| I am so sorry about your troubles. Voles (and mice and rabbits, too) can wreak havoc. Usually their population rises and falls cyclically, and it sounds like you have hit a peak time; they will continue feeding this spring. Woody plants that have been badly girdled and plants that have lost all their roots probably will not recover; you might look into reseeding the strips in the lawn. To protect plants, a layer of gravel at the roots to discourage tunneling, or a wire mesh cage higher than the snow line can be effective. Natural predators such as snakes, foxes, and birds of prey can be helpful in controlling the population, or you could consider trapping them or using other controls. You may find the following web information helpful, including the toll free number for additional information on voles in Ontario. You may need to cut and paste the complete url into your browser to make it work correctly. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/en... Nature seems to heal quickly once the growing season starts. Best of luck with your garden this summer. |
