Voles can wreak havoc on your lawn over the winter months.
Voles are often confused with Moles. The biggest difference between these two are that Moles will actually burrow underground and typically feed on insects. Voles on the other hand, tunnel in the thatch layer and feed on roots. When Voles are active enough they can kill off sections of grass where they tunnel. Voles are NOT an indicator of grubs. Moles, however, WILL feed on grubs.
This recent snow melt is providing an excellent opportunity to assess your lawn for damage
Vole damage typically appears in late winter or early spring as the snow begins to melt because they tunnel in your lawns thatch layer under the protection of snow cover. In Ankeny, Voles will typically “hide-out” in landscape beds, rough-cut lawn areas, or loose or porous retaining walls (boulder walls).
How do I get rid of Voles?
Many times hand-raking or using a dethatcher/power-rake to remove their tunnels in the thatch layer is a great way to encourage them to go elsewhere and can help prevent future damage. The sooner this is done the better. If you have repeat problems with Voles they likely have a nice “home” nearby and it is best to eliminate them. This can be done by placing bait-stations in their active tunnels followed by a dethatching of the area.
If you think you have Voles in your Ankeny lawn and would like help getting rid of them, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
