Quick answer: Voles are small rodents that tunnel under snow and mulch, leaving winding trails in the lawn and chewing bark and roots on shrubs and young trees. The fix is to remove their cover, protect trunks, and keep a repellent on the plants they target.
What does vole damage look like?
- Narrow, winding runways of dead grass that appear when snow melts
- Bark gnawed away at the base of shrubs and young trees
- Plants that wilt or lean because roots were eaten
- Small, clean holes in beds and at the edges of lawns
Why does it show up in late winter?
Voles stay active all winter. Snow and thick mulch hide them from hawks, owls and foxes, so they feed freely on whatever is underneath. The damage is done over months and revealed all at once when the snow goes.
Are voles the same as moles?
No. Moles eat insects and earthworms and push up mounds and raised ridges. Voles eat plants. If bark or roots are being chewed, it is voles.
How do you prevent vole damage?
- Keep mulch pulled a few inches back from trunks and stems
- Mow the lawn a little shorter for the last cut of the year
- Clear tall grass, weeds and leaf piles near beds
- Protect young trees with hardware cloth guards
- Use a rodent repellent on beds and plantings through the season
Will the lawn recover?
Usually. Vole runways are surface damage. Rake out the dead grass in spring and the turf generally fills back in. Girdled shrubs and trees are the real loss, because a trunk chewed all the way around often dies.
Related: Winter deer damage protection | Deer and rodent repellent service
This article is general information. Pesticides and repellents must always be applied according to the product label and state regulations.