Sasha CampbellYou may start noticing signs of voles around your yard, such as narrow surface runways, small burrow openings, or damage to plants and lawns.
Don’t worry, though; we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best ways to get rid of voles using only natural methods.
Identification
A vole is a small rodent often mistaken for a mouse. However, voles have shorter tails, stockier bodies, and smaller ears than most mice.
They may also be confused with pocket gophers, although gophers are usually larger and spend more time underground.
Voles are primarily herbivores. They especially damage roots and bark during colder months when food is scarce.
They may also eat grasses, seeds, bulbs, and plant leaves and stems in your garden and yard [1].
Common Signs of Voles
- Narrow runways in grass.
- Small burrow openings.
- Gnawed bark near tree bases.
- Damaged bulbs and roots.
- Soft, spongy lawn areas.
How to Get Rid of Voles Naturally
If you have voles on your property, getting rid of them as soon as possible is essential. There are several natural ways to do this, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
1. Castor Oil
Castor oil is commonly used as a natural repellent for moles and may also help discourage voles from staying in the area.
Combine ½ gallon of water with 3 ounces of castor oil and 1 tablespoon of liquid soap.
Mix one ounce of this castor oil solution with one gallon of water. Finally, spray it all around your garden and other affected areas.
2. Live Traps
These traps are designed to capture voles without harming them.
Live traps can lower vole numbers without hurting them. However, they need regular checking and careful placement.
You can purchase them at your local home improvement store or online. Make sure to read the instructions carefully before setting up the trap.
3. Fencing
You can use fencing to keep these critters out of your yard, but you must ensure it is properly installed.
If you choose to put up a fence, bury it 6 to 12 inches underground. You should also ensure that there are no gaps in the fence that the voles can slip through.
A 0.25-inch hardware cloth fence is ideal.
4. Hot Pepper Spray
You could also try a natural deterrent, like hot pepper spray.
For the recipe, blend 2 hot peppers with 1 quart of water, then add a little liquid soap to make a hot pepper spray.
Once the mixture is ready, place it in a spray bottle and spritz it on areas where you’ve seen voles. The spicy residue may help discourage voles from feeding in treated areas.
5. Clean Up Landscaping
Another way to deter voles from settling in your yard is to keep the area clean and free of debris.
Start by regularly mowing your lawn and removing dead vegetation, such as fallen leaves and branches. Also, look for stumps or other hiding places where voles might nest.
In addition, it helps to remove any overgrown grass, weeds, and shrubs from around your property. Doing so will help reduce potential nesting sites and eliminate food sources for voles, like plant roots and berries.
Removing mulch can make a big difference, too. If you have piles of leaves in your yard, clear them away as soon as possible.
6. Garlic
Garlic is commonly used in organic pest management. It may help deter voles because of its strong odor.
To use garlic, crush some garlic cloves and place them in each vole hole.
You can also make a garlic spray by combining minced garlic or garlic powder with water. Strain it into a spray bottle, then apply the homemade vole repellent to the soil around your plants.
7. Use Gravel Barriers
Gravel barriers can also help discourage voles from digging and tunneling around plants, raised beds, and garden borders.
Voles prefer soft soil and areas with plenty of cover. Therefore, adding a band of coarse gravel or small sharp stones around vulnerable plants can make the area less appealing to them.
To use this method, place a layer of coarse gravel around garden beds, bulbs, or young trees. Make the barrier several inches wide for better protection.
You can also add gravel beneath raised garden beds to reduce tunneling.
8. Predator Urine
Predator urine is one of the most overlooked yet effective natural solutions for scaring away voles.
The scent of predator urine may make voles feel unsafe in the area. It makes them believe a predator is hunting them, so they look for safer places to nest.
You can purchase products made from fox or coyote urine. Try a few to see which one works best for your vole problem.
Reapplication is usually necessary after rain.
9. Wrap Tree Trunks
One way to keep voles from damaging trees is to wrap the tree trunks with chicken wire or hardware cloth. The metal wire will protect the tree bark from being gnawed.
10. Encourage Owls
Owls are also natural predators of voles and can help keep their population under control [2]. You can encourage owls by building a birdhouse or nesting box in your backyard.
Hawks and snakes also prey on voles.
11. Remove Food Sources
Another simple way to help discourage voles from staying in your yard is to remove their food sources.
They’ll go somewhere else if there’s no food for them. Protect bulbs, garden crops, and young trees whenever possible.
12. Humane Snap Traps
If vole numbers are high, snap traps can help reduce their population quickly.
Place traps perpendicular to active vole runways or near burrow openings. Bait them with peanut butter, apple slices, oats, or sunflower seeds.
For best results, wear gloves when handling traps to reduce human scent. You can also cover traps with a box or bucket with a small entrance hole to protect pets and birds.
Although this method is not live capture, it is generally considered more humane and reliable than homemade poison mixtures.
13. BONIDE MoleMax
If natural DIY methods are not enough, you may consider a commercial repellent such as BONIDE MoleMax. It is made from natural ingredients and is safe to use around children and pets.
The active ingredients in this product are castor oil and Fuller’s earth. These ingredients have long been used as natural repellents for small animals such as voles, gophers, armadillos, and moles.
Always follow label directions carefully.
FAQ
What attracts voles to a yard?
Voles are attracted to yards with thick vegetation, mulch, tall grass, weeds, fallen leaves, bulbs, roots, and other easy food sources. Overgrown areas also provide shelter from predators.
Does baking soda kill voles?
Some people use baking soda mixtures as a homemade rodent bait, though evidence of effectiveness against voles is limited.
Do coffee grounds repel voles?
Some gardeners believe coffee grounds may help deter voles because of their strong smell. However, scientific evidence is limited.
Coffee grounds work best when combined with other control methods.
Are voles dangerous to humans?
Voles are generally not dangerous to humans. They rarely bite and usually avoid people. However, they can damage lawns, gardens, bulbs, vegetables, and tree bark.
What time of year are voles most active?
Voles remain active year-round [3]. However, damage is often more noticeable during fall and winter when they feed on tree bark, roots, and stored plant material.
What smells do voles hate?
Voles may dislike strong smells such as garlic, castor oil, hot peppers, peppermint, and predator urine. However, natural repellents usually work best when used alongside other control methods.
Do voles come into houses?
Voles usually prefer outdoor environments. However, they may occasionally enter sheds, garages, crawl spaces, or basements while searching for food or shelter.
Takeaway
In conclusion, if voles are a problem in your yard or garden, there are several humane and natural methods to get rid of them.
Try one or a combination of these methods, and you will likely see a decrease in the number of voles in your yard.
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