Do Voles Eat Plants

If you’ve noticed mysterious damage in your garden, you might be wondering, do voles eat plants? The answer is a definitive yes, and they can cause significant harm. These small, mouse-like rodents are common garden pests that feast on roots, bulbs, and stems, often hidden from view until it’s too late.

Voles are primarily herbivores, meaning their diet consists almost entirely of plant matter. Unlike moles, which eat insects and worms, voles target your vegetation directly. Their feeding habits change with the seasons, but your garden is always on the menu.

In spring and summer, they enjoy grasses, clover, and the tender stems of perennials. Come fall and winter, they turn to roots, bark, and bulbs as other food sources become scarce. This year-round appetite makes them a persistent problem.

What Plants Are Most at Risk?

Voles aren’t terribly picky, but they do have favorites. Knowing which plants are vulnerable helps you monitor and protect them.

Vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, beets, and other root crops are dug up and consumed. They also nibble on lettuce and kale.
Bulbs: Tulip, crocus, and lily bulbs are like winter candy for voles.
Perennials & Ornamentals: Hostas, daylilies, and salvia are often damaged. They girdle the stems of young trees and shrubs, such as apple trees, roses, and azaleas.
Lawns: Their runways can disfigure lawns, and they eat grass roots, leading to dead patches.

Signs You Have Voles, Not Other Pests

Correct identification is the first step to control. Here’s how to tell if voles are your culprit.

Surface Runways: Look for 1-2 inch wide paths of clipped grass through your lawn or mulch. These are their highways.
Small, Clean Holes: You may see neat, golf-ball-sized entry holes to their burrows, often near runways.
Girdled Stems: Check the base of plants for irregular gnawing marks around the bark. This can kill the plant by cutting off its nutrient flow.
Chewed Roots & Bulbs: Plants that wilt or die suddenly may have had their roots eaten. Dug-up bulbs will show teeth marks.

Effective, Humane Control Strategies

Managing voles requires a multi-pronged approach. Persistence is key, as their populations can grow quickly.

1. Habitat Modification (Make Your Garden Less Inviting)

Voles like cover. By removing their hiding spots, you make your garden less appealing.

Keep grass mowed and trim vegetation around garden beds.
Clear away piles of leaves, mulch, and wood piles directly against plant stems.
Use gravel or stone borders, which they dislike tunneling through.

2. Physical Barriers for Protection

Exclusion is one of the most effective long-term solutions for prized plants.

Tree Guards: Wrap the lower trunk of young trees with hardware cloth (1/4 inch mesh). Bury it an inch or two in the soil and extend it about 12 inches high.
Bulb Cages: Plant susceptible bulbs inside wire mesh cages buried in the planting hole.
Raised Beds: Lining the bottom of raised beds with hardware cloth can prevent voles from entering from below.

3. Trapping Methods

For active infestations, trapping is a direct and effective control. The best time to trap is fall and early spring.

Use Mouse Traps: Standard snap traps baited with apple slices, peanut butter, or oatmeal work well.
Placement is Crucial: Set traps perpendicular to their runways, with the trigger end in the pathway.
Cover Traps: A small box or milk carton over the trap protects non-target animals and keeps the area dark, which voles prefer.
Check traps daily and relocate or dispose of captured voles according to local regulations.

4. Natural Predators

Encouraging nature’s own pest control is a great strategy. Many predators hunt voles.

Install perches to attract hawks and owls to your yard.
Adopt an outdoor cat (though they may also hunt birds).
Welcome snakes, like garter snakes, which consume voles.

What Doesn’t Work Well

Save your time and money. Some commonly suggested remedies have limited effectiveness.

Ultrasonic Devices: There is little scientific evidence these work for voles in open areas.
Castor Oil & Home Remedies: While they might offer temporary repulsion, results are inconsistent and short-lived.
Poison Baits: These pose significant risks to pets, children, and wildlife like birds of prey. They are generally not recommended for home gardens.

Seasonal Garden Protection Calendar

A year-round plan helps you stay ahead of the problem.

Late Winter (Feb-Mar): Inspect for girdling on trees and shrubs. Set traps in runways before spring growth.
Spring (Apr-May): Plant bulbs in wire cages. Install tree guards on new plantings. Keep areas tidy.
Summer (Jun-Aug): Monitor for new runways in lawns. Mow regularly and avoid excess mulch.
Fall (Sep-Nov): This is critical. Trap aggressively as populations peak. Remove fallen fruit and clear garden debris.

FAQs About Voles and Garden Damage

Q: How are voles different from moles and mice?
A: Voles are stockier than mice with shorter tails and smaller ears. They have visible eyes, unlike moles, which are nearly blind. Moles make raised tunnels and eat insects; voles make surface runways and eat your plants.

Q: Do voles come into houses?
A: It’s very rare. Voles are almost exclusively outdoor pests focused on gardens and fields. If you see one inside, it was likely an accident.

Q: Can a vole population recover quickly after control?
A> Yes, they breed rapidly. A single female can have 5-10 litters per year. That’s why ongoing habitat management is as important as initial removal.

Q: What plants do voles avoid?
A: They tend to steer clear of plants with strong scents or toxic properties, like daffodils (bulbs), crown imperial fritillaria, alliums, lavender, and rosemary. Using these as a border can offer some protection.

Q: Are the runways in my lawn permanent?
A: The damage isn’t usually permanent. Once the voles are controlled, you can rake out the dead grass in the runways, overseed the area, and the lawn will typically recover with proper care.

Dealing with voles can be frustrating, but with a clear identification and a consistent strategy, you can protect your garden. Focus on making the environment less friendly to them, protecting valuable plants with barriers, and using traps when needed. Remember, a tidy garden with fewer hiding spots is your first and best line of defence. Regular monitoring will help you catch a problem early, saving you a lot of trouble and your plants from becoming a vole’s next meal.