How To Get Rid Of Voles In Your Boise Yard

December 22, 2020


At first glance, voles do not seem like problematic pests. Their squished, furry, chunky bodies make them seem like they might even make good house pets — this could not be further from the truth. Trust us when we tell you, you don’t want voles anywhere near your home. Here are a few things to consider to help you keep these plump rodents from causing trouble around your Boise yard.

vole outside of home in boise idaho

What Are Voles?

Voles are a small breed of rodents that exclusively live in holes and underground tunnels. Measuring five to seven inches from its head to tail and typically a chestnut-brown mixed with black, this yard pest is no stranger to Boise yards. Often mistaken for moles, shrews, and mice, voles are best identified by their blunt noses, enlarged front feet, shorter tails, and prominent digging claws. Several voles species live in our area, including meadow voles, montane voles, and long-tailed voles. Each differs slightly in appearance and behavior but is relatively the same in terms of problems caused.

Why Voles Come Onto Lawns

The most common type of voles in our area, meadow voles, are found around extensive weedy or grassy areas. Moist hillsides, hay fields, pastures, pond banks, streams, fences rows, and old fields are all regular places these pests hide because these areas provide them with an ample amount of heavy ground cover. Meadow voles invade lawns in rural areas when other options aren’t available to them or when available food sources are too tempting to say no to. If you have a garden, your chances of dealing with a meadow vole infestation is high because there is a good chance these pests want to eat what you are growing. If you don’t have a garden, voles can still sustain themselves on your property by eating grass, seeds, and forbs.

The Problem With Voles

Voles are known for causing damage to plant life and are a huge problem for orchards, ornamental plants, young and mature trees, grass, and garden vegetables. The tunnels these pests dig around properties also cause extensive damage to grass and landscaping, creating unsightly trenches and dead grassy areas throughout yards. In order to keep their teeth at a reasonable length, voles chew on the bark of trees. Also referred to as (girdling), this process kills trees by removing their outer protection, making them more susceptible to the elements.

Identifying Voles

Because voles are almost exclusively ground pests, it is often difficult to identify them around yards. To help you know whether these pests are around and causing trouble, here are a few common signs to keep an eye out for:

  • Runways of dead grass or impacted soil
  • Grass clippings along runways
  • Vole droppings
  • Damage to garden or ornate plants
  • Bark chewed away from the base of trees (girdling)
  • Off-color or unhealthy looking trees

Dealing With Voles

If you suspect your property has a vole problem, there is only one solution that is guaranteed to get rid of these pests fast. By hiring a pest control professional, you gain access to their years of knowledge, training, and equipment needed to handle these invasive pests properly. By choosing Owyhee Environmental, you make sure the job gets done right. Our pest control professionals have been taking care of yard pests like voles for a long time and will be happy to use their skills to remove these destructive creatures from your Boise property.

Give our team a call today to further discuss your treatment options and find a pest control plan that best fits you and your property’s individual needs. No matter what furry pests threaten your home and property, Owyhee has the right stuff for the job.

Learn more about our home pest control and additional pest control services in Boise, ID.




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