Voles

Learn about Utah Voles

Get A Free Quote

Vole Description

Voles resemble mice in appearance and are often mistaken for mice. Voles are compact rodents with stocky bodies, short legs, and short tails. Their eyes are small, and their ears are partially hidden. They usually are brown or gray, though many color variations exist. The adult vole ranges from 3.5 to 5 inches and weighs 1 to 2.5 ounces.

Habitat

Voles live in areas of heavy grass and weed cover. They use above-ground runways and underground tunnels to move from place to place. The surface runway openings are 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide. The surface runway system will have numerous openings into underground tunnels below the surface. Vole nest sites are often beneath the protection of objects lying on the ground.

Burrow openings are usually next to protective objects, such as rocks, rock walls, cement patios, and walkways. The burrow openings may also be beneath protective covers such as vegetation or shrubbery. Occasionally, the burrow openings are located in open spaces such as lawn turf. Voles may be active day or night, but most activity occurs at dawn and dusk. Their activity comprises short, quick visits from the burrow through their runways and back.

For A Free, No-Obligation Quote, Call 801-225-6000 or Send Us an Online Message

Diet

Voles are vegetarians and can cause severe feeding damage to seedlings and turf grass. The stems and leaves of grasses comprise most of their diet, but they will also consume other green vegetation and fruits. Voles do not hibernate and are active throughout the year. During severe winters and snow cover, when green foliage is scarce, voles often girdle tree trunks and roots, killing or damaging trees and shrubs.

Vole Life Cycle & Reproduction

Voles can produce from 5 to 10 liters per year, with an average of 5 young per litter. Gestation is about 21 days, and females can mate again the day after their young are born. Young voles can soon proliferate; they are weaned at 2 to 3 weeks and are sexually mature in a month or two.

Voles can live up to two years. Just one single female vole can produce 75 or more offspring in a single year. Assuming that her offspring also mated and reproduced – several thousand voles could result from that one female vole during one year.

Vole Damage

Voles can prove destructive to turf lawns and young trees and plants. Voles also feed regularly on bark and have been known to kill saplings. Unlike most rodents, voles are active day and night. They reproduce quickly, leading to severe infestations and damage if left unchecked. Click here to learn about vole removal.