Vole Pest Control Illinois

Voles love vegetation. They are sometimes referred to as field mice or meadow mice because they dig their maze of burrows and tunnels in large open spaces. If they keep to those meadows and fields, they aren’t so bad, but if they decide your yard is a better alternative, it’s time for vole pest control in Central Illinois.

At American Pest Control, we have the experience and expertise to quickly deal with your Illinois vole problem.

Vole, Mole, or Shrew?

If you see a furry creature scurrying through your yard, you don’t want to take the time to check out all the details, but voles are pretty easy to distinguish from moles.

Moles have a pink nose that’s either elongated or star-shaped. Their eyes and ears are tiny, but their front feet and claws are large, tunnel-digging machines.

Voles are often confused with mice. With their brownish-gray coloring and round ears, they do look like a large mouse. However, voles have noticeably shorter tails.

Another similar rodent is the shrew. Voles and shrews both have pointed snouts and short tails, so you have to check their front feet to tell them apart. Voles have four toes and shrews have five toes.

Signs of Vole Infestations

If you see these indications, you may have a vole problem: 

  • Shallow runways: You’ll see these tunnels breaking through the surface. They’re 1–2 inches wide and covered in bare dirt or clipped grass.
  • Chewed bark: Check the base of shrubs or younger trees. This sign appears most frequently in the fall and winter, when food is scarce.
  • Small holes: They’re about the size of golf balls and usually found near gardens or the foundations of your home or other buildings. This is where the voles enter their tunnels.
  • Soft dirt spots: Fresh soil mounds and collapsed turf could both be indications.
  • Predator presence: Voles are prey to predators like foxes, hawks, and cats. If you start to see the predators more, it may indicate they’ve sensed the pests.
  • Missing flower bulbs: Did some of the flowers in your lovely flower garden just disappear, including the bulbs? Check for chewed roots, too.

Some of these signs are commonly confused with mole damage, so it’s best to reach out to American Pest Control for a local expert who can tell the difference.

Year-Round Vole Removal in Central Illinois

Pest control for voles in Illinois is not a seasonal issue. 

You might notice the signs outlined above most in the spring or summer. Still, our technicians are ready to tackle the issue with targeted, environmentally friendly removal techniques whenever you spot an issue.

While voles are still active in the winter since they don’t hibernate, their activity is covered by snow. Once the snow has cleared, contact American Pest Control to have one of our pest control experts assess your situation. 

We offer long-term solutions, but vigilance is the best way to prevent future infestations by voles or other pests. Quarterly service through American Pest Control can keep your home and family safe and comfortable all year round.

Learn more through our pest control blog.

Vole Pest Control FAQ

Probably not. Voles breed very quickly, so a small problem is much more likely to balloon into a major infestation if the issue isn’t dealt with promptly. If voles find a habitable environment in your yard, it’s most likely to attract more voles. 

No, not really. Voles are unlikely to bite, and they don’t tend to carry any significant diseases. Your family and pets can probably coexist just fine with voles.

They may not be dangerous, but the damage hits your landscaping hard, especially given how social they are and how quickly they reproduce. Voles are not consistent with a well-kept, landscaped lawn.

It depends on the season, the degree of the infestation, and the removal methods employed, but experienced pest control experts can clear up a vole infestation in 1–3 weeks. DIYers are likely to take much longer. This isn’t like a mole infestation, since those are more solitary. Trapping voles can take a very long time if you don’t have experience.

The American Pest Control Difference

We are a family-owned, local pest control company known for our efficiency, fast response time, and commitment to quality. Illinois residents have trusted us with their pest control needs since 1951. 

Here are a few satisfied customers:

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