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Voles are the most common nuisance we see in Hunters Point. Voles, also known as meadow mice, can do lots of damage to your lawn in a very short time. They are the little critters responsible for those holes and trails in the lawn that seem to appear overnight.
According to the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, there are eight types of vole in Colorado, but the one we are most likely to see in Hunters Point is the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). A vole is easily mistaken for a mouse or a rat, but is larger than a field mouse and smaller than a rat. Happily, while voles are a nuisance and damage lawns and gardens, they aren't as nearly as noxious as either mice or rats. They are not inclined to enter the home. Voles are recognizable by their round body, small ears and short tail. They are usually found in heavy grass cover. They are active day and night throughout the year, and they do not hibernate. Late winter and early spring are particularly difficult time as the voles will live under the snow and feast on your dormant grass. They will also do extensive damage to trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. CONTROLLING VOLES Voles can be particularly difficult to manage. They are adaptive and persistent. Methods to prevent and control damage are habitat management, exclusion, repellents, trapping, and poison grain baits. The recommended way of eliminating them is habitat modification. Take away the environment that attracts them. Alas, that isn't really practical when the environment happens to be your beautifully maintained lawn and garden. We can, however, improve the habitat by keeping grass cut short. You can also protect trees and shrubs by encircling them with 1/4 inch hardware cloth 18 inches above ground and 6 inches below the surface. Repellants are not particularly effective against voles. Trapping is the most effective tool for controlling voles in the neighborhood. Use the standard wooden mouse trap baited with rolled oats or peanut butter. The best time for trapping is in the fall before major damage occurs. But any time the little rascals are active is a good time to set your traps. Set the traps perpendicular to the vole runways with the baited trigger across the runway. Poison baits are effective for short term control and are best to attack a sudden infestation. Zinc phosphide is the only poison bait legal for use against voles in Colorado. Zinc phosphide is in Tomcat Mole and Gopher Bait available at most nearby hardware and home improvement stores. We need to be careful with poison, however, as it kills indiscriminately and may harm other wildlife. Use poison bait only underground according to the directions. Fumigants are not effective against voles as their tunnels are too complex and shallow. See
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/natres/06507.html and
www.denvergov.org/
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