Voles, also sometimes called “meadow mice,” are a common rodent in New England. We know that voles in the yard can be a major source of frustration as they can cause damage to lawns and landscapes.
Ideally, you want to do what you can to discourage voles in the first place. Preventative measures like keeping the lawn and landscape tidy can help play a role.
In this article, we’ll dive into everything you ought to know about voles in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire…including what to do if you think you have a problem with them.
At the end of the day, we want to set you up for maximum success so that you can enjoy your New England property to the fullest.
Jump to:
Signs of Voles in the Yard
Are Voles Dangerous?
What Can Lead to a Vole Infestation?
How to Repair Vole Damage?
How to Control Voles in Your Yard?
Choosing Lawn Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
Signs of Voles in the Yard
The very first step to dealing with voles is to identify that they are actually what’s causing your problem. Other rodents can cause damage that looks like vole damage (as can some lawn pests).
Voles look like chunky, short-tailed mice (and are often mistaken for mice!). 
The vole’s shorter tail, blunt snout, and small ears are the biggest differentiators.
Some additional signs to look for that confirm you may have voles in the yard include:
Runways
“Runways” are often the most notable sign of voles in the yard.
Voles create one to two-inch wide zig-zag paths of matted or dead grass. These runways often crisscross the lawn as they travel around. Runways typically become noticeable after snow melts as voles often remain active in winter since they do not hibernate.
Vole runways are different from mole tunnels, which are usually raised and above ground. But other rodents do create “runways” so these alone are not a definitive identifier.
Vole Holes
Another sign of voles in a lawn are vole holes.
Voles create small golfball-sized holes where they enter and exit their runways. You might find these holes in various areas of the lawn. You may also notice that the ground might feel soft or spongy in areas where these runways and holes were created.
Plant Damage
Finally, plant damage is another clue that you might have voles in the yard. Voles will often feed on plant roots, causing small shrubs and landscape plants to die or easily pull up. They have also been known to chew on bark.
When voles chew on bark, they can potentially damage the cambium layer, which is essential for nutrient flow. This can lead to wilting, decline, or even death of the plant.
Are Voles Dangerous?
Voles are not aggressive to humans or pets, however, they can be an indirect health threat due to carrying diseases and parasites. Rodents, in general, can also carry fleas, ticks, and mites into a yard which can wind up becoming a problem for pets or people.
The biggest immediate danger from voles is plant and lawn damage. They can be a frustrating pest that can lead to landscape damage.
What Can Lead to a Vole Infestation?
Voles can typically invade any lawn. In our region, we do see a lot of voles in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire ending up in orchards.
Orchards have everything that voles love including plenty of food (grass, roots, fallen fruit), dense ground cover, and shelter.
Voles like to hide and are definitely attracted to properties that have dense ground cover, including leaf litter. This is one of the reasons why cleaning up fallen leaves is important, as it will discourage rodents in general.
Keeping grass regularly mowed (when in season) is also important as voles may try to hide out in taller grass.
How to Repair Vole Damage?
Repairing vole damage depends on what was damaged. If you have trees, shrubs, or landscape plants that were damaged by voles, it will be important to assess the extent of the damage. Some plants might not be saved.
For lawn damage, aerating the lawn and reseeding can help fill in any bare spots or damaged areas that got torn up. You’ll also want to keep up with regular lawn care that will help promote healthy grass growth.
Of course, you also want to make sure that you get rid of voles so that the damage does not just keep reoccurring.
How to Control Voles in Your Yard?
There are some steps that you can take on your own to try to address or discourage voles in the yard.
For one, voles do not like being out in the open, so we do advise that any debris is picked up. Keep everything trimmed and tidy, including trees and shrubs.
You might also consider tree guards, which can be put around trees so that voles do not feed on the trunks. When voles gnaw on the bark, it can eventually lead to tree root girdling, which can become serious.
Voles can also be trapped.
They do sell DIY traps and most homeowners can handle this themselves. However, many people do prefer to hire a pest control service to help them get rid of voles.
When people call us about how to get rid of voles, we first tell them it’s important to identify that it is actually voles in the yard. If it is determined to be voles, we can help trap and remove these pests.
Choosing Lawn Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
Voles can be a problem when it comes to having a healthy lawn and landscape. But you can partner with a lawn care professional that will help you keep everything on track, before, during and after..
If your goal is to have a great-looking property, then it’s important that you invest in the best lawn care services. That means working with a company that will help set you up for success.
Sometimes this can mean paying a little bit more for a company that you trust will deliver the best results (and experience). You should always feel confident that you understand what you’re paying for (and what you’re getting for your investment).
At Seacoast Turf Care, we not only offer lawn care services but also pest control. And we can help you think outside-of-the-box if you need solutions for problems (like voles) on your property.
We can make helpful recommendations for ideas that you can implement yourself or we can handle these services for you.
You deserve to be able to enjoy your property to the fullest without worrying about pesky pests like voles!
Want to learn more about what makes us a great choice for your lawn care needs? Get lawn and pest control pricing for your Southern NH, Southern Maine, or Northeastern Massachusetts property.
Image Sources: vole, vole runways, vole in a hole, vole in hand, vole in snow
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