Withered plants, dead lawn areas and mounds of earth in flower beds — when controlling voles becomes an issue, the damage in your garden is often already considerable. The water vole (Arvicola terrestris), as the vole is correctly known scientifically, lives underground and feeds on roots, tubers and flower bulbs. In this guide, you'll learn which control methods are truly effective, how to distinguish voles from moles, and what preventive measures will protect your garden.
Vole or Mole? Getting the Identification Right is Crucial
Before you begin control measures, you must ensure you're actually dealing with voles — because the mole is strictly protected and must not be killed. Here's how to tell the two apart:
- Earth mounds: Vole mounds are flat, irregular and often contain plant debris and roots. Mole mounds are tall, conical and consist of fine, crumbly soil without plant material.
- Tunnel shape: Vole tunnels are vertically oval (taller than wide), mole tunnels are horizontally oval (wider than tall).
- Disturbance test: Open a tunnel and check after a few hours. Voles close the tunnel within hours, moles create a new tunnel around the opening.
- Plant damage: Gnawed roots and tubers clearly indicate voles. Moles don't eat plants — they feed on insects and worms.
For more detailed information, see our guide Mole or Vole — How to Spot the Difference.
Control Voles with Traps: The Most Effective Method
Trap control is considered the most effective and animal-welfare-friendly method for controlling voles. Unlike poisons, there's no risk to other animals, and results are immediately visible.
Product Recommendation: Pro SuperCat Vole Trap
The Pro SuperCat Vole Trap is a proven snap trap specially designed for voles. It's inserted directly into the vole tunnel and catches the animals reliably and quickly. The robust construction is durable and reusable. The special feature: The trap has a trigger indicator that shows you from outside whether the trap has been sprung — so you don't need to dig up the trap unnecessarily.
How to Set Up a Vole Trap Correctly:
- Locate the tunnel: Find an active tunnel. Do this by performing the disturbance test (open the tunnel and check after a few hours to see if it's been closed).
- Expose the tunnel: Carefully excavate the tunnel so the trap will fit inside.
- Set the trap: Place the set trap in the tunnel so it sits flush with the tunnel opening. For double tunnels, it's recommended to set two traps in both directions.
- Cover the opening: Cover the opening so it's light-tight, for example with a board or stone. Voles avoid light and will close open areas — this very activity leads them into the trap.
- Check daily: Inspect the trap once daily.
Other Methods for Controlling Voles
Plants as Natural Deterrents
Some plants are said to repel voles through their scent:
- Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis): The bulbs emit a smell voles find unpleasant.
- Garlic: Can be planted between at-risk plants.
- Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris): The milky sap is said to deter voles.
Note: The effectiveness of plants as sole vole deterrents is not scientifically proven. They may have a supporting effect, but cannot replace active control measures.
Repellents
Various scents can drive voles out of their tunnels:
- Butyric acid (rancid-smelling butter) placed on rags in tunnels
- Plant juice made from elderflower or thuja
- Essential oils (eucalyptus, peppermint)
These products may help short-term, but are usually not permanently effective, as the smells fade and voles adapt.
Vole Baskets for Plants
For protecting individual, particularly valuable plants, vole baskets are an excellent solution. These wire baskets are placed in the planting hole during planting and prevent voles from reaching the roots. Particularly recommended for fruit trees, roses and expensive perennial plantings.
Controlling Voles: Legal Information
Unlike the protected mole, voles may be controlled as pests. There is no closed season and no special permits are required for control in your own garden. However, you should observe the following:
- Do not use poisons near water bodies and drinking water wells.
- Consider the danger to other animals (birds of prey, cats, hedgehogs) that could eat poisoned voles.
- Traps are the most animal-friendly method and are preferred by experts.
Prevent Voles
After successful control, you can take the following steps to prevent reinfestation:
- Install bird of prey perches: Kestrels, buzzards and owls are natural enemies of voles. T-shaped perches in the garden attract them.
- Use vole baskets: Especially when planting new fruit trees and valuable perennials.
- Keep grass short: Voles avoid open areas without cover. Regularly mowed lawn is less attractive.
- Wire mesh under the lawn: In cases of particularly heavy infestation, fine-mesh wire netting can be laid under the turf.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do I Know if the Tunnel is Still Active?
Perform the disturbance test: Open the vole tunnel in one spot and check after 2 to 6 hours to see if the opening has been closed. If it's closed, the tunnel is active and suitable for setting a trap. If the opening remains open, the tunnel is abandoned and you should test another section.
When is the Best Time to Control Voles?
The best time to control voles is autumn and winter (October to March). During this time, food supply in the soil is limited and voles are particularly active building storage chambers. Also, the soil is easier to access for finding and opening tunnels without plant cover. Early spring before the planting season also makes sense for control efforts.
Are Vole Poisons Worthwhile?
Vole poisons can be effective, but have significant disadvantages: they endanger pets, birds of prey and other wildlife through secondary poisoning. There is also the risk of children finding the poison. The Pro SuperCat Vole Trap is the safer and more environmentally friendly alternative, preferred by professional pest controllers.
How Many Voles Live in a Garden?
This varies greatly depending on food supply and season. In an average home garden, 2 to 10 voles may live. In a peak year (particularly good food supply) there can be significantly more. Voles have 3 to 4 litters per year with 2 to 6 young each. A single pair can therefore produce considerable offspring within a season.
