Vole Control In Washington DC

What Are Voles?

Voles are a type of rodent and are a common pest in lawns and gardens. Voles are herbivores, and use their sharp front teeth to feed on grass, plants, bulbs, bark, and roots.

At a glance, voles look very similar to mice as they are both small, furry rodents. But upon closer inspection, the vole has unique physical features that let you know they are a vole and not a mouse. 

The first thing to look at is the tail. Mice have long, thin tails, while voles have short furry tails.

The body of a vole is "heavier" and more compact than that of a mouse.

Voles have small eyes, and the fur on their head partially hides their ears from view. Mice have large eyes and large ears that stand up off the head.

Where Will I find Voles In Washington DC?

Voles do spend some time above the ground feeding, and sometimes you may even spot them moving through the grass, but most of their time they spend below ground in their intricate burrow systems. 

Voles prefer to live in tall grass, dense ground cover, and areas with lots of landscaping to keep them sheltered from predators. Voles are active year-round. When food becomes scarce during the winter months, they turn from feeding on grass and plants to the bark found on trees.

Why Washington DC Is The Perfect Place For Voles

Park and wooded areas with soft soil, dense vegetation, and the year round warmth make Washington DC the perfect breeding ground for voles. Not only do they have ample yards and gardens to infest, but their ability to operate under the radar makes their presence only noticeable post-infestation.

Unfortunately, even prevention steps cannot fully reduce your risks of a vole infestation. These pests are a common sight in many DC yards and gardens, and can only be controlled or dissuaded; not entirely eliminated.

Thankfully, there are some ways to find, remove, and restore your lawn to its former vole-free glory, beginning with the services of Miche Pest Control. Our professionals use a variety of traps, products, and management techniques to remove voles currently present on your property. Next, we move forward with professional vole prevention techniques to stop the pests from returning in the future. Finally, we continue to follow up with your property to ensure your ongoing protection against voles.

Call Miche Pest Control today and learn more about our local vole control services.

The Damage Voles Cause In Washington DC

As mentioned above, voles live underground, building intricate burrow and tunnel systems. Even though voles are small animals, they can cause significant and costly damage in a residential yard. Here is what you should know about damage caused by voles:

• Voles create paths that are about 1 to 2 inches wide.
• Paths created by these animals will almost look like lightning on the ground because of their zig-zag pattern.
• When voles tunnel, they create multiple entryways, which will look like small mounds of dirt scattered around the yard.
• If you have voles in your yard, you might also see dead patches of grass, which can look sun-damaged.
• As they feed on plant roots, they can cause the plants to die.
• They will also chew on young trees and bushes, leaving noticeable gnaw marks.

Also, like other rodents, voles reproduce quickly, having multiple litters in a year, so they can quickly overtake your yard, causing more damage.

Something else to remember about these pests is that they can carry different diseases, spreading them to people through droppings and urine. Because of this, you also do not want to try and pick up one of these animals.

Whether you have had your landscaping professionally designed and maintained or do it independently, you know just how expensive it can be. With pests like voles in your yard, you run the risk of them damaging ornamental plants, trees, and the turf. So don't let these pests cause you money and stress; look to pest control experts for assistance with removal and control.

How Can I Prevent Voles In The Greater DC Area?

Preventing problems with voles is difficult, but we want to help you guard your property against them by offering these helpful prevention tips:

• Eliminate excessive ground cover from your yard. 
• Get rid of tall grass and weeds from your property.
• Keep the grass cut to its lowest healthy length.
• Protect the bark of young trees by placing a tree guard around the bottom of trees in your yard.
• Fill in any ground holes you discover in your yard.
• Store firewood up off the ground and away from the outside perimeter of your home.

If you're worried about preventing voles from establishing themselves on your property, or would like to get rid of an existing vole infestation, you can count on our team of professional technicians. Miche Pest Control is a top rated, family owned and operated vole exterminator - call today, or book online!

What To Do If Voles Invade Your Washington DC Lawn

If mounded hills, dying vegetation, and tunnel patches are becoming an eyesore on your property, chances are that a vole has made significant strides toward invading your Washington DC lawn.

It’s normal to feel stressed or even overwhelmed by the presence of an infestation, especially if you are unfamiliar with voles and what to do when they invade. However, all it takes is a few simple steps to work toward an efficient conclusion.

Start with these three steps:

• Identify the areas where voles have infested your yard. Be sure to take plenty of pictures and document their location.
• Call the professionals at Miche Pest Control for effective vole control around your residential or commercial property. We will provide you with a quote before getting started.
• Once treatments are complete, keep an eye out for any future signs and symptoms of vole activity.

Ready to get started? Get a professional vole inspection from the team at Miche Pest Control by submitting an online contact form.