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Still Plagued By Voles; 3 for 3 last night!
Topic Started: Nov 23 2004, 07:38 AM (157 Views)
Heathertee
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Heather-Central Connecticut
Voles are a major garden pest in this part of the country. They do their damage by eating the roots and tubers and bulbs of valued plants. Among these have been roses, strawberries, daylilies, delphiniums, parsley, carrots, bean roots, and I could go on and on. They tunnel and honeycomb the soil so badly that it dries out like a flash and nothing will flourish without daily watering.
A friend in Massachusetts caught over fifty voles using the folloiwing method. Bait mousetraps with a little peanut butter. In the evening, place the trap next to an active vole hole (watch for the newer ones as they appear). Place a bowl over the trap to keep hungry birds from getting hurt. There will probably be a vole in the trap in the morning.
I set out three last night and found three this morning that have ruined their last plant. :clap: I figure if I can keep up the 3 for 3 rate, I will clear the area of the horrid things in about a year...
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sylley2000
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Sylvia, Grand Bend ON
Good luck in your attempt to foil the voles.

In addition to using the traps, which I fully agree with BTW, I would protect the base of trees and shrubs with chicken wire or something similar. I applaud your efforts to trap them.

Here is an article about voles that you might like to read:

http://landscaping.about.com/cs/pests/a/vole_control_4.htm

Sylvia
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mychrissy
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Chrissy
Come to think of it I haven't seen any voles lately. Still can't figure out how the metal bar that holds the bird feeder got bent.
Chrissy

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Heathertee
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Heather-Central Connecticut
Chrissy, if a vole did that, it must've been the biggest vole in the world! Be sure to get a picture of it, LOL! (I think it probably was a big raccoon).
Ain't nature grand :P :P :P !
Sylvia, nothing bothers the plants at the base or trunk. The voles eat from underground only; roots and tubers and bulbs (but not daffodils or alliums). The chipmunks climb up to get the blueberries, strawberries (if the voles miss the roots) and grapes, and the woodchucks and deer take care of the rest.
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DylansMom
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
I have never heard of a vole. What is it?????????????
Greg, Dylan & Jasper too!
2005 F350 King Ranch PSD Crew Cab 4x4 Dually; 2005 Carriage Carri-lite KIQ View My Pictures Here

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Heathertee
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Heather-Central Connecticut
Voles are nasty little rodents like mice with no tails. They live most of their lives underground, eating roots of expensive plants.

Posted Image


These are full-size.
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Heathertee
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Heather-Central Connecticut
Yay, I got another one last night! I think they are getting wise to the peanut butter ploy..
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mychrissy
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Chrissy
Haven't seen any now in over a month, do racoons eat them? Something is still attacking the birdfeeder though. We do have moles that make weird little tunnels in the lawn. I guess it's always something.
Chrissy

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DylansMom
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Jackie-Sioux Falls, SD (in Arizona for the moment)
So, how is a "mole" and a "vole" different????

No, not a cmoehle! :floorrollin:
Greg, Dylan & Jasper too!
2005 F350 King Ranch PSD Crew Cab 4x4 Dually; 2005 Carriage Carri-lite KIQ View My Pictures Here

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mychrissy
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Chrissy
YOu would have to ask that Jackie, we'll wait till Heather signs on, I'm sure she knows. :P
Chrissy

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Heathertee
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Heather-Central Connecticut
Jackie, moles are much larger and are carnivorous, eating grubs and earthworms and such.
Voles are as I described above.
Hey, I think we have a weasel! I set traps and one was dragged backwards INTO the vole tunnel and half the vole was eaten (or anyway, gone). Can it be the little rotters are cannabalistic as well as all the other terrible things they do? Or maybe a mole got it.

Guess I'll never know.
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