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Microtus
spp.
Characteristics –
Size: Voles are larger than the house mouse with adults
measuring up to five inches in head and body length. The tail,
however, is shorter in relation to the body -- a vole’s tail
ranges from one and three-fourth to two and three-fourth inches in
length.
Color: Blackish-brown to grayish-brown depending on the
species.
Voles have a blunt nose, small furry ears, and a scantily-haired
tail.
Behavior –
Voles are also known as meadow mice and may be called orchard mice
or field mice. Because they are poor climbers, voles are almost
always associated with the lower levels of buildings. Outdoors,
voles establish a well-defined system of runways that usually tunnel
beneath vegetation. Sometimes the runways will be in the ground just
below the surface. Voles also are known to girdle the trunks of
fruit trees which often results in the death of the tree.
Habitat – Widely spread across the country,
voles primarily live outdoors, preferring dense grassy areas such as
meadows or fields. For that reason, homes and buildings these
rodents might infest tend to be near such fields. They may also be
found invading stables and barns.
Tips for Control – Voles may invade homes, but
unlike the house mouse, they do not establish breeding populations
indoors. The best ways to avoid invasions of mice is to (1) provide
as little harborage as possible that might attract rodents, and (2)
seal as many holes and cracks in the outside of the home through
which mice might enter. The following recommendations should be
followed to help prevent rodents from seeking the shelter provided
by your home:
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firewood stored as far from the home as possible and store it
off the ground. During the winter, store only enough wood next
to the house to burn every couple of days.
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| If
possible, remove any piles of debris, stones, bricks, etc. If
these are near the foundation of the home they serve as
harborages to attract rodents. Once there, it is any easy step
for rodents to enter the building itself.
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not allow piles of leaves to accumulate next to the homes
foundation. This also serves as attractive harborage for rodents
- mice in particular.
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| Seal
any hole or crack larger than 1/4 of an inch. A good rule of
thumb is that if a pencil can fit into it, a mouse could too.
Large holes or cracks should be stuffed with steel wool or wire
mesh before sealing with caulk or foam, otherwise rodents could
chew through to enter.
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| Install
good, thick weather-strip on the bottom of all doors to prevent
rodents from entering. The garage door may prove difficult to
seal completely, so the door from the garage to the house must
be sealed tightly.
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| The
installation of one or two wind-up mouse traps in the garage can
catch many mice as they enter. These traps can catch up to 15
mice with one setting. Ask your Curtis Pest Control professional
for more information.
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