Hi Glenna,

Thank you for contacting the UNH Extension Yard & Garden Infoline. My name is Debi Green. I am a Master Gardener Volunteer and I am happy to help answer your question on these maddening creatures!

There are two types of voles, the pine vole and the meadow vole. By what they are eating, it sounds like you may have encountered the meadow vole.

Baiting and trapping is the best recommendation. Using mouse traps baited with apple wedges and/or peanutbutter work well.

An excerpt from the first link below:

If meadow voles are a problem in planting beds, reduce mulch to a thin layer and pull it away from the base of trees and shrubs. Certain mulches attract voles; try to avoid using mulches with fine or small particle sizes.

https://extension.unh.edu/resource/pesky-winter-critters-fact-sheet

Although the link below is mostly geared towards voles in orchards, there is still some very helpful information homeowners can use. On page 6 there is a description and pictures on how to set traps. Page 7 describes how you can make or purchase tree guards to help protect the bases of trees and shrubs.

https://extension.unh.edu/sites/default/files/migrated_unmanaged_files/Resource003424_Rep4893.pdf

For the future, keeping the lawn and ground covers quite short, mowed to about 3", as Winter gets close is helpful against attracting voles. Also removing mulch from the bases of plants and replacing some gravel will also provide some deterrence, as they like the cover of organic material.

Lastly, this link describes some other repellants you may want to consider if the problem is more than trapping can handle.

https://extension.psu.edu/voles

Thank you again for contacting UNH Extension Yard & Garden Infoline and please do not hesitate to reach out again with any future questions. I wish you the best in combatting the vole damage. I understand how frustrating that is.