Voles are little rodents that can damage your garden by eating your grass and plants here in Iowa. They look like mice with their brown fur, big ears, and little black eyes. While they’re active all year, you’ll find them most often in the early spring. They don’t hibernate in the winter, so they come out in the spring looking for sources of food. Signs that voles have been on your property include dying turf, gnaw marks on tree bark, and little tunnel systems with holes in your yard. If you think you have voles, it’s best to call lawn pest professionals who will be able to eradicate them from your property!

Why are voles most active in the early spring?

Voles are most active in the early spring for several reasons. To start, they do not hibernate during the winter months. They remain active by digging underground tunnels and living there instead. As the weather and soil temperatures get warmer, voles will emerge from their underground tunnels. Food sources are more available in the warmer spring months than they are in the winter, so voles will often roam around your garden in search of vegetation to feed on as your plants grow. Voles also commonly breed in the spring, so you may see an increase in their numbers and activity around that time.

What are the signs of vole activity on your property?

Vole damage on our potential client's lawn in Ankeny, IA.

Most signs of vole activity appear in the spring as the snow melts away. Voles eat plants and grass by munching on the roots that are in the soil. Because of this, you may notice some patches of dead or dying turf and damaged plants on your property. Voles also gnaw on tree bark in the winter since they have limited food sources, so you may see some gnaw marks on your trees that voles left behind. You could also see some signs of the tunnel systems voles make despite the fact that they are typically situated underground. Some tunneling systems have visible little burrow holes that have broken through the surface. There also may be small piles of dirt near where the voles dug through.

What should you do if you suspect there are voles on your property?

Gloved professional holding granular fertilized pellets in Des Moines, IA.

If you suspect that there are voles on your property, the best course of action is to call professionals to come and take a look. It can be hard to figure out exactly what is impacting your lawn, especially since some of the signs of voles match up with the symptoms of other issues, like diseases or insect infestations. Dying turf could be a symptom of a number of problems, and gnaw marks could be from rabbits or other animals. Professionals will be able to correctly diagnose the problem and determine what to do from there. If they determine that you have voles in your yard, they may use a repellent or bait to get rid of them.

Lawn care services like fertilization, aeration, and overseeding can help your lawn bounce back from any damage voles caused.

Think you have voles on your property? Call us to schedule our vole treatments!

It can be frustrating to find out in the spring that your lawn has sustained damage from little critters, like voles. That's why we offer vole treatments to help get rid of these pests. Our professionals here at A+ Lawn & Landscape will come to your property and diagnose the problem. From there, we will figure out the best course of action to take care of the voles.

We provide our vole treatments to residential and commercial properties in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and nearby areas in Iowa. Call us at (515) 289-2020 to schedule our vole treatments today!