Vole Identification Guide

What are voles?

Voles are a type of ground-dwelling rodent. They have small oval-shaped stocky bodies with short legs and tail. The ears are covered in fur and don’t protrude much above the fur that covers their body and head. Adults grow to between five and seven inches in length. Chestnut-brown or black fur covers their body.

Voles have rounded, blunt snouts, and their front teeth are a chisel shape. Like all species of rodents, the voles front teeth grow throughout their lifetime and they constantly gnaw on objects to keep their teeth from overgrowing.

Are voles dangerous?

Voles are not a species of rodent that find their way into our Salt Lake area homes and outbuildings, in fact, people rarely ever come into contact with these rodents. But, still like other rodents as voles travel they leave behind them trails of urine and excrement which they can spread diseases through. Living in their fur is a variety of parasites including fleas and ticks, which carry their own set of diseases that pose a danger to people.

The biggest concern when it comes to voles is that they are garden pests and are capable of causing extensive damage to our lawns, landscaping, and fruit trees. They also are problematic in fields and may cause damage to crops.

In our Salt Lake City yards, the entrance and exit holes at the beginning and end of their tunnels cause twisted ankles and make mowing lawns difficult. Also, their tunnel systems damage the aesthetic of lawns.

Voles are active day and night throughout the entire year, causing them to be a constant threat to our yards.

Why do I have a vole problem?

You have a problem with voles in your Salt Lake City home because your property is providing a suitable environment for them to live and forage for food in. Voles prefer big open spaces with a lot of grass and other vegetation to feed on- all things most yards offer them.
 
These rodents spend most of their time in their underground tunnels, though they also forage for food above the ground as well. Voles are herbivores and use their sharp front teeth to help them feed on things like grass, plants, bulbs, and roots.

Where will I find voles?

Neighborhoods located next to golf courses, parks, meadows, fields, and other open areas may experience more problems with hungry voles than neighborhoods located in more urban areas.
 
If voles are living in your yard you will begin to notice their “runways.” They use their runways to travel back and forth from the food sources to burrows and to connect the entranceways of their burrows. The runways are most noticeable in grassy areas- like our lawns.

How do I get rid of voles?

A vole infestation is a frustrating pest problem. The easiest way to get rid of voles and other wild animals is to partner with Pest Pro Pest Control. We provide the effective services needed for both residential pest management and commercial pest management, covering wildlife, insects, rodents, and other pests.
 
At Pest Pro Pest Control, we are committed to helping Utah home and business owners maintain pest-free properties with our guaranteed pest control services. For more information about our wildlife control treatments, reach out to Pest Pro Pest Control today!

How can I prevent voles in the future?

Keep your Utah home and yard protected from voles with the help of Pest Pro Pest Control and the following prevention tips:

• Remove hiding spots from your yards, including brush piles, woodpiles, and overgrown vegetation.

• Maintain your lawn and mow it regularly to keep the grass short.

• Don’t overuse mulch, voles like to tunnel through areas of dense mulch.