Ciao, Voles

Voles have nearly pushed me off the edge after buying every type of bait and gadget and discovering they do not hibernate in the winter, except maybe for a few days. And with Murphy's law they have set up shop in the bed with my most expensive daylilies.

I have a friend in KY who has used the CritterGetter with great success but for the length of time I needed it, it was yet another big investment. I almost resorted to hiring the guys with the Rodenator to come and blow up the backyard. Here is my cheapest way to be rid of them; it does require constant checking for active entrance/exit holes.

Vole hole.


Cover holes with sand, poultry grit or pea gravel.


If the hole is active the material will have been moved.


Set traps by adding a dab of peanut butter in the center hole. I use the Ortho Home Defense Max Press 'N Set Mouse Traps and always have 16 working traps. The weight of the peanut butter may weigh down the red trip so take a plastic knife and lift up the trip.



Cover the trap with a nursery pot held with a bamboo stake. You don't want cats and dogs to get injured.



When you trap a vole you will want to recover the hole and start again because there may be up to 30 more voles in the tunnel. For the winter months, I keep everything needed in the wheelbarrow.