Have you noticed gnaw damage, droppings, or tiny rodents on your property?
If so, you may have a mouse or vole problem.
Before you can treat it, though, you have to figure out which pest is present.
Here at Smith’s Pest Management, we’ve been providing expert pest control services to Bay Area customers for decades.
We’ve compiled our extensive knowledge into this quick blog to help you identify (and get rid of) the pests plaguing your property.
Key Takeaways
- The differences between moles and voles include their physical appearance, habitat preferences, and diet.
- Mice are typically found in indoor settings, such as homes and buildings, while voles are more commonly found in outdoor environments like fields and gardens.
- Voles are herbivorous and tend to feed on plants, whereas mice are omnivorous and have a more varied diet.
- If you need help getting rid of moles or voles, contact the team at Smith’s Pest Management at (408) 871-6988.
What are Voles?
Voles are small, burrowing rodents from the family Cricetidae. They live outdoors and are common lawn and garden pests.
Often mistaken for mice, voles have distinct features: shorter tails, rounder bodies, and blunt noses, which make them look more compact.
Their fur is usually dense and varies from brown to gray, helping them blend into their environment.
Voles mainly eat plants like grasses, seeds, tubers, and the bark of young trees. Their diet can make them pests to gardeners and property owners, as they can damage crops, plants, and landscaping.
Additionally, they reproduce quickly, leading to fast population growth when conditions are good.
One crucial role voles play is helping to aerate the soil with their burrowing.
Their tunnels provide them with shelter and protection from predators and also mix and enrich the soil, which helps plants grow.
Even though they can be annoying for homeowners who like nice, neat outdoor spaces, voles are crucial to their ecosystems, serving as food for predators like owls, hawks, and foxes.
What are Mice?
Mice are small mammals from the family Muridae.
You can identify mice by looking for their long, slender tails, pointed noses, and large ears. Compared to voles, mice are sleeker and more elongated.
Mice can have white, black, brown, or even gray fur, depending on the species.
Mice are omnivores, meaning they eat many different foods, such as grains, fruits, seeds, and insects.
This varied diet makes them adaptable and allows them to live in environments ranging from forests and grasslands to cities. As such, they’re persistent pests that can be pretty tough to eliminate.
Because they can spread diseases and contaminate food, people take measures to control their populations.
Mice are also prolific breeders. Females can produce several litters a year, each with multiple babies, so their populations can grow quickly.
Unlike voles, mice build nests in hidden spots (usually above ground) using materials like paper, fabric, and dried plants.
| Characteristic | Mice | Voles |
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How to Tell if You’re Dealing with Voles or Mice
If you’ve noticed any of the following, you’ve likely got a mouse problem:
| Signs | Description |
| Droppings | Small, dark, pellet-shaped droppings often found near food sources or nest areas |
| Gnaw Marks | Chew marks on materials like wood, plastic, and wires |
| Nests | Nests made of materials like paper, fabric, and other soft materials – nests are often located in hidden areas |
| Footprints | Tiny footprints or tail marks in dusty areas, usually around food storage or along walls near harborage areas |
| Noises | Scratching or scampering sounds, especially at night, coming from walls or ceilings |
| Urine Odor | A distinct, musky smell that may be especially strong in enclosed spaces. |
| Food Damage | Gnawed food packaging and partially eaten food in pantries, kitchens, or gardens |
| Grease Smears/Marks | Dark, greasy marks along walls |
If you’ve noticed any of these signs, though, you may have a vole on your property:
| Sign | Description |
| Burrow Systems | Extensive, shallow burrow systems with numerous entry holes, often found in lawns and gardens |
| Runways | Well-defined, surface runways in grass or mulch, often connecting burrow entrances |
| Girdling | Bark gnawed off trees and shrubs near the base, especially in winter |
| Chewed Vegetation | Plants, bulbs, and roots that have been chewed, leaving jagged edges on leaves and stems |
| Droppings | Small, dark droppings near burrow entrances or feeding sites |
| Plant Damage | Noticeable damage to garden plants, particularly root crops and bulbs |
Vole Control Tips
1. Modify the Habitat
Remove dense ground cover, wood piles, and other debris to keep your lawn mowed and eliminate vole hiding spots.
Also, keep mulch light around trees and shrubs, trim bushes from the ground up, and remove bird feeders.
2. Protect Young Trees
Shield the lower trunk of young trees with a protective guard, such as wire mesh or plastic tubing.
3. Use Repellents
To encourage voles to leave their burrows, use pre-made repellents containing castor oil, rosemary oil, or peppermint oil.
4. Set Traps
Place lethal traps at 10-foot intervals along plant rows.
Secure traps to the runway with a 6-inch nail, ensuring the trigger extends into the runway.
Use snap traps with oatmeal as bait and cover with downspout material or cardboard to avoid catching small birds.
Make sure you research local laws and regulations before you begin trapping.
5. Use Poison Bait
Place poison baits like Kaput Mouse blocks in secure bait stations.
These baits are highly toxic and should always be stored out of reach of children, pets, and non-target species.
6. Avoid Unproven Tactics
Avoid unproven methods like vole-repellent plants (garlic, spearmint, thyme, onion) and ineffective techniques like fumigants and electromagnetic or ultrasonic devices.
7. Hire a Pest Pro
For a comprehensive solution, consider hiring a professional pest management company like Smith’s Pest Management for vole removal services.
For more detailed tips and in-depth solutions, check out our blog on the topic.
Mouse Control Tips
1. Set Traps
Depending on your personal preference, you can choose from a variety of traps: snap traps, enclosed mouse traps, or even live capture mouse traps.
Regarding bait, opt for high-protein foods like peanut butter or hazelnut spread.
Place traps near walls, behind and beneath furniture, and in secluded, dark areas. Remember that mice like to scuttle close to walls and not in open rooms.
No matter what type of traps you use, check them daily.
2. Remove Food and Shelter Sources
Ensure all food items are stored in sealed containers and clean up spills promptly. Keep fabrics in storage bins and keep your house dry and well-ventilated.
3. Seal Entry Points
Fill in any gaps, cracks, and holes that mice could use to get into your home. Use steel wool, wire mesh, or another material mice can’t chew through.
4. Use Chemical Control
If the infestation is severe, use rodenticide baits – but only as a last resort!
5. Hire a Pro
While DIY methods can solve minor infestations, more extensive invasions may require professional expertise.
Don’t hesitate to contact a pest management specialist for further assistance.
For additional detailed tips and comprehensive solutions, visit our blog on getting rid of mice.
Let us Help you Get Rid of Mice, Voles, and Other Rodents!
Don’t let mice or voles take over your property.
Smith’s is here to help!
Our team provides commercial and residential rodent control services for customers in and around the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast. We also offer mole control, vole control and more.
