Vole Issue - Ask Extension
Recently with the snow melt we noticed rodent trails in our yard. We called a pest control company and they suspect it is a Vole trail. I have done...
Knowledgebase
Vole Issue #925355
Asked March 03, 2026, 1:06 PM EST
Recently with the snow melt we noticed rodent trails in our yard. We called a pest control company and they suspect it is a Vole trail. I have done some research online and read that Voles are vegetarians that like bulb plants, but I also read that they are attracted to grubs. So I have a couple of concerns. We do have bulb plants (Hostas, Lilly of the Valley, Iris) in our yard we also have a Prairie Grass plant.
When the technician was here he asked my husband if the area was newly sodded. The sod had been there a few years, however, we have put grass seed in the areas that the sod did not take well, Our neighbors also feed the squirrels hanging suet. I am not sure if that would attract the Vole or not. Our yard has always been an area of pride for us. We don't keep our lawn too long and water when needed. Recently, we were told by our lawn service that we have night crawlers, but now I am a bit concerned that maybe what they think are night crawlers they are grubs.
So my concerns are: What can we do to get rid of the Voles? What do we do to make sure we don't get anymore? How do we find out if we have grubs....and if we do, what do we need to do? If they are night crawlers what do we need to do?
I appreciate your time and knowledge. This is so worrisome to us!
Otter Tail County Minnesota
Expert Response
In winter voles often create runways in turf under the snow. These runways or trails are conspicuous after the snow melts. The trails look like this:
https://share.google/XdUimUXf2hMUWqMLu
The trails usually disappear after the grass begins to grow.
As you noted, voles feed primarily on bark, roots, and tubers as well as fruits, stems and leaves during the growing season. Voles might consume an occasional insect or grub, but this is an exception, so controlling grubs will not reduce the number of voles in your yard or garden.
Voles are attracted to spilled bird feed, but not to suet.
This document explains how to control voles:
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/vole-damage
Night crawlers are present in lawns just about anywhere in Minnesota. Although soil cast by crawlers sometimes makes turf uneven or lumpy, their presence otherwise isn't harmful.
Grubs may be present, but control isn't advised unless they are present in high numbers. This publication explains how to assess their numbers.
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/09/how-do-i-treat-grubs-my-lawn
https://share.google/XdUimUXf2hMUWqMLu
The trails usually disappear after the grass begins to grow.
As you noted, voles feed primarily on bark, roots, and tubers as well as fruits, stems and leaves during the growing season. Voles might consume an occasional insect or grub, but this is an exception, so controlling grubs will not reduce the number of voles in your yard or garden.
Voles are attracted to spilled bird feed, but not to suet.
This document explains how to control voles:
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/vole-damage
Night crawlers are present in lawns just about anywhere in Minnesota. Although soil cast by crawlers sometimes makes turf uneven or lumpy, their presence otherwise isn't harmful.
Grubs may be present, but control isn't advised unless they are present in high numbers. This publication explains how to assess their numbers.
https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/09/how-do-i-treat-grubs-my-lawn
