Voles, also know as meadow mice or field mice, are small brown to gray pudgy mammals, which are active year round and do not hibernate. Voles dig underground burrows and feed on vegetation – damaging your landscape including trees, turf, bushes and shrubs. Voles cause damage by gnawing through tree bark and eating other vegetation, including Junipers. They tend to prefer the bark of young trees, but will attack any tree depending on food sources available. With the recent amount of snow Colorado has received, Voles tend to look for food closer to their dens and will continue to dig burrows even through the snow. Methods to help prevent vole damage include habitat management, repellents, trapping and grain baits. More information about Voles can be found through Colorado State University Extension and a Swingle certified arborist can help determine if you have vole damage.
