Voles

	Voles are small rodents and are frequently referred to as meadow mice or field mice. They typically live about 3-6 months and there are about 70 species of voles. They have blunt noses, small furry ears, dense brown fur and a tail with no fur.
	Size: 3" to 7" long Shape: Mouse Color: Brown	Legs: 4 Wings: No Antenna: No
	Common Name: Vole Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata	Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae

DIET

The vole's diet consists of seeds, tubers, tree needles, bark, various green vegetation such as grass and clover, and insects. Voles prefer not to feed in the open.

HABITAT

Voles require dense grass cover and prefer to live outside in fields. They are very poor climbers and have difficulty reaching upper floors of buildings.

IMPACT

Voles are very destructive to gardens and will gnaw the bark of fruit trees. They can also cause damage to tree roots, which may eventually kill the trees.

PREVENTION

• In addition to traps and fencing, gravel buffers can help protect gardens against vole infestation.
• Remove weeds, heavy mulch, and dense vegetative cover around your home. These environments provide voles food and protection from predators.
• Mowing, spraying with herbicides or tilling grassy areas adjacent to gardens will help prevent an infestation.