Voles

What Are Voles?

Voles are small, burrowing rodents that are commonly mistaken for mice or moles, but they have distinct characteristics and behaviors that set them apart. They belong to the family Cricetidae, which includes other rodents like lemmings and hamsters. Over 100 species of voles exist worldwide, with several species native to North America.

Are Voles Harmful?

Voles, though small and seemingly innocuous rodents, can be surprisingly harmful in various ways—particularly to homeowners, landscapers, farmers, and property managers. Their behavior, diet, and reproductive rate make them a formidable pest when populations go unchecked. Here are some of the ways voles can be harmful:

Extensive Vegetation Damage

Voles are herbivores, and their feeding habits can wreak havoc on a wide range of plants:

• Lawns and Turf: Voles create surface runways and clip grass to maintain these paths, leaving unsightly tracks in turfgrass and undermining lawn health.
• Ornamental Plants and Shrubs: They often gnaw on the bark of shrubs and trees, particularly during winter when other food sources are scarce. This can girdle the plant, effectively killing it by interrupting nutrient and water flow.
• Garden Crops: Voles consume bulbs, tubers, and root vegetables, posing a direct threat to home gardens and commercial crops like carrots, potatoes, and tulips.
• Girdling: As mentioned, voles chew bark around the base of trees and vines. If the girdling is complete, it can kill even mature trees.
• Root Destruction: They also feed on root systems, weakening or killing young trees and vines, which can lead to long-term economic losses for orchard owners.

Property Damage

Voles' burrowing activity can also cause damage to:

• Irrigation Systems: Underground tunnels can compromise irrigation infrastructure by displacing soil and damaging lines.
• Foundations and Retaining Walls: Though less common than with larger burrowing animals, large vole infestations can contribute to soil instability around these structures.

Disease Transmission

Although voles are not as notorious as other rodents (like rats) for spreading diseases, they can still be vectors:

• Parasites: Voles can host fleas, ticks, and mites, which can transmit diseases to humans and pets.
• Zoonotic Diseases: They can carry pathogens such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and tularemia, although transmission to humans is rare and usually occurs through contact with urine or feces.

Learn more: The Trick To Getting Rid Of Voles In Your Yard

Vole Appearance

Voles are small, stocky rodents that resemble mice or small rats but have distinct physical characteristics that set them apart. Their appearance is often described as compact and robust, with features adapted for their burrowing, foraging, and ground-dwelling lifestyle. Here is what voles look like:

• Length: Typically 4 to 8 inches long (including the tail).
• Tail: Shorter than that of mice—usually about 1 to 2 inches long, and not much longer than the hind legs. This is a key identifying feature.
• Weight: Around 0.5 to 2.5 ounces depending on species and age.
• Stocky and Compact: Voles have a plump, rounded body, unlike the slender form of a typical house mouse.
• Short Legs: Their legs are relatively short, which adds to their ground-hugging posture.
• Blunt and Rounded Snout: Unlike mice, which have a more pointed snout, voles have a blunt nose.
• Eyes and Ears: Small eyes and ears that are partially hidden by fur, making them appear less prominent compared to those of mice.
• Fur Texture: Dense and soft.
• Color: Varies by species, but most commonly brown or grayish-brown on the back, and lighter gray or buff-colored on the belly. Some species may have a reddish or golden tinge.
• Short and Furry Tail: Unlike the long, scaly tail of a rat or mouse, a vole’s tail is short and covered with fine hair. It is one of the easiest ways to differentiate them from other small rodents.

Learn more: What Do Voles Look Like?

Learn more: Voles vs Mice

Learn more: Voles vs Moles

Vole Habitat

Voles are highly adaptable rodents found throughout North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, and they thrive in environments that provide ample ground cover and food sources. Their habitat preferences vary slightly depending on the species, but in general, voles prefer areas where they can remain hidden from predators and where vegetation is abundant. Here's where you're most likely to encounter voles:

Lawns and Landscaped Areas

Voles are commonly found in suburban and residential settings, particularly:

• Well-mulched flower beds
• Dense groundcover or ornamental grasses
• Under shrubs or low-hanging bushes
• Edges of lawns near fields or wooded areas

These areas offer food and shelter. Homeowners often notice their presence through surface runways in the grass or damaged plants.

Meadows, Fields, and Pastures

• Meadow voles, in particular, are named for their preference for open, grassy fields.
• These environments offer ideal conditions: soft soil for burrowing, dense vegetation for cover, and abundant food sources (grasses, seeds, stems, etc.).
• Agricultural pastures and hayfields are frequent vole hotspots, especially if mowing or grazing is infrequent, allowing thick vegetation to accumulate.

Orchards and Vineyards

• Voles thrive in orchards and vineyards where ground vegetation is left unmanaged.
• Fallen fruit, bark, and root systems offer abundant food.
• They often establish nests at the bases of trees or vines and feed on bark during winter, which can lead to tree girdling and death.

Forest Edges and Woodlands

• Voles often inhabit the transitional zones between wooded areas and open fields. These ecotones offer a mix of cover and open feeding grounds.
• Pine voles, in particular, are adapted to life in wooded environments and prefer leaf litter, tree roots, and forest floor debris.

Gardens and Agricultural Crops

Home gardens, especially those with root vegetables (like carrots and potatoes), bulb flowers (like tulips), or legume crops, can attract voles. In commercial agriculture, vole infestations can occur in:

• Row crops (e.g., soybeans, corn, grains)
• Vegetable plots
• Cover-cropped fields, especially if left undisturbed over winter

Areas with Ground Debris or Mulch

Voles prefer environments with dense ground cover—this includes:

• Woodpiles
• Brush piles
• Heavy layers of mulch
• Overgrown weedy areas

These features provide protection from predators and harsh weather, especially during winter.

Along Fences, Foundations, and Outbuildings

Structures with adjacent weedy or grassy edges provide perfect vole corridors. You might find vole burrows or surface trails running along these features, especially if vegetation isn’t well-trimmed.

Wetlands and Riparian Zones

Some vole species prefer moist environments like marshes, ditches, or the banks of streams and ponds. These areas provide thick vegetation and soft soil—ideal for tunneling.

Telltale Signs of Vole Activity

To identify whether voles are present in a given area, look for:

• Surface runways: Narrow, well-worn paths in grass or mulch, often leading to burrow entrances.
• Burrow holes: Small (1–2 inch) holes near runways or at the base of vegetation.
• Gnawed bark or roots: Especially at or just below the soil line on young trees and shrubs.
• Nesting materials: Grass or shredded vegetation in hidden areas.

You’re most likely to find voles in areas with dense ground vegetation, ample food sources, and minimal disturbance—such as meadows, orchards, overgrown gardens, forest edges, and even residential landscapes with heavy mulch or groundcover.