Have you seen vole damage in your landscape? Here are some examples:

In Denver, during most summers voles will move into wild or native areas and feed on fast growing grasses and small shrubs. However, this year we have seen active burrowing in turf areas throughout the entire summer. The voles use the burrows that they create in the turf to protect themselves from predators. The grass surrounding the burrows will eventually die, leaving a horribly disfigured lawn with meandering dead areas near many of the flower and shrub beds. The junipers have also been unsuccessful in escaping the summer unscathed. As junipers beds get older they will accumulate a vast amount of debris from years of dead needle and twig tissue. The voles use these areas within the depths of old juniper beds to conduct their activities. The voles will feed on and girdle the branches, causing them to die. The results are unmistakable.

There are programs designed to control voles in Denver, starting with good old fashioned shrub cleaning and pruning. The idea is to open up the interior of the shrubs enough to make the voles vulnerable to predators. Predators are a great form of control and efforts should be made to maintain the natural predator population of foxes and predatory birds. As winter approaches the cover for the vole turns from shrubs to snow cover. Deep snows provide ample cover for the voles, but a properly administered baiting program can help to control voles year round. Please call us at 303.232.0666 or contact us online and  we can help develope a program that works for you.