, however, that around homes and gardens the natural population peak is too high, and damage will be above tolerable limits.

Commercial pest control operators can use the fumigant aluminum phosphide under very limited conditions. Electromagnetic or ultrasonic devices and flooding also are ineffective against voles. Giusti, G. Protecting Your Garden from Animal Damage. San Ramon: The Solaris Group. Ingles, L. Stanford: Stanford Univ. Johnson, M. Chapman and G. Feldhamer, eds. Removal If attempting to block voles' access to potential food sources does not work, property owners should contact professional pest control services.

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