Voles & Mice: Protecting Your Yard from Spring Rodents

As temperatures rise in Denver, voles and mice become more active, seeking food and shelter in yards, gardens, and homes. These small rodents may seem harmless, but they can cause significant damage to landscapes and structures if left unchecked. From tunneling through lawns to chewing on wiring, their presence can lead to costly repairs and persistent infestations.

Understanding how to spot, prevent, and remove these rodents early in the season is key to keeping your property rodent-free. This guide provides essential steps for identifying vole and mouse activity, implementing effective prevention measures, and exploring removal options.

Identifying Voles and Mice in Your Yard

Voles and mice are often mistaken for one another, but their behavior and the type of damage they cause differ. Recognizing the signs of each rodent can help you determine the best course of action.

Voles (Also Known as Meadow Mice)

• Appearance – Small, stocky rodents with short tails, rounded ears, and brown or gray fur
• Habitat – Prefer grassy areas, gardens, and yards with thick vegetation

Signs of Activity:

• Surface Runways – Voles create narrow trails through grass, often leading to burrow entrances.
• Girdled Trees and Plants – They chew on the bark of young trees and shrubs, causing damage that can lead to plant death.
• Damaged Lawns – Tunneling activity weakens grass roots, creating dead patches in the lawn.

Mice

• Appearance – Small, slender rodents with long tails, large ears, and light brown or gray fur
• Habitat – Often found in garages, sheds, and homes, but also nest in yards with access to food and shelter

Signs of Activity:

• Gnaw Marks – Mice chew on wood, wiring, and plastic to keep their teeth sharp.
• Droppings – Small, dark droppings along walls, in storage areas, or near food sources.
• Burrows and Nesting Materials – Mice use shredded paper, leaves, and insulation to create nests in sheltered areas.

By recognizing these signs early, homeowners can take proactive steps to prevent a rodent infestation before it worsens.

Prevent Rodents by Eliminating Food and Shelter

Voles and mice are attracted to yards that provide easy access to food and nesting areas. Removing these attractants is the first step in keeping them away.

Reduce Food Sources

• Clean up fallen birdseed, pet food, and compost piles that may attract rodents.
• Store seeds, pet food, and livestock feed in rodent-proof containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Harvest fruits and vegetables promptly to prevent voles and mice from feeding on them.

Remove Shelter Opportunities

• Trim overgrown grass and weeds to eliminate cover for rodents.
• Reduce thick mulch layers near foundations and landscaping beds.
• Clear away woodpiles, rock piles, and debris that may provide nesting sites.

A well-maintained yard is less inviting to rodents, making it harder for them to establish colonies.

Protect Your Lawn and Garden from Voles

Voles are notorious for damaging lawns, gardens, and tree roots. Implementing targeted strategies can help minimize their impact.

Vole Prevention Strategies

• Install Barriers – Use wire mesh or hardware cloth around the base of young trees and garden beds to prevent voles from chewing on roots and bark.
• Apply Repellents – Natural and commercial vole repellents can be sprayed around gardens and vulnerable areas to deter activity.
• Modify Landscaping – Reduce excessive ground cover, such as thick mulch or dense grass, where voles like to hide.

If vole activity is already visible, these preventative measures can help slow further damage while removal strategies are put in place.

Seal Entry Points to Keep Mice Out of Your Home

While voles primarily stay outdoors, mice will take advantage of small openings to enter homes, garages, and sheds. A single mouse can squeeze through a hole as small as a dime, making exclusion crucial for prevention.

How to Seal Your Home from Mice

Inspect the exterior of your home for cracks, holes, or gaps, especially around foundations, doors, and windows.

• Seal small openings with steel wool and caulk, as mice cannot chew through these materials.
• Install weather stripping on garage doors and exterior doors to close gaps at the bottom.
• Ensure that vents and chimney openings have secure screens to prevent rodent entry.
• By blocking access points, homeowners can prevent mice from establishing nests indoors.

Use Traps for Effective Rodent Control

If voles or mice have already moved onto your property, traps can be an effective method for removal. Different trapping methods work best for different rodents.

Trapping Voles

• Live Traps – Humane options for capturing voles and relocating them away from your property.
• Snap Traps – Traditional wooden traps can be placed along vole runways for quick population control.
• Bait Placement – Use peanut butter, seeds, or fruit to attract voles to traps.

Trapping Mice

• Snap Traps – Effective and widely used for mouse removal, especially in garages or basements.
• Multi-Catch Traps – These capture multiple mice at once and can be used for humane relocation.
• Electronic Traps – Deliver a quick and humane kill, reducing suffering.

For larger infestations, professional pest control services may be needed to ensure complete removal.

Work with a Rodent Control Specialist for Long-Term Prevention

While DIY solutions can help reduce rodent populations, professional intervention may be necessary for persistent vole or mouse infestations. A pest control specialist can assess the severity of the issue and provide targeted treatments to remove rodents and prevent future problems.

Benefits of Professional Rodent Control

• Thorough Inspection – Experts can identify hidden entry points and problem areas.
• Targeted Removal Plans – Pest control professionals use advanced trapping and exclusion techniques.
• Ongoing Prevention Measures – Routine monitoring helps prevent reinfestations.

If voles or mice are becoming a problem in your yard or home, seeking expert assistance can provide a long-term solution.

Protect Your Yard and Home from Rodents This Spring

Voles and mice can cause significant damage to lawns, gardens, and homes if left unchecked. By identifying early signs of activity, eliminating food and shelter sources, sealing entry points, and using effective removal methods, you can keep your property rodent-free this spring.

For professional rodent control services in Denver, contact Animal & Pest Control Specialists. Our experienced team provides customized solutions to protect your yard and home from unwanted pests.