What can I do to get rid of voles in the garden?
Question:
My vegetable garden is overwhelmed with voles. They are living in three of my four raised beds. I’ve tried Mole Max repellent to keep them out of the garden but they are still coming in. What can I do to get rid of them?
Answer:
I’m very sorry to hear about the vole issues–they can be quite a headache.
Please take a look at the following resources:
State of Maine “Got Pests?” series page on voles
Univ of MN Extension page “How to manage vole damage on lawns, trees and shrubs”
Reducing cover by minimizing debris and reducing mulch depth can be helpful, as can surrounding your raised beds with narrow gauge chicken wire (you can place stakes around the inside for structure and staple the bottom of the wire to the inside of the bed sides) to prevent their entry. If you are able to locate any holes or runs, mouse traps baited with something tasty can be very effective. Voles have a very high reproductive rate and are able to recoup losses pretty quickly, so persistence with multiple strategies going forward will probably be essential to protecting you garden. If you ever add more raised beds, I recommend stapling chicken wire across the bottom of the bed before adding fill–this will give you another layer of protection from them invading your planting space.
There are rodenticides available if you reach the end of your rope and are considering chemical interventions, but they will be toxic to any other mammals who consume the bait, as well. I would recommend reaching out to a ME-licensed pesticide applicator at that point to discuss the best options for targeting the voles while keeping the garden produce safe for consumption.
Good luck, and happy gardening.