Why Napa Valley Residents Must Take Voles Seriously

Last Modified on October 11, 2021 by Zachary Smith

The Pests Stop Here!

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Have you ever seen a meadow vole? If you have, you might think you don’t have anything to worry about. A meadow vole is only about 4 to 8 inches in length, depending on the species. That’s not very big. But we’re here to tell you, that little pest can cause big problems. Here are a few reasons why.

Reproduction

When a meadow vole comes onto your property, it has the ability to reproduce quickly. A vole can have 5 to 10 litters in one year, with each litter containing 3 to 6 young. That is 15 to 60 newborn voles that could become active in your yard in one year. When you consider that a female vole can mate and reproduce at 20 days of age and have pups in less than a month, you can begin to see how serious this problem could become. Within 2 months, you could have several females reproducing in your yard. That’s alarming.

Damage

  • Meadow voles feed on the bark at the base of trees, causing a partial or complete gird belt of damage around the base. This deprives trees of nutrients and can lead to the death of some trees.
  • As a tree dies, it becomes and an eyesore that needs to be replaced. This can cost time and money and possibly leave you with an aesthetic look that is not as good as what you had.
  • Meadow voles damage lawns by chewing runways in turfgrass and by digging holes everywhere. This can lead to ugly trails of dead grass or patches of dead grass around the holes.
  • Meadow voles chew on a wide selection of living plants. They can feed on turfgrass, weeds, roots, tubers, ornamental plants, vegetables, and fruits. If you have vegetation in your yard, you’re not going to like having these animals around. They are a particularly significant threat when they infest orchards and farms.

 

While these are small pests, they should be taken seriously when they come into yards in the Napa Valley. If you’re seeing signs of vole activity, remember that the professionals at Smith’s Pest Management are experts in vole trapping. We use the most advanced methods and equipment to locate and capture voles without the use of chemicals. Most important of all, we have a track record of success. Reach out to us today for a consultation. We can help you get control of voles.

Author Bio: Zach Smith

Landscape Pro Turned Gopher Pro: Owner, Zach Smith, graduate of Cal Poly’s Horticulture program worked nine years as a landscape professional- dealing with gophers, moles, and ground squirrels and was quickly recruited by other local gardeners. Fast forward to the past 15+ years, where Zach and his team trap and remove burrowing pests from residential, municipal and commercial properties throughout the San Francisco Bay area, from Marin to Monterey.