Outdoor Animal Control - Ideas for discouraging voles?

I have a growing vole problem. Pretty sure that's the critter that's making these tracks or "runways" in my lawn:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a200/timskitpics/voles3.jpg

Anyway, I've tried live traps baited with peanut butter and managed to relocate a few of them last summer. But they seem to be too smart to get caught in the traps. One even ate all the bait and then pooped in the trap before he left!! I don't want to use poison. But these critters are ruining my lawn, which I spent close to $5K on a few years ago. Any workable suggestions for reducing the population or convincing them to go elsewhere?

Thanks.....

Hi Tim,

Sorry to hear about your frustrating time with trapping. Here's info on moles and voles so you can be sure of which one you have. I've heard from others on this board that their scissor type traps work well. Here's an interesting discussion that should be helpful.
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=261038&highlight=voles

http://www.molepro.com/support/common_questions/moles.htm#1
http://www.volecontrol.com/voles.html

Newt

Thanks, that's quite an instructive thread, although it deals mostly with moles. I laughed at this post:

Hi Romod,

I have read that some people have shoved garden hoses into mole tunnels & believed they had run them off. However, some also say, that their moles came back soon after the water left their tunnels & dens.

Myself, I've never tried this. However, I would think that the water would not go too far into the tunnel system before it was being absorbed by the surrounding soil (as fast as the hose can put it in). If so, that would mean that you would only be getting in there a short way.



as one day I stuck a garden hose down one of their holes, turned on the water, and sat...and sat....and sat.... I don't know how many hundreds of gallons I pumped down there but it never filled up. Oh, I did see a couple bailing out of there, but I think it was just temporary until their home dryed out. LOL

Tim, you gave me quite a giggle with your hose scenerio!

I hope that thread helps.
Newt

Typically, moles and voles are both after a food source, usually grubs, ants or other small insects. If you get rid of the food source, you'll get rid of the voles. Triazicide is a good all around treatment for most of the small insects that voles tend to dine on. It covers about 21 different insects (it's available at most home stores, Lowe's or HD) If you'd like to use something that was pretty chemical free, try aerating your lawn and keeping the clioppings up/raked. Also works on Armadillos!!

With no disrespect to Mona, I would bring your attention to the PAN Pesticide Database. They have Triazicide listed as moderately toxic.
http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=00968800183&DIST_NR=008845
http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Docs/ref_products.html#EPAWarning

I much perfer Mona's suggestion of aerating, core areating is best, and topdressing with compost.
http://www.american-lawns.com/lawns/aeration.html
http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com/lawnaeration.html

Newt

Moles are carnivores and prefer grubs and insects. Voles are vegetarians and prefer vegetation, especially roots. Trapping can be effective for both. Insecticides may be effective for moles, but not voles. Protecting the root systems of flower beds and prize plants is often necessary to prevent damage from voles.

the best way i'e found to protect stuff from voles is to wrap it in something that they can't chew through to get to the roots/bulbs...we use a fine mesh or chicken wire and burlap....screening material will also work. problem with that is you have to dig them up and redo them on a very frequent time frame and wrapping them up with enough room that they have room to grow throughout the season.

Depending on plant, placing metal mesh barrier about 12" deep and 12" out from plant in a a circle should keep you from having to redig so frequently. An entire bed can be protected by placing a mesh perimeter in the soil around it.

My father inlaw had a ridiculus number of voles ruining his yard. He called in a professional that would come in and insert these chemical pellets into active tunnels. The guy had a money back guarantee, and he had to return 2-3 more times to finally get rid of all of them. Total cost was only a couple of hundred bucks, not sure of the exact cost.

I'm not exactly sure what these pellets were, but they worked.

For smaller vole problems, putting down grub worm killer tends to send them elsewhere because that is the vole's/mole's main food source (as I've been told). But they always just go to a neighbor's yard, and re-migrate back over when the grubs migrate back over.

I try to do pesticide free whenever possible, but some of those guys use stuff that would kill a horse, not to mention leach into the ground water and run off. best thing to do when you treat is to get your neighbors to do the same thing...but if you get tired of voles, i'd be more than happy to send you a couple dozen armadillos!!! try their holes out for size!! they do make something that vibrates on a wavelength that runs them off, but i've never talked to anyone who used it....one of the professors at Auburn swears by them though!!

Mona, this is what I have about dealing with armadillos. Hope it helps.
http://icwdm.org/handbook/allPDF/MAM_D1.PDF

Newt

Good link for armadillo control. I think I'd rather deal with voles!

Here's a link for vole control: http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1146/
You can Google for other links.

Again, voles feed on vegetation, not grubs! They are vegetarians. Moles are the carnivores.

Your local Cooperative Extension Service can provide you with info on recommended controls in your area. Not all chemicals are allowed in all areas.

Good point about the voles being vegetarians. I only remember that by thinking 'v' for voles and 'v' for veggies!

Newt

And, M for moles = meat!

LOL Cool!

Newt

Sounds bad, but the best way,I've found for Armadillos is a 22 bullet...We live in the country and they constantly dig in the pastures, Don't need a cow
or horse to step into a hole!!! did treat the yards and got the closest neighbors to do the same....getting rid of the grubs and insects took care of most of em......

Terriers -natural rodent hunters- will find and get rid of moles and voles and maybe armidilos